Going to study in London at 15, how is highschool there?
Posted by Personal-Spring12@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 46 comments
Hello, i am Brazilian and i am going to live with my family in England next year so i wanted to know how it is to start to study there at 15 because highschool in my country (were we only have mandatory subjects) seems different from highschool there (i heard online that you pick your school subjects???) and also about lunch do you have to pay for it? here we dont have to same for out materials do we have to pay for schoolbooks? and also socially is highschool the same jungle it is here?
wildflower12345678@reddit
Pick your school, talk to the staff tell them your situation, they will probably choose not to put you into the same year group as you should for your age, but the year younger. I think it would be extremely difficult for you to go straight into gcse level work without the foundations. Exceptions can be made in some circumstances.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Born Feb 2012 you will be in year 9 now so starting year 10 in September is perfect as it is a 2 year programme to the public exams at 16 (end of year 11 - they have just started they are May to June each year).
Most schools cover the "mandatory subjects":
English Language Maths Science (usually 3 units physics chemistry and biology but there is a 2 unit version called combined science)
Most schools also require English literature but you might be able to negotiate extra lessons in other areas or language support.
This makes 6 units.
Sone schools choose another mandatory sometimes Religious Studies or Citizenship.
Then usually 3 additional optional units:
History Computer Science Geography Further Maths Physical Education Food technology Textiles Drama French German Spanish Resistant Materials/3D design Art Photography Media Studies Ancient History
Each school has different options depending on the teachers skills.
You can also take "home language" in Portuguese which might be important if returning to Brazil for university.
Your family will need to contact local schools to see if they have a place for "Year 10 for September 2026".
You can have a look at the syllabus online or on the platform seneca learning.
Ok_Aioli3897@reddit
Just wondering have you actually checked that you can do this?
Previous-Ad7618@reddit
Everyone has to do English, maths, science.
You can choose things like history, french, art music, sport etc.
You don't need to pay for books.
You do need to pay for lunch.
London is super diverse and probably the easiest place in the country for you to socially be fine.
Have a great time! :)
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
thank you! good to know that it wont be to expensive can we pack our lunch from home or we have to buy it there?
InternationalRide5@reddit
Also it depends on the school but in many schools you are allowed out at lunchtime if you want to go to local shops.
Not all areas/schools have meal costs on their website but in Barking & Dagenham it's £2.30 for a secondary school lunch. Many will be closer to £3 than that though.
Previous-Ad7618@reddit
You can bring lunch. :) it's about 50/50 with people that bring lunch and buy lunch.
procrastination-site@reddit
most bring and buy if still hungry
Aggravating_Band_353@reddit
I'm ngl, it really depends on the area and the school you're moving to.. Some places in London have very bad secondary schools. It could be worth looking into colleges? I know some do gcse or whatever they're called now. I found college much less violent/dangerous/innapropriate than high school, and people who wanted to be there. Positive attitude etc.. I might have just had bad personal experience, but also I went to one of the better schools than others I know, and didn't have the worst stories!
Alternatively you might want to check out if any Brazilian / Portugese schools you can sit exams.
You can pack lunches but facilities will differ. College might have better facilities for this and socialising also.. Depends on your age and when coming here, and I'd try find a more specific sub to ask in too maybe? Some good answers here but could get more specific from educational British subs I'd guess (sorry idk any!)
just-visiting-3955@reddit
Almost all schools allow the chooce.
Chillerby@reddit
Have a look at BBC bitesize. It's study aids for all levels of UK education.
I work with children and high school is certainly a challenge socially as well as the education side. Good luck with it. If you put in the work, you should get the benefits 😁 those that mess around and don't try really can mess up their lives.
constructuscorp@reddit
I used to have a bunch of Brazilian students here in the UK, and the number one thing they were always shocked by was the sun. Yes, it goes dark at 3pm in the winter. Yes, it's still sunny at 9pm in the summer.
Primary-Angle4008@reddit
What you could do look up past GCSE papers and see how you get on with it because compared to many other countries the UKs curriculum isn’t actually very difficult and you can choose your subjects however maths and English are more or less a must That way you can guess if it’s ok to join your own year group or one year below
Lord_Cockatrice@reddit
As long as your footie skills are top notch...you should be all good
MySparePersona@reddit
Just don't get the Tube.
Special-Audience-426@reddit
Starting UK secondary school at 15 is probably the absolute worst age.
You'll be at least a year behind on your GCSEs. The best solution would probably be to go a year lower than others your age.
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
thats one of my greatest worries because i dont know i will be able to go a year lower and for what i heard from an portugese student in my class is that they study some very advanced subjects and i am worroed to fall behind
Ok_Anything_9871@reddit
I think it would make most sense for the school too, to enrol you in yr 10 (a year behind).
If they do put you in yr 11 they will likely focus on getting you through the basics (English, maths, science) and maybe just one or two other subjects. Plus they will probably get you to sit a Portuguese GCSE (for an easy top grade)
Special-Audience-426@reddit
I know they sometimes do let kids start or stay a year below if they're behind but I don't know if that's available for international students. You'll need to talk to them.
In the meantime, you could study for your GSCEs by yourself.
The BBC has done resources so hopefully, they're not region locked.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/levels/z98jmp3
welshcake82@reddit
When will you be moving here? If your birthday is Feb 2012 then if you are able to start this September it should be fine as you will be in Year 10- this is the start of the two year GCSE period and you can just choose your options at the start. If it’s the year after then I would think you would have to start a year below as you can’t cover all the course content in a year.
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
I will probably be moving in january next year but we are going to sort this out now at may thanks for your help!
welshcake82@reddit
Hope that you get it sorted, hope that you have a fantastic experience when you do get here.
welshcake82@reddit
When will you be moving here? If your birthday is Feb 2012 then if you are able to start this September it should be fine as you will be in Year 10- this is the start of the two year GCSE period and you can just choose your options at the start. If it’s the year after then I would think you would have to start a year below as you can’t cover all the course content in a year.
Sea-Check-9062@reddit
Also be aware that you can take a GCSE in your 1st language without having to study it as one of your subjects. This can be very useful for raising your average grade.
UK schools are very invested in safeguarding and anti bullying. This doesn't mean kids won't be mean but there are sources of help.
GeorgiaL44@reddit
I would recommend starting in Year 10 rather than Year 11; as other commenter have said it will make the GCSE's much easier for you. You will have to take Maths, English Language, English Literature, and Science. For each of these there is the foundation and higher exams - foundation exams are easier, but you can only get to a certain level (what used to be C, but is now level 5 I think).
To get an idea of the GCSE's, you can have a look at past papers. Google GCSE past papers edexcel or AQA for each subject and see what looks familiar.
TemporaryLucky3637@reddit
You have to pay for lunch/ bring your own lunch unless your family qualify for free school meals.
Each school is different with what subjects they let you choose as your “options” but you generally have to take English language, English literature Maths and Science then choose other subjects like geography, history, music, art, languages etc
You don’t have to pay for school books but you have to bring your own pens. Textbooks are usually provided but you may have to pay for revision guides (to help you prepare for exams) and materials for certain optional subjects like food technology, textiles etc.
There’s a lot of variation from school to school in terms of bullying and anti social behaviour.
If you are already 15 when you arrive, you may be better off starting in the year below where you’re meant to be to give you enough time to complete GCSEs as they normally take 2 years to complete all the work needed.
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the help! i hope they let me start at the year bellow as i dont want to fall behind!
TemporaryLucky3637@reddit
I’m sure the school will be able to help you achieve the best possible outcome in your situation. Try not to worry as you generally only need to pass about 5 GCSEs to get into a college/6th form.
mrbullettuk@reddit
When is your birthday, month and year? That will determine which year group you are in.
The cut off is 1st September.
Kids choose GCSE subjects in Year 9 and then study them in Y10 and Y11 (doing exams about now). Typically Maths, English Lit and Language(2 subjects) and at least 2 sciences are compulsory. Sometimes a language is compulsory (French, Spanish, sometimes German) maybe others. My kids had to do R.E. Religious Education as they are at a Church of England School. Then common subjects such as Art, History, Geography up to about 8 or 9 total subjects.
If you are joining in Y10 you might be ok, if you are joining in Y11 its going to be tough.
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
My birthday is at february 2012, i only hope i dont fall behinde at the gcse because i probably would have already started them yeah it will be a very though year probably 😓
Tape_Badger@reddit
You may be able to start in the year below your chronological age, which will help. In fact, the school/authority may suggest this due to the way GCSEs are structured.
InternationalRide5@reddit
A lot of things are specific to the local area, or even a particular school. The school website will usually have most of the information you need.
There is some choice of subjects, usually at about age 13, which you then study for 3 years for GCSE examinations at 16. You'll probably have to take the subjects which align best with what you have already been studying. For example, you probably haven't studied British history so History is probably not a good subject to take.
Lunch you pay for unless your family is on a low income and eligible for free school meals.
Textbooks are lent to you each term/year, and exercise books (for writing in) are provided. You provide your own pens/pencils. If you do Cookery you have to pay for ingredients for anything you take home to eat.
You will almost certainly have to wear a uniform.
Socially, schools vary considerably.
Wonderful-Pumpkin695@reddit
GCSE study is usually two years (years 10 and 11)
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
axbosh@reddit
You won't find many people who have experience of the brazilian and uk systems as students who can advise you on how they compare.
Will you be in state school or private school? What part of London will you live in (appeoximately)?
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
Not london exactly, romford but i will be studying at a state school in london, My family is comming to visit us now at May and we are going to sort this out but probably a state school, i dont even knew private schools were a thing in the uk
axbosh@reddit
About 8% of secondary school children are privately educated in London.
It's not going to be affordable for your family unless you're very wealthy, which you would probably already be aware of.
State schools in Romford will be okay. It's not inner London but more of a suburb.
Children in the UK begin specialising before the start of year 10, which is the school year when you turn 15. Most will do 10 or 11 GCSE subjects for two years, until the end of year 11. English, maths and science are compulsory, others are all optional.
At the end of year 11 you specialise much more and choose only 4 subjects for A Levels. No subject is compulsory.
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
thanks for the help!
Raven-Nightshade@reddit
There are some core subjects based around literacy/literature, maths, science, and IT. But other than that many subjects are optional and given you have less time to get up to where everyone else is, you will probably be allowed to skip a few options.
Lunch is cheap, and you can get assistance if your family is low income. You will need your own pens, but work books and text books should be provided.
Many schools are different, so it's hard to say how it will be socially for you. Hope it goes well.
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
thank you!
Puzzled-Horse279@reddit
Well you maybe in school for about one more year unless you go to 6th form at the same school
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
So we stay one more year in school before highschool? at my country we go until year 9 and then 3 years of Highschool
Puzzled-Horse279@reddit
We have primary school which has nursery, reception and year 1 all the way to year 6. (Year 6 kids are aged 10-11)
Then we have secondary school which goes from year 7 to year 11 (years 7s are around 11-12 years old. Year 11s are around 15-16 years old)
Some secondary schools have 6th form (basically a year 12) but most kids after year 11 will leave school and do 6th form, A-Levels or B-Tech at another school or college.
the-TARDIS-ran-away@reddit
High school is a jungle whatever country youre in. You will likely need to pay for lunches unless your parents/guardians qualify for certain benefits. Its been 15 years since i went to school and i beleive most books etc were supplied but you need to have your own pens and calculator etc. In year 9 students pick their "options" which is 3 GCSEs theyd like to persue, but you still have to do PE, Maths, English and Science. I think most schools still do IT and Citezenship or RE as mandatory too.
Personal-Spring12@reddit (OP)
good to know, thanks for the help!
qualityvote2@reddit
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