Moving schools mid-year
Job transfers rarely follow school calendars. Mid-year moves are common in international schools, and admissions offices are used to them. What changes is the order of the steps and how quickly you need to take them.
Start with the calendar mismatch
School years start at different times around the world. Schools in the northern hemisphere mostly start in August or September. Australian schools start in late January or early February. Some national systems in Asia start in April or May. When you move between systems, your child may land part-way through a year, or may face a choice between repeating a few months and skipping ahead.
Ask each school which year group it would place your child in, and why. International schools usually place by date of birth and the cut-off date they use, then adjust if the assessment suggests a different year would fit better. Get this question answered in writing before you accept an offer.
Contact schools before you have dates
As soon as a move looks likely, email the admissions offices on your shortlist. Explain the likely timing, your child's current year group and curriculum, and ask whether places exist. You do not need to apply yet. Admissions staff can often tell you which year groups are tight, which helps you choose where to live.
Records to gather now
Collect these before you leave, because they are harder to get from abroad:
- the latest school report and any mid-term progress reports
- a confidential reference from the current school, sent directly to the new school if possible
- standardised test results such as CAT4 or MAP scores, if your current school uses them
- any educational psychology, learning support or EAL reports
- vaccination records, translated if needed
Remote assessments
Many international schools will assess a student online before the family arrives. That lets you secure a place before you sign a lease. If a school insists on an in-person assessment, ask whether it can be scheduled for the first days after arrival.
Exam courses need extra care
Moving during a two-year examination course is harder than moving at any other time. IGCSE, A level and IB Diploma courses are taught over two years, and schools choose different subject options and exam boards. A student who changes school halfway may find that the new school does not offer one of their subjects, or teaches a different syllabus. Some schools will not accept students into the second year of the IB Diploma at all.
If your child is in one of these courses, ask the new school for its subject list and exam boards, then compare them with the current ones before you commit. In some cases finishing the course where the student is, or delaying the move, is the better option.
Settling in
Children who arrive mid-year join classes where friendships have already formed. Ask whether the school assigns a buddy, and whether the counsellor checks in with new students during their first weeks. For younger children, arranging one or two playdates in the first month can help.
Related: the standard admissions timeline and entrance assessments.