Moving from the UK to Australia: School Years Update
Edit – My daughter can be a bit of a dork, but I might be the bigger one for overthinking this! She’s set to start year 9 in 2026 (while her cousins are currently in year 8). Interestingly, she’ll have a longer year 9 because she begins in September 2025 here in the UK. She’s not exactly thrilled about that, but given all the confusion we created trying to figure this out, it might not be such a bad thing. I can’t believe how tangled up my thoughts got!
We’re planning to relocate to Australia at the end of 2025, around November. By that time, my daughter will have already started year 9 in the UK, and when the Australian school year kicks off in January 2026, she’ll be jumping straight into year 10. It feels like she’s losing a few months of education during the transition. Have any of you experienced this? How does it generally work? She seems pretty excited about the whole idea!
It sounds like you’ve got quite the educational juggling act going on! Moving internationally always comes with its challenges, especially with school years not aligning. However, many families have gone through similar transitions, and it usually works out just fine.
In Australia, the education system can be quite flexible, and the teachers are accustomed to students transferring in at different times. Since your daughter will start Year 10 in Australia, it’s natural to worry about her feeling like she’s missed out, but keep in mind that she’ll likely adapt quickly. Importantly, she’ll have the opportunity to catch up or even take on subjects that interest her.
It might be useful to connect with the school she’ll be attending in Australia ahead of time. They can provide insights on the curriculum and what she might expect. Plus, it could help her feel more settled before the big move!
And don’t be too hard on yourself—this process can be confusing for anyone, but it sounds like you’re putting a lot of thought into it for her benefit. Your daughter will appreciate your efforts, and she seems to have a great outlook on the move! Best of luck with the transition!