Does US accept UK school credits?

Hi.  I'm new to the forum here.  This is my first post!  We are currently considering a job related move to the UK and had a few questions about school.  My son is in 9th grade and my daughter is in 6th grade here in the US.  My wife has been asked to consider a job in Swindon, Wiltshire.  Her company would pay for private school so we wanted to send the kids to an American or International school.  We can find no such school near Swindon.  We are thinking of living in Virginia Water and sending them to ACS Egham, but that would mean an hour long commute for my wife.  A less inconvenient  option would be to live in Swindon and send them to public schools.

Our question is, if they attend public school in the UK will the US accept the work they have done in the UK when and if we move back to the US?  I will contact our schools here in the US with this question, but they are closed on the weekends of course.  She just got the offer last night and wants to get back to them by early next week.

Any help I could get with this would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

It going to depend on the individual school.  I grew up in a military town, and our schools were very sympathetic towards this sort of thing since not all kids went to base schools. But I can't imagine all schools would be depending on the age of the kid, or their own experience with this.

The short answer is yes, but like the previous poster mentioned, it will be up to the US school that you return to to interpret the UK transcripts and grant credit accordingly.  This process can be made easier by keeping extensive records of the students' education in the UK so you can make your case once you return.  You will want to have a clear record of the subject matter studied so that the person intrepreting the transcripts can justify giving your child credit for each US equivalent.  Also, stay up-to-date on the state requirements for a High School diploma and encourage your children to select courses that will help them meet those requirements once/if you return.  The UK education system is more focused on depth, where the US system is more focused on breadth... so they will probably need to take a few extra academic courses (instead of electives like band or theatre) to make up the difference once you return.

A less inconvenient  option would be to live in Swindon and send them to public schools.

By "public" schools, do you mean the US definition (schools financed by the state and free for all) or the UK definition (posh, very expensive independent schools paid for by the parents)?

My friend's son was in a military US high school here and they moved to Texas.  He had to take an extra semester because in order to graduate in Texas you need x number of credits in Texas history.    I think in the end he went to summer school so he could go to Uni on time.

She was pi@@ed off!

It might not matter depending on how old/where you move, but with a lot of states now have graduation requirements, it is something you should be aware of.

It might not matter depending on how old/where you move, but with a lot of states now have graduation requirements, it is something you should be aware of.

As an Army brat myself, I can tell you this can be a problem even with moves within the states. If you know where you will be going to after leaving England it will help you be able to sort out the best options, if you don't then it becomes trickier.

Off your main topic somewhat!

If you are only assuming a 1 hour journey from Virginia Water to Swindon, I think you are going to be seriously dissappointed.

On a good day you might do it in 90mins, realistically you will be probably be nearer 2 hrs most days. On a bad day of accidents/breakdowns, of which there are many your journey time would be anybodies guess. The journey takes in some of the most congested,  and prone to delay roads in the whole of the UK.

If there are no suitable schools in the Swindon area, then you might be better served by looking to the west in the area of Cheltenham and Gloucester.  Unless you have to work in London itself, you would be best advised to avoid any commuter journey that takes you anywhere near the M25 orbital motorway and any of the motorways that feed it as they approach the M25 at their  London end.

Thanks everyone for all the great info.  You've given us quite a bit to think about.  And now with our heads thoroughly set spinning, we go off to contemplate this offer!

Off your main topic somewhat!

If you are only assuming a 1 hour journey from Virginia Water to Swindon, I think you are going to be seriously dissappointed.

This is exactly what I was going to say.  Also, housing prices in Virgina Water are going to be at least double what they would be in Swindon, so if the company will be basing her salary or any housing allowance on Swindon prices, you would likely have trouble affording a home in Virginia Water.  We live just down the A30 from Virginia Water/Egham, so if you have any questions, do let me know!

I had figured the travel time from Virginia Water to Swindon on Google Earth and it said 1 hour and 15 minutes.  I just rounded down while typing.  We have since taken into consideration what Jack Graham said about a more realistic travel time.

I will make sure we verify about the housing allowance, that is an excellent point!  Thank you mirrajay.

aimlesstraveler, I meant the US definition of "public schools"  So what do they call state run schools in the UK then?

As of right now it would seem we are leaning towards turning down this opportunity. 

aimlesstraveler, I meant the US definition of "public schools"  So what do they call state run schools in the UK then?

"State run school"/state school in general, although they might call it by the type of school it is (grammar, comprehensive, academy, so on).  To make sure you're understood if you're trying to differentiate it from a fee-paying school, just call it a state school.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_school#United_Kingdom

Oh, I wish I had seen your post earlier.  If you are still looking for school info, google Kingham Hill School, they are unique in that they offer an american studies program.  About an hour from Swindon I believe.  My daughter goes there, thanks to tuition being paid by the british army.  They are a flexible boarding school, meaning you can be a day student, or a weekly boarder, or a full boarder.

Oh thank you Little Texas!  You're a Godsend!   

We have not yet accepted or declined the position as most of the parties involved have been away on both personal and business travel.  Things are on hold for a bit it would seem.  That is fine with us, it has given us time to gather more information!  This will help us greatly in making the decision when the time comes!

I just came across this thread and thought I'd add what I know, even though it's been a while since you've asked...

My husband moved from the UK to Oklahoma when he was in 6th grade, and he was FAR ahead of his classmates in terms of where he was in all subjects. He was beyond bored with the material, because he'd learned it years before. He told me he felt dumbed down until he started an international school in Houston in 9th grade. The only subject he wasn't up to date with, of course, was US history. It's common for UK schools to teach things earlier than US schools. They begin school at a younger age and they have a longer school year in the UK.

I know people who have gone from the US to UK and the UK to US, and the US will almost always accept school credit from the UK (of course except for Texas history, as another poster has mentioned), but the same can't be said for the UK accepting US credit. So, you shouldn't have any issue when/if they return to the US. It would be the other way around that could be an issue when you first move to the UK.