Unfair Caterham School !

Choisumwong

My friend 's son said that it was totally unfair in Caterham School. Some HK students who completed form 3 and then were accepted by Caterham School to study year 9. Of course, there academic level should be higher than younger age students. But their parents like to compare with other kids and said they were proud of their kids !. It in fact is a trick. They should go to year 10, but repeat their form (grade 9) in different location. One of those students come from St.XXX Co-ed school. What is your opinion ?

peter_pan

回復 Choisumwong 的帖子

Most UK schools accept students according to their age. As HK local school kids start schools a year later than their UK counterparts, most students should skip a year if they are to be age appropriate. But because HK local schools accept kids born within a 16 month period rather than a 12 month period, so some students don't have to skip a year.
Year 9 is for 13 year old kids so in order to be age appropriate, HK local school stuidents would have entered after finishing Form 1 but some will enter after finishing Form 2 if they are born in the last 4 months of the 16 month period. It is highly unlikely that they would accept students who have finished Form 3 as they will be way too old!
There are HK parents who won't let their kids skip a year. The price to pay is that they will end up entering university a year later than their HK friends.

Choisumwong

回復 peter_pan 的帖子

I understand the difference between HK and UK and the flexibility for school to take up students from HK. But it would  be inappropriate to compare students in the same year of school as many international students from HK are one year younger. There is no need to bloast the kids' academic level seeing the difference !

spiderlily

Is your friend's son in Caterham Year 9 now?

It would be quite strange to repeat, rather than skip a year.  

If the parents are already proud of the trick, let them be.  Their kids will show shortly after this year as the advantage of repeat fades away.

Is Caterham accepted quite a number of St XXXX Co-edu / DxS...?

Choisumwong

回復 spiderlily 的帖子

I heard of some student from local elite schools. They actually could not  get into the science class in form 4. Then they went to Caterham to study year 9 after completing form 3. I would say such game is not fair. But the school does not care the Chinese game.

Ruby1219

but in that case means those kids are two years older?

spiderlily

Hard to say fair or unfair.

They spend one more year.  If they are not the top batch, they will soon be back to their batch.  Just wait patiently.

spiderlily

Choisumwong 發表於 13-10-22 20:20
回復 spiderlily 的帖子

I heard of some student from local elite schools. They actually could not  g ...

They can go straight to Grade 10, as Science subjects seem compulsory in UK.  Anyway, strange.

Choisumwong

回復 Ruby1219 的帖子

The kids must be one year older than the peers in UK and from HK international schools.

demio

回復 Choisumwong 的帖子

Hi Choisumwong,

According to your friend, is Caterham School is a good school?  Let's put aside what your friend have said about the F.3 student studied Year 9 at Caterham (omg, he will be one year older than those Yr 9 student).  How about the boarding life and teaching?   

Thanks.

Choisumwong

回復 demio 的帖子

Like many boarding schools, facility and teaching are quite good if you don't mind competition among 'a bit clever' and  ' older' HK students.

demio

回復 Choisumwong 的帖子

I son will be in trouble

Choisumwong

回復 demio 的帖子

Don't worry too much. The case I know is in year 10 now. But I am not sure how many HK students entering year 9 this year  will be similar. Your son can spot out the HK students who look more bigger and mature than the rest.

peter_pan

If they are only 1 year older than the others, then it is hardly strange at all. Most local students who don't 'skip' a year are 1 year older than the others. I am sure this is happening not only in Catherham but in all the other schools as well - I know of several DGS girls in Headington & CLC who are 1 year older than their peers.

spiderlily

I think it is a short term phenomenon.  Their competitive strengths are to be faded away in Year 10.  Hence, the academic results would be more fair then.

Choisumwong

I am such an 'innocent' parent in education !