School questions before an international move
Confirm placement, documents, calendars, subject continuity, language support and the actual campus before organising an international move.
By Private School · Published · Updated
Map the child's actual transition
Give admissions your child's current year, curriculum and intended arrival date. Ask how those details map to the offered year or grade, what evidence the placement decision uses, and whether an assessment is needed. Use the school's current placement policy rather than assuming that similarly named grades are equivalent.
- Which year or grade is proposed, and is it confirmed or conditional?
- Which subjects, languages and qualification route apply to that year?
- Does the next phase change the curriculum or entry requirements?
- If moving during a course, which completed work transfers and what needs to be caught up?
- Who will review the transition plan and confirm it in writing?
Check subject continuity before transferring
Compare the current and receiving schools' actual subject choices, levels, assessment stages and teaching sequence. IB guidance notes that subject choices vary between schools and directs transferring families to the receiving school. Ask the relevant subject or programme coordinator about gaps before relying on a matching curriculum label.
Obtain the current document and timing checklist
Ask when applications open, whether the offered year has places or a waiting list, and when a decision could be made. Request the current document list from admissions and clarify any translation, attestation or previous-school requirements that apply to your case. Check the current requirements for your destination and the named school.
Send identity documents and sensitive child information directly through the school's approved secure channel. The directory enquiry form is for an adult's general question and cannot submit an application or confirm placement.
- What must be submitted before assessment, an offer and enrolment?
- Which documents must come from the current school, and by what deadline?
- Does the arrival date allow entry at that point in the academic year?
- What happens if a place or proposed placement is not confirmed in time?
Separate language subjects from language support
Confirm the main teaching language for the child's phase. Ask how pupils who are new to that language are assessed and supported, who provides the support, when it happens and whether it costs extra. Separately check home-language and additional-language subjects, proficiency groups and continuation in later years.
Discuss learning or other support requirements with the school's designated team. Ask how provision is agreed, monitored and reviewed, and get the relevant scope and costs in writing before making plans.
Plan around the actual campus and calendar
Confirm the campus that teaches the offered phase before choosing accommodation. Check start and finish times, transport routes, after-school care, term dates, holidays, examination periods and any induction programme. A destination collection can contain different campus locations; the directory cannot establish your family's daily journey.
Keep a dated relocation note
Record the offered year and pathway, application status, outstanding documents, arrival and start dates, confirmed support, full costs and the admissions contact. Mark uncertain items explicitly and request an update when circumstances change. Return to your shortlist if a key condition cannot be met.