Can your child keep British GCSEs if you move to the USA?

You are leaving the UK for the United States. The child is already on an English curriculum — Key Stage 3, GCSEs or A-Levels. The first offer is often a British international-school place, or a seat in the local American year. Places are tight mid-year. Waiting is not a plan for next Monday. An accredited UK online school keeps the British curriculum with live lessons while you settle. Matching is free for parents.

Florida — including Orlando and the wider Disney-belt — is where many UK families land; other states are the same decision. Geography is not a curriculum. An international-school waiting list can wait; teaching should not. The same choice we set out for the Gulf — British GCSEs online from Dubai — and for families going the other way, in Polish, applies here. Keep the British pathway going. A UK online enrolment is not a substitute for US state school rules. online-schools.co.uk is a matching service, not a school and not a law firm.

Keep the English curriculum — do not wait for an international-school place

GCSEs are qualifications, not a British postcode. Exam boards set the papers. The certificate does not say whether the teaching happened in a UK classroom or on a laptop in Florida. Live lessons and a path to GCSEs or A-Levels can start before you fly, or mid-year once you have a desk. Most of the schools we match will take a child in the middle of the British year when the family is ready. We do not promise a Monday start — that depends on year group and spare seats. If you need a January switch, see starting online school in January. Broader exam picture: GCSEs and A-Levels online.

Leave the UK school roll properly before you fly

If the child is still on a UK school roll, “we are emigrating” is not deregistration. Write to the school. While you still live in England, education is compulsory from age 5; going to a physical school is not. Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 requires the parent to cause a child of compulsory school age to receive efficient full-time education suitable to age, ability, aptitude and any SEN, “either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.” That “or otherwise” covers home education, including a full-time UK online school.

Educating your child at home (GOV.UK): tell the school; it must accept if you take the child out completely. If they attend a special school, you need the council’s permission. Full-time education from age 5 is required; the national curriculum is not. The Department for Education’s elective home education guidance cites section 7. A ready letter is on the deregistration guide. You can start live lessons immediately, or wait until you have a US address. This is general information, not legal advice.

US school year, British terms, time zones, mid-year start

The calendars do not line up. A typical US school year runs from around mid-August to late May or early June. The British year runs from early September to mid-July, in three terms. Leave in January and you are mid-year in both systems. Leave in July and you hit the American start of year during the British summer holiday. Neither calendar is a reason to park the child on an international-school waiting list with no teaching. Ask which British term they can join.

Time zones are the practical constraint. Eastern Time — Florida, New York, the Disney-belt — is usually five hours behind the UK. A live UK lesson at 9am is 4am in Orlando. Afternoon UK classes land in the American morning. Ask for the timetable before you pay a deposit. Families with heavy training hours — see online school for young athletes — should put those hours on the form. Some families keep the UK school until the move, then switch once they have a desk. Confirm year group, subjects and exam board before you pay a deposit.

A UK online school does not automatically satisfy US state school rules

Education law in the United States is a state matter. A UK online school does not enrol the child in a Florida public school or any other US district, and it does not by itself prove you have met a state’s compulsory-attendance or homeschool rules. Confirm those with the state education department where you will live. English rules apply while you still live in England; after you move they do not replace US state rules. If the child has SEN, say so on the form — an EHCP does not travel by itself. Companion: online school for SEN.

Exams: lessons on a laptop, papers in a centre

Lessons can run on a laptop. Final papers do not. If the child is not on the roll of a physical school or college, they sit GCSEs, AS and A-Levels as a private candidate at an approved exam centre. JCQ: independent private candidates may sit GCSEs and A-Levels only inside the UK. You can take those Level 1 to Level 3 assessments overseas only if you are enrolled as a student at an approved international school or college. If you are studying for International GCSEs (iGCSEs), you are usually able to sit them as a private candidate at an approved international school or college.

That is why a good UK online school for a family in the United States will map the child onto Cambridge International or Pearson Edexcel International GCSEs, rather than promising a living-room AQA hall in Florida. Confirm the exam plan, city and board before you pay a deposit. Check that the centre will accept science practicals and other non-exam assessment. We do not guarantee a centre in your state.

We are not a school. You tell us the year group, that you are relocating or already in the USA, when you need to start, your budget, and any SEN. We name accredited UK online schools with live lessons and a path to GCSEs or A-Levels. Parents do not pay us. There is no obligation to enrol. The form below is the match — same desk as the homepage.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child keep British GCSEs if we move to the USA?

Yes. They can stay on Key Stage 3, GCSEs or A-Levels with a UK online school. From the USA they will usually sit International GCSEs at an approved centre.

Do we have to wait for an international-school place?

No. Continuity of teaching is the plan. An international-school waiting list can be a later practicality. It is not a reason to pause a British GCSE or A-Level path.

How do we leave the UK school roll before we fly?

Write to the school. GOV.UK: the school must accept if you are taking the child out completely. If they attend a special school, you need the council’s permission. Use the letter on the deregistration guide. You do not have to start the online school on the same day.

How do time zones and the US school year affect live lessons?

Eastern Time is usually five hours behind the UK, so a 9am British lesson is 4am in Florida. Afternoon UK classes land in the American morning. Check the live timetable before you pay a deposit. Mid-year starts are normal.

Where will they sit the exams from the USA?

At an approved physical centre, not on the sofa. JCQ: independent private candidates may sit GCSEs and A-Levels only in the UK; International GCSEs may usually be sat at an approved international school or college overseas. Confirm city, board and fees with the school.

Is matching free, and do we have to enrol?

Yes, matching is free for parents, and there is no obligation to enrol.

Keep the British pathway going while you settle

You can move and keep the English curriculum. Tell us the year group and the city you are moving to, and we will name schools that can actually take the child.

Sources

1. GOV.UK, Educating your child at home. Tell the school; it must accept if you take the child out completely; special-school pupils need council permission. Full-time education from age 5; you do not have to follow the national curriculum.
2. Department for Education, Elective home education (guidance for local authorities and parents; last updated 19 August 2024). Cites Education Act 1996, section 7. Departmental view of the current legal framework; does not create new powers.
3. legislation.gov.uk, Education Act 1996, section 7. Parental duty to secure efficient full-time education suitable to age, ability, aptitude and SEN, “either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”
4. Joint Council for Qualifications, Private candidates. Independent private candidates may sit GCSEs and A-Levels only in the UK; International GCSEs may usually be sat as a private candidate at an approved international school or college overseas. Centres set fees, deadlines and access arrangements; check NEA/coursework with the centre.