Held back a yr, what year to apply next year?

[wegetable]

Due to IS being oversubscribed this year, my 5 yr old didn't get in P1 in any international school we applied. Though we were offered a spot in K2 instead of P1 in one school. We took the offer thinking at least he goes straight to P1 next year without an interview so we don't have to go through what we went through this year. Now new school year start, I am exploring other schools for 2012/2013, given I pulled my kid for one year, do I apply for P1 or P2 for him for the next calendar year? I am a stay home mom and I teach my kid a lot at home, he is more academically advanced than other kids at his age so I am not sure to keep him pulled back a year or skip a grade. He was born in June so maybe either way would be alright.

 

[MommyTo3]

Due to IS being oversubscribed this year, my 5 yr old didn't get in P1 in any international school we applied. Though we were offered a spot in K2 instead of P1 in one school. We took the offer thinking at least he goes straight to P1 next year without an interview so we don't have to go through what we went through this year. Now new school year start, I am exploring other schools for 2012/2013, given I pulled my kid for one year, do I apply for P1 or P2 for him for the next calendar year? I am a stay home mom and I teach my kid a lot at home, he is more academically advanced than other kids at his age so I am not sure to keep him pulled back a year or skip a grade. He was born in June so maybe either way would be alright.

You have to call the school. For ESF they would automatically look for Year 2 unless you discuss your options prior to starting. I am not sure how this would work with the Central Application for Year 1 since his birth year wouldn't match. Most children in ESF who are held back have discussed this with the school and places are kind of reserved assuming they pass the interview again (I know people who had this happen, but they did have to pass the interview in the first place). You basically didn't have a spot, so they wouldn't consider him a Year 1 student. Most kids who are held back in ESF have end of year birthdays and are very close to the cut off (or may have individual needs). With a June birthday, it's highly likely they would consider him as a Year 2.

When interviewing for Year 2 they'll also look at reading, spelling, writing and maths, etc. not just understanding of English. My experience is that there would probably become between 10-15 spots at most in a certain year level available per school during the year (most of them over the summer holiday). Priority goes to those with siblings, ESF transfers, children of teachers, etc, all included in the 15. Still not easy.

I assume the K2 is not ESF though?