Would you move your child to a different school, if they asked?

[AmyYma]

DD has just gone info Yr 9. She used to speak to the school counsellor (wasn't actually employed by the school, but was from a company that offered counselling to young people). Not sure what they spoke about, but am just glad she had someone (had lots of crying/anger at school) she is so much better now and she helped her a lot (I think she just needed somewhere to just talk (dad left us not that long ago)). However, this worker has now decided to take up a teaching position at the school! She is also DD's teacher. I would ask for it to be changed but she was employed just for the one subject (PSHE/Citizenship) as they were running out of regular staff to teach if, so is the only one who does it.

DD has asked me if she could please move schools, she says she gave it a go (which she has, as she has had her since September 2nd) but finds it too awkward and is always on edge about her talking to other teachers/head of year, etc. about her, as the sessions were confidential. I feel like it's added a lot of unnecessary anxiety around her regular teachers (paranoid they have been told). It's odd for her to ask to be moved (lots of great friends and is loving school at the moment) but says that it's just worrying her too much.

Would you let her move?

[lessthanBeau]

Could you have a meeting with the teacher and your dd, so she can explain the confidentiality of the counseling sessions and reassure your DD that nothing has or will be divulged to the other teachers regarding her counseling? If your DD hears this first hand from the teacher she may be less anxious. I wouldn't do anything major without a full discussion with this teacher first.

[TheSnowFairy]

If the sessions were confidential, she should trust they have not been shared.

If she was happy enough in years 7&8 I would not move her, especially as it may be linked to outside circumstances.

If she has always been unhappy then yes, I would definitely look at moving.

But as you say she loves school and has friends I think this will pass.

[harderandharder2breathe]

Yes to discussing confidentiality with the counsellor, hopefully that will reassure her

If this is the only issue I wouldn't move her