Best time to switch to private

[igglepigglegingin]

Going to try and keep it short.
Our state secondary school options are abysmal and moving is not an option.There is an excellent private grammar (which is actually from 3yrs +) locally to us - intake at 11+ is very sparse although they say if a child attends the school from yr5, they don't have to take the entrance exams.
My question is assume there will be a substantial intake at yr5 which means it may be as competitive as 11+?
We can afford to put DD in from infant school to avoid as much change as possible - has anyone done this to secure secondary places? It feels drastic but I can't see any other option....? Our other DD is 18 months younger so she won't be far behind....

[Br1ll1ant]

We moved one in year 5 (because of a disastrous time at state) and the other for year 3. Tbh I wish we’d started there as the difference it has made is tremendous, but year 3 is a natural time to move.
It is a sensible choice to look at secondary options, although things can change a lot in 5-6 years, it sneaks up on you much quicker than you imagine!

[igglepigglegingin]

Thanks - we're looking at reception as I assume the intake will be at it's least competitive (I'd hope so anyway!)?!
I attended small private school and then boarding school so I'm not used to this independent grammar situation where every place is gold-dust!

[MMmomDD]

Other parents in the area will be thinking the same, so no reason to assume that the I race won’t be competitive.
But it is what it is. And at 3/4+ there isn’t much one can do to prepare really. Other than just do normal parent/kid sort of stuff - books, playing, talking about life....

If you can afford it - and are happy with the upper school - why not try to enter at the earliest possible point, just to avoid stress and uncertainty of later year entrance?
And - if R doesn’t work out - then you’ll have a few more years to try.
And in addition - her sister will then have an easier route.

[wigornian]

Go as early as you can, please! DS started prep feeder school for the Senior school in our city - all one school, 2 peeps on different sites. Year 5 now and absolutely set for easy transition.

Tbh what is really annoying is the “state ‘til eight brigade” disrupting things later on !!!

[MrPickles73]

Our area is non competitive for school places. If you go to the junior school you get a free pass to the senior school. We have a number of serious issues in years 2 and 3. Moved DC1 half way through year 3 from state to private. They settled in the new school within a week! Now been there a year and very happy. Quite a few moved in year 3. 2 more have joined in year 4 and already another signed up to join in year 5.
DC2 is still at the primary but there is a new HT and the old teacher is now a but more on the ball after the Greek tragedy we had with DC2 and we are more experienced parents. He us still happy so we will leave him there as long as we can to a. Save money and b. More importantly the journey to school is 45 min quicker!