Would you move your child in y7?

[UnexpectedSchoolOffer]

We got our 3rd choice secondary school. We appealed for 1st choice but it wasn't to be. We did stay on the waiting list. They have just called me out if the blue offering us a place.

I can't decide what to do. My Dd is doing well at school academically but having friendship issues. She does struggle to make new friends and is worried about fitting in. We have 24 hours to make our decision.

Any help appreciated.
Thank you

[CleanLinesSharpEdges]

Go for it. She's only been in the new secondary since September.

When will she be able to start the new school?

[UnexpectedSchoolOffer]

January they have said. I think we should go for it too.

Thanks

[MrsSquirrel]

I would move her. It's still really early days. Your reasons for prefering choice 1 are still good reasons.

In my dd's school they had a number of new pupils joining during Y7. It's quite normal.

[Hakluyt]

What does she want to do?

[UnexpectedSchoolOffer]

They rang after she had left this morning so I haven't asked her yet. We did discuss it last week strangely enough as they sent a letter to see if we wanted to stay on the waiting list after Christmas.

[amidaiwish]

definitely yes.
it's just the first term she's missed. she'll fit in in no time.

[Blue69]

No question, YES!

Good luck, and congratulations!

[EdYouKateShaun]

Absolutely! You'll kick yourself in Y10, 11 etc if you don't.

[Hakluyt]

Well,obviously there will be questions. The OP and her dd might actually quite like the school now. Things look very different when you actually there.

OP- how would you rank the schools now that your dd's done a term at the one she's at? What were your reasons for putting it 3rd?

[Blue69]

Presumably OP has reasons for starting this thread which are about the wisdom of moving her DD, rather than starting a thread because she's now blurry about which school is best, Hakluyt.

[UnexpectedSchoolOffer]

Thanks all. Overall she does like the one she is but there are issues. Only one friend who seems to be very moody. Boys being wild at break time and taking other peoples things including her bag.

The other one would still be my first choice.

I won't force her though but I will try and persuade her to move.

She has friends from primary there but not necessarily in her new class.

[snowmummy]

Yes

[TwoLeftSocks]

I'd say go for it, if your DD wants to. Will he know any of the children already there?

[UnexpectedSchoolOffer]

Yes she knows about 10 boys/girls in that year from primary.

Current school was 3rd choice as it had a bad ofsted. Exam results much better at 1st choice. Much better facilities overall.

[MrsSquirrel]

1st choice school has better exam results and better facilities. Current school has problems with pupil behaviour and had a bad Ofsted. The more you say, the more it sounds like a good idea to move her.

[Notinaminutenow]

Congratulations! Go with your gut instinct - you put the school 1st for a reason.

We too originally got our 3rd preference. It was fine and we embraced it. We were offered 1st preference waiting list place just before Oct half term.

We all visited the school to remind ourselves why we had put it first. We still loved it and thought it would suit DS. Behaviour was better in terms of less low level disruption.

We had a proper chat with DS - he had to go there every day after all - he was happy to move. He was concerned about making friends - he doesn't make friends too easily and had just started to. He was also worried that he might have missed sign up for clubs etc.

First week was a real mix of emotions. So proud of him for just being open-minded and giving it a go.

Scroll forward a few weeks and he is settled, doing well and happy to go to school. Can't ask for more than that!

I wish you all the best for the move. Remember she's only done one term out of 5 or 7 years.

[UnexpectedSchoolOffer]

Thanks all. She doesn't want to go. I am trying to make her see sense but it's hard. She is worried about making friends.

[PotatoesPastaAndBread]

Do it. I moved schools in year seven to a better school. Best thing ever. Rest of year seven was tricky but all forgotten by year eight and my education/good results were worth it.

[TwoLeftSocks]

How about seeing if she can join any clubs where she knows someone? Or maybe she could have a new school party in late Jan / Feb where she can invite some of the people she knows / has started to get to know?

[5exybomb]

I would definitely move her.
Friends = feeling included,
feeling included = confidence,
confidence = working at her best,
working at her best= achieving,
achieving = satisfaction and happiness.

I used to be at a school where I was bullied and had no friends and even though I was academic every day i grew into myself and became withdrawn eventually I left there with just only 2 GCSE's!

Its a no brainer to me!

[CleanLinesSharpEdges]

Any way that you can arrange a get together over the Christmas holidays with her friends from primary that are at this new school?

[UnexpectedSchoolOffer]

Yay! She decided to go for it. Now to find the uniform which is all different.