Ok, I know there are lots of reasons for children to change schools- bullying, poor standards, relocation etc, but aside from this, I just can’t believe the amount of moving around that has gone on at DDs schools. I’m talking about primary and secondary (for transparency, this is in the private system and I don’t know if it’s the same at state). It’s not something I ever experienced as a child - indeed I basically had the same classmates aged 4-12 and 12-18.
In year 6 the class of 20 had about 8 original pupils from reception remaining, and it looks to be going the same way in secondary. Many of these pupils have just gone to another school in the same town or nearby.
Parents seem to whip their kids out for all sorts of reasons - friendship issues that would likely resolve in time, not liking a particular teacher, getting specific bees in their bonnets about eg sport, school trips, the lunch offering - maybe thinking maybe that the grass is greener. But no school is perfect.
DD has gone to just one school for primary and secondary and, yes, it’s not always been smooth sailing. We’ve weathered friendship problems, bad heads, low level bullying, less than brilliant teachers and disruptive classmates. Of course, I know I am lucky that these have been largely surmountable and of course I would move her if she/I was genuinely happy over an extended period. But, in general, I’ve found that most things do work themselves out over the course of one school year.
Each to their own, I know, but I can’t help but feel this has a negative effect on the school community and is setting a poor example to children about resilience, figuring things out and seeing things through.
Preparing to be flamed but please don’t think I’m getting at people whose kids have been genuinely miserable and needed to leave. I’m just wondering if parents need to consider whether problems/gripes should be worked through a bit more.