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Original poster

Moving primary schools

36 replies

Summersummer21 · 08/07/2026 15:54

Mums I really need a bit of sound advice please.
my daughter attends a primary school that all of my family and I used to attend. She has family in the year above and in juniors. She will be going into year 1 in September and has been at the school nursery since 3. (Before that was in private nursery).
the problem is the school is in a different town that we live in. It is 4.2 miles in the car and can take from around 15 mins - 25 minutes I’d say.
the reason we put her here was in case I needed childcare from my family members since they already collect from the school.

however since my job has changed and I do all of the drop offs and pick ups. My son will be starting a school nursery next year and it makes sense for us to change our daughter school for September. There’s a school 12 mins from home walking distance. In 2023 their ofsted was rated good, I know prior to this they had to make some improvements. Me and DH have walked round the school with our DD and were happy with it. I’ve found a local group and asked for feedback from mums and again there’s no concerns.

the dilemma is I feel awful for moving her. She’s settled, has her own friendship group and gets to see her cousins. However I am thinking longer term for her being able to make friends more closer to home and to avoid the unnecessary travel.

im also thinking for trips to the library or swimming with school, I’d rather her be around our local area.

any advice or tips would be hugely appreciated!

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Original poster
Summersummer21 · 09/07/2026 14:34

@Goodmorningeveryone26 thank you for the reassurance - I feel so guilty but I guess that’s part of being a parent and making grown up decisions! She’s such a lovely kind girl so I do know she’d settle quickly. I’m definitely overthinking it for sure

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Original poster
Summersummer21 · 09/07/2026 14:32

@ACynicalDad good idea I have emailed the school so I’ll try and get something sorted - hopefully this would save us both from worrying 😂

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Thechaseison71 · 09/07/2026 14:26

SummerInSun · 08/07/2026 16:12

If you want to move her I’m sure she’ll be fine as PP have said. But a 15-25 min trip to school sounds like nothing to me! Depends on what geography you are used to I guess

Yeah I kept my DD at a school that was a 15 / 20 mins drive away despite a place opening up in the school near me ( 3 mins walk. ) that her sister was in year 6 at

But adding to that the reason they were in 2 different schools was that we moved when they were year 1 and 3 and no space in local school for dd2 then. If id sent DD1 to same school as DD2 I'd have lost transport I was given for dd2 ( although obviously I did lose it when DD2 was offered a place at DD1s school

Both of them soon settled from the previous school near where I used to live though

SparkyBlue · 09/07/2026 14:24

Absolutely move her. Honestly it will be fine

ACynicalDad · 09/07/2026 14:21

Make the request and try to get her in before the end of term so she isn't worried about it over the summer and doesn't go in as the completely new child. Mine moved at the end of year 1 and has flourished. Loads more friends, loads happier, has excelled.

Goodmorningeveryone26 · 09/07/2026 14:16

from everything you’ve said, definitely move her. I moved one of my children in year 3 and he was well settled by the end of the first term. It feels hard to move a child when they’re happy because you’ll have lovely memories of her early years there, but it will be so much easier to have them
blth at a local school with friends nearby. Do it

Original poster
Summersummer21 · 09/07/2026 14:07

@Pinkflamingo10 its definitely doable but it’s more about the fact that it’s not in our local area and her brother will be starting next year. It’s in an area I grew up in and no longer want to be apart of. But the school has been amazing but we have one so close to us so I think it does make sense to move her. Especially during winter it’ll be more of a hassle!

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sweatybettytoday · 09/07/2026 14:05

I moved my daughter when she was 8 to an amazing place to live. She’s in a small school but absolutely thriving and zero regrets. I wouldn’t move a child when in secondary school but primary age is a different matter.

Pinkflamingo10 · 09/07/2026 13:58

15-25min trip to school sounds totally doable ?

Julimia · 09/07/2026 13:55

I would move her and explain it to her. Dont worry about Ofsted ratings too much go with your observations and gut feelings(as you seem to be doing .

Original poster
Summersummer21 · 09/07/2026 13:47

@Wildrose83 honestly everything in me knows we should move her but then there’s something in me that’s struggling with the idea. I think because there’s always been somebody in my family at the school but also because of her friends! I know it sounds silly because she’s 5 next month but it breaks my heart, but I know it would be right. Especially when my DS starts the school nursery next year

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Wildrose83 · 09/07/2026 12:12

Move her! Kids are so resilient (the younger they move the better). She will make new friends and pretty quickly forget the old ones. We’ve done it twice due to relocation. Absolutely fine. Having friends on your doorstep for play dates, clubs and classes, Christmas and Haloween events is really lovely. Walking to school is also brilliant if you can manage it with work.

Original poster
Summersummer21 · 08/07/2026 21:20

@smithypants thats exactly it. My family are also saying the opposite so that’s why it’s pulling me back and forth! That’s what tends to happen if any of us amongst me and my sisters do something different🙈

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Original poster
Summersummer21 · 08/07/2026 21:19

@Screamingabdabz thank you I have done the application and look around and she has been accepted so I just have two weeks to accept. I think I’m finding it hard because there’s not a problem with the current school I just wish it was a little closer!

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smithypants · 08/07/2026 20:44

Do it. I think you are answering your own question in the thread and just need validation. Your child being able to walk or cycle to her mates is v important

Screamingabdabz · 08/07/2026 20:21

I would also agree with pp about moving. I moved two of mine and never looked back. Just make sure that she will be allowed a place before you burn any bridges. If they’re already at capacity you may be refused.

Shelleyblueeyes · 08/07/2026 20:18

Move her.

She is so young she will make friends and forget about the old school altogether in no time at all.

You have years of primary school ahead of you.

Just make the move asap.
X

Highlandschmiland · 08/07/2026 20:17

I moved my two boys 10 and 7 this academic year. Locally as well, we didn’t move but things weren’t right. It’s been the best thing we did. Never once regretted it. The previous school is like a distant memory.

NotReallyWithIt · 08/07/2026 19:41

We moved ours mid year when they were nursery, year 1 and year 3. We’d moved house and, although the journey wasn’t long, by the time we’d done the school run, nursery pick up, after school collection and then after club collection it was totally exhausting and used loads of petrol! They adapted really quickly and had local friends as they became more independent. It was also easier for them to have friends round after school because we were walking rather than having to squeeze more into the car (don’t even think about the car seat situation!) The only time I wouldn’t have done it is if one of them was going into year 6 and destined to attend the same secondary as our local school…

hopspot · 08/07/2026 18:28

Summersummer21 · 08/07/2026 17:19

@hopspot this makes me feel reassured thank you. It’s because of how much the teachers also love her and are looking forward to having her brother next year. I feel guilty telling them!

I understand your quandary. I’m sure her new teachers will feel the same!

Original poster
Summersummer21 · 08/07/2026 18:00

@MargeryBargery thats so true!

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Original poster
Summersummer21 · 08/07/2026 17:19

@hopspot this makes me feel reassured thank you. It’s because of how much the teachers also love her and are looking forward to having her brother next year. I feel guilty telling them!

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hopspot · 08/07/2026 16:41

I would move. I teach this age and children settle really quickly and make new friends. It’s great to be able to walk to school and play out with school friends.

MrWaldonsLeg · 08/07/2026 16:36

Don't feel awful, look at the positive, she made friends so she can do it again and the younger they are the better. I put my children into a secondary school none of their friends went to. I took them away from the shitty feeder secondary where all of their friends went. They were 11, made friends that they still see and talk to now as adults.

I worked in a primary school, places become available because parents move, sometimes it is because of jobs, schools, divorce or being widowed. Children adapt, they are more resilient than you think. Feeling awful just means you care.

Original poster
Summersummer21 · 08/07/2026 16:28

@MrWaldonsLeg thank you for sharing this - I definitely think walking there and back would be much better than being in the car!
I think I worry because she went to the school nursery and she has her little friendship group that has been formed for 2 years now so I feel awful!

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