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Original poster

Would you move your dc to a new school for y10?

39 replies

StableGenius · 13/06/2018 09:29

My dc (one in y9 one in y8) has just had the worst ofsted report I've ever seen (and I worked in education for many years and have seen a lot).

I knew the school was struggling after the last head (who had turned it from a 'bog standard comp' to the shiny super-school of the area) left suddenly in horrible (and identifying, so I won't elaborate) circumstances at the end of 2015, but I'd held on in the hope things would settle.

Clearly, 2.5 years later, they are nowhere near that point and I'm concerned.

There are 4 schools in this town, and not one has a rating above 'Requires Improvement', but in the neighbouring town (9 miles away) there is an Outstanding school with a very long-standing reputation for excellence. As it serves a rural area with declining population, it's likely to have spaces. I've called them this morning and am waiting for a call back.

It would involve a 30-ish min bus trip each way for the dc, but as they will be nearly 15 and 13, that doesn't bother me too much. My main worry is that the school doesn't offer one of dc1's GCSE options.

Dc are both on board with the idea and pretty excited (at the moment).

WWYD?

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wwwwwwwwwwwwww · 30/06/2018 22:41

I would move them. You can catch up anything missed through early starts to GCSE easily. It sounds like you know the school they are in is not performing and within a reasonable commute you have a better option.

Zoflorabore · 30/06/2018 22:37

Completely different reasons ( bullying ) but I moved my ds at the end of year 7, he literally started his new school on 29th June so got used to everything before the school went back in September and he started year 8.
If the school will allow them in now I would honestly do it, that few weeks makes such a difference as they are not starting after the summer as "new" and already know their teachers/classmates/building etc.

Best of luck Flowers

Rosieposy4 · 30/06/2018 22:31

Good luck, best thing i ever did with one of my dc

Labradoodliedoodoo · 30/06/2018 18:20

Go for it. Move them next week if you can

Oratory1 · 30/06/2018 18:12

If they are looking forward to it that’s half the battle

Original poster
StableGenius · 29/06/2018 23:58

Thanks, everyone - the girls are very keen to switch to French (we often go to France, and they love it), so I'm going with it.

Fingers crossed it will all work out. The school is amazing on paper - but so was the old one when they joined...

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gandalf456 · 29/06/2018 13:39

I was going to ask the same question although the school DD is interested in isn't offering places. They did say I could fill in an in year transfer form, though.

Oratory1 · 29/06/2018 09:46

I guess it depends if languages are something they care about/want to continue later. If not it may be worth sacrificing one subject (ie switch to French and accept it might be a struggle and lower grades etc) if its worth it to get better school and better teaching in other subjects.

Don't worry about missing start of GCSE teaching - if they are happy in school and if the school is any good they will soon catch up.

When I moved DD part way through year 10 she had to drop one of her subjects and continue another outside school but it was worth it as everything else was so much better

Original poster
StableGenius · 28/06/2018 23:03

Quick update: dc have been offered places at the school and we are talking about moving to the neighbouring town (more expensive property but we could probably cover it).

The new dilemma - dc have studied different MFL at their current school. To get into new school, they have to study the same MFL (school's 'house' type system, siblings have to be in the same house, don't ask me why). They have both decided to ditch their original MFL (dd1 Spanish, dd2 German) and take French.

I'm OK with this (have QTS with French, speak good French, love the language and excited about bringing them up to speed). But am I letting my excitement put them at a disadvantage? Sorry, this is a bit of a specialist question and I might start a separate thread - but does anyone have any thoughts?

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noblegiraffe · 13/06/2018 16:17

If the original school is that shit, then moving even if they’ve already started GCSEs at the new school will probably end up with better results/support than staying put.
Teachers will be quitting the original school too, and they may struggle to recruit replacements.

I taught a student who moved to my school near Christmas of Y10 and even though they had to put in lots of extra work to catch up what they’d missed (the school provided the SoL, I think they may have had tutors as well), and it turned out to be harder than they expected, they were still adamant it was the right choice and got good GCSEs.

Soursprout · 13/06/2018 14:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BrownTurkey · 13/06/2018 10:23

Do it, do it now!

Original poster
StableGenius · 13/06/2018 10:04

They definitely pick options in mid y9, so they won't have got too far ahead yet, I hope.

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Original poster
StableGenius · 13/06/2018 10:03

Seeline, this area has always been an anomaly in the county for having middle schools up to y7 and starting the upper school in y8. It's unusual, but I think the grammar schools in a neighbouring borough did the same thing until recently. This is the last frontier of the 3 tier system locally now.

I suspect they'll have made a tentative start on GCSE courses, but I'm willing to put in some work over the summer hols if catch up is required.

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Missingstreetlife · 13/06/2018 09:57

Media studies not the most useful qualification, can maybe do as extra subject later.

Seeline · 13/06/2018 09:53

I thought with three tier system, children moved at the beginning of Y9, usually straight into GSCE courses at that stage. It's possible the new school could have already completed a year of the courses.

Original poster
StableGenius · 13/06/2018 09:53

Skinny, my thoughts exactly! I bet their switchboard is red hot this morning.

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SkinnyForSummer · 13/06/2018 09:52

In that case, yes move if children are willing to put in extra work. Do so quickly before everyone else jumps ship too.

Original poster
StableGenius · 13/06/2018 09:52

Manatee, the GCSE is Media Studies - obviously something not many schools offer at GCSE, so easy to take up from scratch at A-Level. But she does really love it.

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Original poster
StableGenius · 13/06/2018 09:50

Barbarian, I think they're happy to move because they just don't really like the school. They have friends there, but they all live very locally so they'd still see a lot of each other.

Dc2 is very sporty and musical, and extra-curricular provision at old school is rubbish, whereas the new school does all sorts, so she is v keen to join teams/choirs etc.

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Oratory1 · 13/06/2018 09:50

If the DCs are keen then I would. One of mine moved at October half term of year 10, not ideal but still the best thing we ever did. If they are keen and the teaching is any good it shouldn't be a problem especially if you/they liaise with the school during year 10 to check for any gaps that won't be covered.

Original poster
StableGenius · 13/06/2018 09:46

GCSE results have gone way down in the last 2 years. This year's y11 (friend's daughter is in this cohort) are very anxious that they haven't had adequate grounding in the new exams.

When Progress8 scores were released earlier this year, old school's were awful. (Along with the other 3 schools in the town.)

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SexyManatee · 13/06/2018 09:46

How important is that one GCSE option? Is it a must have (to DC) or a would like?

elephantscanring · 13/06/2018 09:44

In upper schools here they have already started Year 10 and GCSE teaching. Started a couple of weeks ago.

BarbarianMum · 13/06/2018 09:44

Regardless of the GCSE results, why ate the kids happy to move? That suggests quite strongly that all is not well - generally young teens want to stay with what they know and their friends.