Moving from private to state school experiences…

Has the OP disappeared?

Curious what grounds you think you have for appeal?

Others are right to point out that it’s not just the subject but the exam board… but also, be careful with regards to a full school and individual class availability. At my teen’s state school some students don’t get their first choice subject because they need to balance the subjects. If you do find some valid appeal grounds, don’t be surprised if you want top set Geography and he gets second set History.

@barnbaby
Most people apply for bursaries at private schools because they believe the state schools to be useless. Otherwise why apply to join those snobby awful private school parents? You wouldn’t bother, would you? You would be happy for your DC to go to the comp with all his friends.

I am well aware many state schools are brilliant but the OP clearly didn’t think so. Or DS would have gone to one. Now she won’t accept any school, she wants the best school which doesn’t have places.

@TizerorFizz wow that is a sweeping generalisation about ‘useless state schools’. Many of them are really good, some much better than private counterparts.

I’m well versed on state discipline, behaviour and exclusions. Private is utterly different. They won’t tolerate this from a DC they have spent mega bucks on. The other DC won’t be keen either. Nor their parents. He’s Y10. They know exactly what the school is! Why didn’t they say “no thanks” at the end of y9 or y8? As for settling in: do you think bursary DC should be singled out for separate treatment? Or separate coaching? Or just treated differently? Most people don’t want this. If you think a school is snobby snd you don’t like it: don’t go! However the OP took their money! She was happy enough to do that!

Also plenty of bursaries are paid for by the fees of other parents. They simply won’t expect this type of behaviour. Some of them won’t be the richest either. This behaviour would not be acceptable at state schools either. Most schools don’t see the type of violence and drug dealing you describe. If this is repeated behaviour, the school will want him out. If he’s suddenly a poor fit (and I assume he went in y7) then admit it snd move much earlier. However “something for nothing” is a massive pull.

OP - are there any race issues? Just wondering because of your user name. Always use whatever you can to defend your DC, but make sure he understands that he is there just to get his GCSEs now and can then bounce.

@Tallerthanmost - “Suggesting “move schools” instead of working to sort the issue feels like a dereliction of duty on the schools part.”

Exactly this. Perhaps a few full paying parents have complained about the bursary kid… Nobody gets expelled for a bit of vaping.

@TizerorFizz - I was commenting on the OP’s post “the school is fairly strict which he doesn’t like, has long hours and also has a particularly snobbish undercurrent - which I know not all private schools do.”
So it does sound like a snobby school. Obviously a kid who has been to state school 9-3pm ish might require some adjustment and might feel a bit awkward with old fashioned traditions, discipline, snobbism. If the school offer full bursaries, then they need to help those kids settle in.
Bit of truancy and vaping - not a huge issue. He isn’t beating anyone up or breaking bones or threatening teachers or dealing drugs. They shouldn’t just be able to get rid of him easily.
Personally, free or not, as a bursary student they should have the same rights as a fee paying student. That is the whole point of the concept. I bet the fee paying students would be threatening to sue the school if managed out for minor offences.

I have experience of this type of thing professionally speaking, it isn’t my tribe on a personal level. The OP needs to know her rights. If it is a well known school, PR threat is always a winner.

@Aleaiactaest
So why apply for a bursary then? If you don’t want to join the the “snobby and stuck up” parents, you are not forced too! Wanting something for nothing springs to mind. Leaving the useless state schools and the other parents behind too is usually a big selling point! If they are really your tribe, don’t pretend you are someone else.

Vaping and skipping a class or two ……. Surely that just a few detentions and maybe a two day suspension depending on the police on vaping.

moving schools nearly half way through his GCSEs could be a huge issue, one I’d take as a last resort.

what you have described seems more like a pastoral / behaviour issue that the school need to sort, it’s also the type of thing that will possibly be an issue in any school.

Suggesting “move schools” instead of working to sort the issue feels like a dereliction of duty on the schools part.

I wouldn’t bother now to be honest. He might get bullied for being ex private kid. Not worth the risk.

They might do the same subjects but that does not guarantee a place in that subject if the classes are already full.

That is a difficult one, sounds like the school really doesn’t suit him. However, best for his education would be to finish his GCSEs there and then go to state for Sixth Form. Is he getting any free counselling at the private to address his unhappiness? Usually private schools are desperate to make sure their bursary students do well. I wouldn’t just be fobbed off by the headteacher of the private school but insist that they work with him until GCSEs are done. Poor kid- it isn’t easy to fit into a snobby stuck up place as a bursary child. They should be going out of the way to make sure he is happy there.

@rookiemere
Very very few private schools have harsh behaviour policies. Stars is no different and usually harsher. If you are vaping and truanting in a state school, I see no difference in discipline policy or sanctions.

What is happening to the other boys that he is vaping etc with? Are they also in trouble?! or do they pay more fees and therefore less is expected of their behaviour?

It's not just whether they offer the same subjects, it's exam boards, order they teach the material in, topic choices, which lessons have physical space for a 31st desk. My DC are at different schools doing the same GCSE board and in History and English they are doing almost completely different topics. Schools tend to be extremely reluctant to take DC after the start of Y10.

You might have to spread the net a bit wider and consider other schools. A move from private to "leafy", academic state school should be fairly smooth for him socially, but this may be the type of school most resistant to taking him more than a term into Y10.

Sounds like the headteacher wants him to go. Based on that the decision is simple.

Skipping classes is called 'truancy' at the state maintained school I work at and is indeed an offence which incurs a suspension. Vaping also incurs a suspension (new wording now - not called exclusions unless permanent). Too many suspensions and you're looking at permanent exclusion. The only route open after that would be another private, or a PRU.

Agree with a previous poster - what are his state educated friends like? That's key.

-'I bet he likes the idea of a move. I’ve seen Dc like this find their equally annoying tribe. The op needs to be realistic about his behaviour. '

I think that's a bit unfair. Private schools can feel a bit brutal if you can't find your own crowd and far better for him to go somewhere he's actively picking than continue where he isn't happy and they don't want him.

Skipping classes would be almost unheard of at dcs independent. Unless someone was very troubled and unusually difficult. It just doesn't happen. Does he not care about his bursary? Or maybe he finds the pressure of it too difficult. Could he be bribed and nursed through gxse years then move in 6th form or do you think they are about to remove the bursary?

I bet he likes the idea of a move. I’ve seen Dc like this find their equally annoying tribe. The op needs to be realistic about his behaviour.

As for the poster who doesn’t realise results promote independent schools! They are businesses of course but to get the Dc they want, they need obvious success. Results and destinations are key. Other parents won’t want Dc messing about. Of course they will protect their image. In fact plenty of state schools would too except permanent exclusion is more onerous for them. Private heads are far more accountable to parents because they pay the bills.

I imagine that "this school offers the combination of GCSEs he has already started" ought to count fairly highly. You might need to keep quiet about the full bursary - needing to move to state because you can't afford it any more is understandable, but if they know about the bursary it's going to be more obvious you're jumping before being pushed!

If there's a non-neglible chance of him being kicked out, going now is better than later.

If he's bright he can probably catch up, but you might need to get him a tutor for any major gaps. You need some undertakings from him about the effort he will put in to catch up - it sounds as if he likes the idea of a move so hopefully he's willing.
If he has friends at the state school already, what are they like? Likely to be a positive influence?

Yes @Jaipur as others say, be cautious. I tried to make the point others have, that it’s not simply GCSE subjects as your reply suggests, but does the state school do the same boards, Yy have they done the work in the same order? He is almost certainly going to need to catch up in at least some subjects.

An appeal also presents issues - I imagine it will take some time - what if it is not possible for it to be heard until Jan-Feb? Suddenly he will have missed half of year 10, a third of the GCSE courses.

It may be better for him to do fewer GCSEs perhaps? And yes, missing classes and vaping is fairly significant misbehaviour IME. You and he need to recognise that.

I suspect OP is underplaying this. I can't imagine a school (even a private school :) ) wanting to exclude a child for missing a class, vaping and other teenage silliness) . If there is a group of them behaving like this have the others been similarly asked to improve or leave? The school will have no students left :)

I would move him, having seen a similar scenario play out with a friends DS.

If he stays where he is then is on brink of being expelled so that may happen in the next 2 terms.

Better he moves now framed as his own decision when GCSEs are still recoverable in new environment where he may be happier.