Would you move child from Grammar to local Academy?

[Mrs1010]

My child (year 8) wants to move from the Grammar school she is at and go to the local Academy. I’m really not keen but was looking for some outside perspective, as I’m not sure if I’m being logical.
She seems to be ok academically, lower sets but managing workload, homework etc but the main issue is she feels that she doesn’t have friends. She’s drifted from her primary school best friend (which I don’t think is a bad thing!) but she isn’t very outgoing and doesn’t put herself out there/join clubs etc to make new friends. She has people she sometimes meets at weekends from school, had a few sleepovers etc, and has people to eat lunch with but she feels that they all prefer others to her.
I said that I would put her on the waitlist for the other school, expecting it to take a while, and they’ve offered a place already. This has thrown me and I can’t seem to decide what’s for the best. It’s academic record is not as good, behaviour, staff turnover etc too, but she does have friends there, and they are doing well, and will be able to walk to and from school with them.
She has been asking for several months, but I’m not sure it’s the magic solution she thinks it will be. I know her academic outcomes are likely to be lower due to disruption in lessons, but is this more important than her being happy? I think my main issue is I’m not sure that she will be much happier and that I will ruin her future opportunities for nothing. Am I being dramatic? What would others do?

Thank you all, it seems like yesterday it all became a lot clearer. A friend who visits the academy for work told me that they’re having a lot of trouble with behaviour, lots of cover in class but external cover teachers refusing to go back due to poor behaviour and having to put classes together to teach them. In addition, my daughter came home talking about future careers and gcse options so I feel like she needs to stay put for now. I’m trying to encourage friendships over the half term with girls from all different schools. I’m not going to tell her I declined it, if got a place so quickly this time I think I will again in a few months if I see she’s unhappy and think a move is needed. She still thinks there’s a long list and it might not be right to hide that from her but she’s not even 13 and I think I have to make this decision for her.

I dont expect she will be any happier in the academy, and she is probably better off in the grammar

@Mrs1010 that doesn't sound good at all! I would 100% steer clear.
Definitely focus efforts on how to help your daughter find likeminded people at her current school.

i know this is an older post but i’m in the same situation however ds just started year 7 in a great mixed grammar. The truth he never wanted to go there but as he could have behaviour issues and ND traits we were told pastoral help will be better.
He is copying well academically but struggling to form friendships. He can be loud at times which i assume doesn’t sit well with everyone.
We had tears several times this half term.
I honestly don’t think he would be happier in the local academy however he knows people there. He always struggled to maintain friendships and he was feeling like this in year 6 so i don’t see how this would be different. Dh told him last night if he is still feeling like those after xmas we ll re visit the idea of going on the waiting list for local academy. His older sibling is already there and we know it’s an ok school but we don’t know how he would get on.