Moving school between Year 4 and 5?

[Rainallnight]

Hi, we are thinking of moving our DD to a different school. She’s in Year 4 and we’d be looking at this September for Year 5.

Is that a bonkers time to try to move a child? Do they settle and make new friends that late in primary school life?

I’d be really grateful for experiences from anyone who’s done it.

This is a perfect age to move school, speaking from experience as a primary school teacher. Children tend to make new friends very quickly at this age.

It's also a good time because Year 4 consolidates a lot of Year 3 learning whilst Year 5 explores new content ready for Year 6 so that, and the socialisation, makes for a good point at which to move.

Mine moved early in year 5 and 6. (2 DC, not 2 moves!). It was fine. Schools are very very similar in the way they teach and what they teach. They both had one or two topics they did twice, and one or two topics they missed out on, nothing life changing! I thought my DC might be a bit behind as the school they came from wasn’t as strong academically, but they weren’t behind at all.

It was fine from a friendship perspective. By late primary the kids in the new school are all a bit fed up with each other and welcome some new blood.

We moved halfway through year 4 (moved house) and it was totally fine. DS settled well, made loads of friends.

We did that for our youngest (although it was a relocation)
She thrived. Made new and better friends and went up to Secondary with them.

Thanks so much everyone that’s really reassuring and surprising!

Theres a strong mean girl dynamic in her current class which she’s bearing the brunt of, though I suppose that is a risk anywhere we go. Also, the school in general has gone downhill since she joined.

Also wondering if there are any cautionary tales out there to bear in mind.

Mone moved schools a few times as DH is in the Army. Maybe it was coincidence, maybe it was the age... but the worst one was Yr3 for both of them. The moves when they were younger and older both worked really well. Including the one halfway through Yr5.

With my younger DD, I don't think it would have mattered what age she joined the problematic class. It was just a class that didn't work. (Cliques, in fighting, exclusion...)

If your DD has friends in extra curricular clubs in other schools, they may be worth looking at. And talk to the parents to make sure you aren't swapping one bad situation for another.

We just moved schools when my DD was between Y3 and Y4 (relocating). She did find it harder than my younger DD going from R into Y1 because friendships are much more established, and she went from knowing lots of people and how things “worked” at her old school to being the new girl. The first half term was tough and she missed her old friends. But she’s now got one really good friend and there’s much less drama/frenemy nonsense at her new school. It’s always a bit of a gamble but it sounds like your DD is not happy at her current school.

Not me but my next door neighbours, their year 4 kid was fine but their year 2 kid struggled a bit more. What helped was they could still see old friends and had continuity of clubs etc. but that was a move to a nearby school and if you’re moving out of area this probably isn’t helpful.

I moved my DD for year 5 as we moved house but her school was also pretty miserable, it was the best decision, she had a brilliant two years in a wonderful primary school, it was a long time for her, she made good friends and learnt more in a happier setting. Go for it.