AIBU to consider changing school's for start of Yr6?

[BristolThenSome]

A school I like has a few places available, due to expansion of the school. My daughter is doing ok at school, but fairly middle-stream, both academically and socially/friendships.

Current school has 90 kids per year group. Potential school is smaller, 60 kids per year. So they might no be lost in the numbers, as current school is massive and imo has lost the personal/caring element because it's huge.

Pros: might be a huge confidence boost for final primary year, in advance of heading to secondary.
Cons: Big change when we're already headed towards the big change of secondary.

Thoughts?

Seemingly, was good intention but misplaced. Thanks for those who can translate my rambling, as wanting to do the best for daughter.
Tricky to navigate this parenting role at times ;) trying to do best without instead going up in flames!

I drove her past new school on way home. Asked her thoughts - she's infinitely cleverer than me. Her response was along the lines of 'it looks like a great school, but that'd be judging a book by it's cover. Would need to know if the kids are as nice as the school looks. I like my school, it'd be better if everyone was respected and just got along without the [low-level teasing], but that could happen there. So I'd probably stick with where I know and my best friend. I'd need to do a taster day to know." (I asked her how she's heard of taster days!) Anyways, she then went off on a tangent as kids do, about the latest squabble with bff.

So will bury this deep in the book of bad ideas until someone comes along and shouts from the roof top what a brilliant idea it is, which doesnt look likely apparently

@Hippee thanks!
seems to be minority view/experience

(curious what her reason were?)

Well done for thinking it through and for being prepared to see the counter argument. And for listening to your dd. Good skills for her to learn.

Your DD sounds very sensible and mature! Most 10 year olds I know would just say “don’t want to leave my friends!” So it’s great that she instantly weighed up the pros and cons, and knew what further information she’d need to make a firm choice!

We moved hemispheres and schools halfway through our eldest son's Yr 6 year. He coped fine, but he's pretty easy going, above average academically and very sporty. Our middle ds would also probably cope fine too, but our youngest dd wouldn't. I think you know your child, and how they'll deal with change and the upheaval.

@MondayNextWeek

I promise I’m not trying to be awkward as I know you are just trying to do the best for your child. What happens next year if there were 120 applicants who went to church for the minimum 3 years. But only 100 spaces.

This could be first year it happens ;)
The draw lots/random allocation. So on that basis could lose out.

Outcome wouldnt be massively different, still virtually no chance she'd get to go to a school with current classmates. There's 40 secondary schools here. As opposed to small-ish town I grew up in where there were 3 main secondary schools to pick.

@Glumglowworm
Thanks - she's a lovely kid, good way with words, very imaginative and socially aware/mature. Fingers crossed these attributes help her shine a bit more as she gets older.
Bit odd forming a real life action on internet wisdom! But has helped reason it through to a conclusion, as opposed to talking myself in circles

Due to personal circumstances, DS1 started year 6 at a new school this year. He’s done OK (actually for a child with ASD he’s done absolutely brilliantly). I wouldn’t do it without a really big reason though. DS2 is being bullied and if they don’t sort it I’ll HE over moving school.

I moved one of mine for yr 6, I personally think people make way too much of changing schools. Children are very adaptable and for my child it was fine and she really enjoyed her last year of primary and did much better in her SATS than the other school had predicted. Often a new child is welcomed well and an exciting novelty so they fit in quickly.

Personally, I wouldn't think about moving, unless there is a significant reason, I.e. bullying, etc. My dd is current year 6, it's a full on year, with choosing secondary school, sats prep etc, without adding being the new child into the mix. I work in upper ks2, and friendships change throughout the last few year of primary, quite common.

Your dc will have to make the transition to secondary school in a year's time, why put them through two transitions in the space of a year?

Unless they're very resilient, it could have a detrimental affect on them. I would think more about the secondary schools now, than primary.