To request children not put together at secondary school?

[Flippetydip]

DS (age 11) is moving up to secondary school in September. He is going to the same school as various friends including one friend in particular. He has specifically asked me to ask school if he can be separated from this particular friend (let's call him Fred) as he, DS, feels that he is responsible for keeping Fred out of trouble at break times and that he, Fred, is a complete distraction to DS in class.

Both boys are relatively bright and have good potential but Fred is somewhat chaotic and hyperactive and has had issues with other children in the year at school. To make things more difficult I know Fred's mum out of school and she is delighted that Fred and DS are friends as she said that Fred goes to DS when he is having problems and finding life difficult as DS provides an excellent support for him.

So, WIBU to ask for them to be in separate classes at secondary school?

I would mention it to the school. Just in case the primary school and the other child's mother mention their friendship in a positive way

@Pheasantplucker2 - my DD has a bit of a Fred in her. She is border line ADHD/ADD/ and a bit of ASD suspected in it as well.

She has lovely friends who teach her and support her but there is a big difference to being kind to someone and engaging and a child disrupting a class on a regular basis.

DD actually has someone now in Y8 in her form who, without us knowing more about her, seems to be on a path to make life a hell for her classmates with her disruptive behaviour. I normally don't agree with the typical "punishments" in secondary but it seems the school has measures in place to sort this girl out. I found that secondary will often be a lot harder on disruptive behaviour than primary school so hopefully Fred may get a teacher who is no-nonsense and helps him learning to deal with himself.