To move DD (yr 10) into private and even consider repeating a year

[tommyketchup]

DD has been on steady decline wrt school work since the start of year 9 and then lockdown was a complete disaster (she did literally nothing when we weren't at home which as key workers wasn't much) and is now on course to fail her GCSE's having previously been a bright if not particularly diligent student. Year 7 & 8 she was predicted 6 & 7's with a couple of 8's, this slipped to 5/6's possible few 7's by the end of year 9 and now she'll be lucky to get 5's in even her best subjects.

When we realised how bad it had got (with hindsight too late) we tried to work with her current school to get her re-engaged but frankly, they have been shit and we are now seriously considering moving her out of her current school into private either for year 11 or possibly to repeat year 10.

The idea of moving schools won't phase her but I don't think going down a year will go down so well . The school we have in mind has a place and is willing to discuss repeating a year but we need to decided ASAP. It's not particularly academic (which is fine) but will have far higher expectations in terms of workload & class engagement plus is one of the top performers in her sporting passion so an amazing opportunity in that respect but clearly very late in her academic career to consider a move. Due to her sport, she mixes with a lot of private school children anyway and has always been a bit 'they are so lucky woe poor me' and is very competitive and driven in this area so private school is definitely something I've always thought she'd suit but has never been on the cards financially until now.

Are we mad? Is it even worth it if she's only going into year 11? Has anyone else ever moved this late or put their child down a year? Help - we need to decide in the next 2 weeks as they are closing for the summer soon.

@Powerof4

Move and repeat. As a former English teacher I would say it’s very difficult to make up a lost year 10. A private school is likely to make a big difference to her work ethic for the reasons you stated. Is the sporting opportunity enough of a carrot for her?

If she needs to concentrate on GCSEs then playing sport to a high level is the last thing she should be thinking about

Also if she's doing nothing at home after school what is this sport?!

What about a gcse summer school to consolidate what she’s missed in yr 10 so she goes into yr 11 with a better start, then tutors, then private for 6th form she wants to move?

“PuffinMcHuffin

@tommyketchup - do you have strategies for productivity and motivation?

They are very good to learn early - happy to DM you some things that may help if you would like?“

That sounds very interesting, Puffin. Would it be complicated to roughly outline them here, or point the way to a book or article?

Do everything you can, if that means tutors and / or private school then definitely go for it. I would also have her repeat the year, it's only a big deal in her head - had a couple of friends who did so at school (high performing state school) because they were either on track to fail gcses due to personal issues or didn't make the grades they wanted for uni at a level. No one batted an eyelid and it paid off in both circumstances.

She can always tell friends it was her idea, puts her in control of the situation and she can brazen it out if it helps her feel better about it.

As an aside, I didn’t know you could repeat a year in state schools.

I’ve only ever heard of it in private, I know few summer born Y6’s have effectively taken a year out and will restart Y7 this September as the eldest in their years.

I might be going against the grain here but if you can't get her to repeat, I would still consider moving her for year 11 on the proviso that she is tutored over the summer or attends a summer school.

It really depends on the school but I have seen kids turn around in about a term and a half. Not from C->A* (or 4/5->9 nowadays) but definitely upwards (about 4->6). Also knew a girl who was on track to fail in year 10, moved schools for year 11, scraped passes in most subjects with one A in in something obscure, and finished up with ABC at A-Level which was beyond her wildest dreams in year 10. So her GCSEs might not be great but it is possible to keep that upwards momentum going if she starts improving at her new school.

Can she also manage the number of GCSEs down if she moves? I have known some students to take ridiculous numbers which is fine if they are high performing but can cost time and valuable energy is they need to focus on passing.

The main concern I would have is if she doesn't do well, will the school keep her for 6th form?

My dds school wouldn't take anyone in year 11.

Can you get private tutors and have a meeting with school where they detail for you anything she particularly needs to work on? They should have this info from mocks or assessments. Tutors could then help her catch up with the most important areas. I think working with the school could be really helpful and hopefully they could help motivate her by asking her teachers to give regular feedback on areas where she is catching up/making progress.

I am not sure the social disruption is worth it for yr11 and they probably have a different syllabus. Would she be able to have a taster day? Redoing yr10 sounds like the best solution. Existing school sounds a bit like a disaster waiting to happen so if she won't go to yr10 I would be throwing summer school and tutors at her.

Your dh might have coasted and was fine but with covid still around it is a risky strategy even for next year. Some of my yr11's grades are based on yr10 work and might not be as high despite working really hard in yr11 (and in yr10 but with covid disruption).

OP I have two kids in private school and I wouldn't do what your proposing.

The school your suggesting isn't academically challenging - Find out why. They might be a school with a very high SEN rate. We left our old Indi when it got to 59% SEN. You can find out on the ISI.

I'd keep her in that school and invest in private tutoring.

I just thought I'd post and update as everyone was so helpful before and we have a plan that seems to both excite (& will hopefully motivate) DD that isn't as drastic as dropping a year which she was really against in the end not to mention stressful given how little time there was before the end of term.

So, I have booked in a serious of tutors, friends uni kids and online tutorials over the summer (3 x 2 hours a week so hopefully enough but not too intensive) to try and help her get back on track and have promised to extend extra tutoring into year 11 if she's showing commitment on the promise of a place at the private school for sixth form. She seems genuinely excited at the prospect and determined to get the necessary grades for A levels. This will be quite a stretch as she is a long way off right now BUT they also offer a Btec in sport (which might actually suit her better anyway) and this has a 5 grade 4+ entry requirement which is more realistic.

I feel so happy she is actually showing some interest and enthusiasm for something post GCSE and that there's a chance she might get to go to her 'dream school' where she can excel at her sport and if nothing else have a few more years to mature and find her way. Fingers crossed and thanks again to those who posted.