AIBU to ask would you move your child schools??

[Beachmummy23]

DH and I live in a very sought after area in the South West. We rent and will shortly be in a position to buy. However our local area is very popular post covid. House prices have jumped massively and we now can't afford to buy in our village. We are looking at moving 30 minutes away to own our own home. However, my DD 6 is very settled at school and is very happy there. If we mention moving schools she gets really upset. We could keep her at the school it would just add an hour into my commute each day as it is wrong area from my work.

The school is a very good school with a long waiting list so I would be unlikely to get her back in if she hated the new one.

Would you move her or leave her at the current school?

You would potentially be doing that commute for another 6 years! Of course DD will be upset at the thought of moving school I think most kids are but there are still many kids move school all the time. She would have to go to a different Secondary dary school that her friends at 11 so its either move now or at 11. Easier to make new friends at 6.

I moved schools 7 times in primary and high school! I was absolutely fine (taught me great social skills making new friends all the time) - if she's six it gives her time to make good friends in time for high school at that age I'm sure she'll slot right into a new school!

I would move her. 30 mins onto a commute (presumably doubled if you are taking her there and then going back on yourself to get to work) is a lot!

The thought may be upsetting for her which is hard but she will settle quickly and make new friends.

My brother is in the military and his two children have moved schools a couple of times due to his postings - they have always settled quickly.

Plus, if she moves now she will have friends to go to senior school with as I assume that the kids in her current school won't go to whichever high school she attends?

That’s a ridiculous school commute for a now six year old long term. Plus it will be hard for both of you if all her friends and social life are thirty minutes away. Unless there’s special needs or something you haven’t mentioned then I wouldn’t hesitate to move schools. She’s never going to be enthusiastic about that idea if she’s happy where she is but she’s six and doesn’t have enough perspective to make that decision for herself. Chances are she’ll be fine and if she isn’t then I’d move to another local school not back to one thirty minutes away.

Yes move schools.
But in the meantime stop mentioning it.
Only mention it again when you have actually exchanged on a house and have confirmed a place at a new school.

At the moment you are just giving her negatives / worries.

When you have a new house and have new school you can talk up benefits of it, and still say she can have old friends over if she wants.

Thanks all.

It's good to hear others know of children who have settled so well.

Yes I’d move them- no 6 yr old is able to make a decision like that hence you are the parents and can see the bigger picture. Move them they will be fine!