DC is in a 1 form school in Y1. I do not have big concerns about anything particular but also not too enthusiastic about the current school, I think they could do better . DC goes to school OK. I am thinking of moving them to a two form entry school for the following reasons (in no particular
- DC hasn’t formed any good friendships despite being very capable of doing that wherever they go. I think it just hasn’t clicked with any of the other kids and many kids have already developed closed friendships (including parents hanging out etc) which hasn’t been a problem so far but I feel like it might become a problem in years to come
- the communication from school is poor and parents often complain about it. The others school communication seem better
- the other schools seems to have higher expectations and they end of KS2 results were higher by about 25%. The current school has been very haphazard about the homework, other school seems more consistent (I don’t think kids in y1 need to be doing homework anyway but at least I’d want something more predictable than what we’re getting currently)
- the other schools being 2 from entry has more extracurricular opportunities which I think my DC would like and benefit from, there also do more trips, residentials from year 4 etc which current school does only for y6 which would be right up their street
- DC knows several kids in that school, inc two in their year group (could be in different class though)
- DC does out of school activities / holiday camps and makes friends easy / has friends outside of the class, often plays with neighbour kids
of course there is no guarantee that they will make close friendships in the other school but right now I see little hope for that in their current school so at least would like to give them a chance. They would be happy to move (treat it as moving a nursery which they did before / changing clubs etc so seem unphased about move itself). I want them to have good memories of primary school and right now I feel like if they were told they can’t go back ever again they wouldn’t care less! If there’s holiday etc they don’t miss anyone (maybe one child). AIBU to want to move them for this reasons? I wouldn’t be telling DC my main reason, I would put it down to other school being closer (which it slightly is but not a meaningful difference)