To ask advice about practical details of a move from state secondary to private?

[snapdragongirl]

We are looking to move one of our DC from a state secondary school to a private school, as a result of ongoing bullying/multiple physical assaults as well as concerns about the academic provision. My question is - what notice do I need to give the current school? I wish to do the right thing and show courtesy and respect, despite the school’s shortcomings in relation to keeping DC safe, but it appears they could move quickly to the new school and settle in ahead of the summer holidays, so it could be very short notice. Would an email to the head suffice? I have searched and cannot find anytbing that sets out the correct process to follow here.

We gave a week, the move happened very quickly. School was fine with it although kept receiving emails for a while

You can just say when you want to go. Obviously to settle in will be quick. Ours used to break up at the end of June!

The sooner you tell the state school the better. It may not have worked out for you but there could possibly be someone on an in year waiting list for the state school and the school could offer the place to someone else to start either end of this term or for September.

You don’t need to give the State school any particular notice. Just tell them when his last day will be and get him moved ASAP if you want some settling in time before the summer holidays.

I would think about making a clean break in September though. Our private school finishes end of next week, and the remaining time is 90% school play, school fete, sports day, picnic etc etc. while those things are lovely, they’re not necessarily the easiest of things to navigate when you’re new to the school and haven’t made friends yet. A more routine start might be better in September.

no point starting new school at the end of June for a week before summer holidays

You don't need to give any notice at all because any notice you give isn't even legally "binding" in that your child is entitled to that place and it only stops being her place when she is no longer attending and it is confirmed she won't be returning. With private schools you have to give notice so that the school has a chance to recruit an alternative new pupil to replace the fee income but a state school cannot take any action to identify a new pupil in advance of the place becoming available so they will get no benefit out of any notice you give. If you are withdrawing her due to bullying it seems insane to give any notice at all - if the bullying is that bad why would you send your child into an environment where you know she won't be safe. Like if you were withdrawing your baby from a nursery that wasn't keeping her safe you would still pay fees for the notice period if legally obliged to but you wouldn't hand over your child into peril. With no fees to pay notuce just isn't a thing. Just don't send her in and tell the school to remove her from thr roll immediately.

I think a week is better than nothing. I’d leave right now!

You don’t owe the state school anything if they’ve been failing to safeguard your child. They’ll probably be relived to have your child off their rolls. They no longer have to pretend to be trying to do something.

You don’t have to give any notice at all - we just emailed one morning and said he wouldn’t be returning.

When we moved dd from a state school to private I think we have about two days notice. She wanted to say goodbye to her teachers. It was a good school so she was quite sad to leave.

i would say that if you move your child now you can hopefully join the parent WhatsApp group of the new school to organise some meet-ups and your child will get a long summer holiday which they deserve if they’ve been bullied and generally had a difficult time.