Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Bullying

Find advice from others who have experienced school or workplace bullying on our Bulllying forum.

Original poster

DD getting bullied...would you move to a new school just before SATS?

33 replies

SassyS89 · 22/02/2023 22:44

So...DD is in Year 2 and has been getting bullied since year 1. I mean being hit, kicked, hair pulled, being called names. I've had several meetings with the school over the past year and not much has come of it. DD was kicked in the stomach last month and I had had enough, so I requested for her to change classes (I also requested this last year) as all the bullies are in her class, but was told this could not be done so threatened to remove DD from the school. I made DD and DS aware that they might move schools because of the bullying and they understood.

This week another incident happened and DD said she is ready to move schools now. I've asked her several times if she is sure and each time she has said yes. I was going to ring around local schools tomorrow to arrange a tour of the school so I could apply asap, but then realised whilst researching the schools that DD will be doing her SATS in a couple of months so now I'm not sure if I should move her before SATS start.

What would you do?

OP posts:
ramonaquimby · 22/02/2023 22:46

SATS at that age really don’t matter. I’d move her. Your poor DD

PoorMrsNorris · 22/02/2023 22:48

Year 2 SATs are a waste of time anyway and only for the school not for the benefit of the children. I wouldn't let this influence your decision.
Most schools do similar 'preparation' for SATs anyway so your child will still be prepared.

I'm so sorry your child is being bullied. I'm glad you're doing something to help.

Galadriel90 · 22/02/2023 22:48

Move her - the sats for this age group are not important.

starpatch · 22/02/2023 22:50

I agree with the other posters. Grab your chance and move her now, I had similar with my son and if you wait she might decide she wants to stay... and then endure more bullying. Year 2 SATS wouldn't have any weight in my decision.

TheChosenTwo · 22/02/2023 22:51

SATS aren’t important at any age for the child, certainly not more important than their well-being or overall happiness anyway. That must come top of the list.
Please change schools asap, that sounds so miserable for her. Imagine going into school every day knowing what was probably going to happen to you 😞

TheUsualChaos · 22/02/2023 22:52

Yes. Fuck SATS. The school sounds awful anyway, why aren't they dealing with the bullying?

90yomakeuproom · 22/02/2023 22:54

I'm a teacher and in your situation I'd 100% move her. Year 2 SATs are more a measure of the school than the children. Next year they won't exist anyway!

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 22/02/2023 22:55

SATs are meaningless for kids, it's a tool used to assess the school. If you've got an alternative school she can go to then move her.

Bobbybobbins · 22/02/2023 22:55

Definitely move her

TeacherHatOn · 22/02/2023 22:58

Definitely move her, would also recommend the same if it was Y6. Noone can reach their full potential when they don't feel safe, nothing would make it worth staying. Poor poppet, I'm so sorry this is happening to her and that the school don't seem to be supportive. Must be really hard to go through this as a family. Wishing your DCs lots of happiness in a new school.

TeacherHatOn · 22/02/2023 22:59

No one even

fairypeasant · 22/02/2023 23:01

Sats literally don't matter. Move her.

Amybelle88 · 22/02/2023 23:03

Move her. My son is year 2 and his teacher basically said sats are just statistics for the government - she isn't a fan.

Your poor daughter, having children this age, this really hits me hard. Sending you lots of love and support xx

RockStarship · 22/02/2023 23:03

I'm so sorry she's going through this. It sounds just horrible and if the school won't deal with it properly and/or she wants to change schools then you should absolutely do that. SATs aren't worthy of consideration here.

ChildminderMum · 22/02/2023 23:03

SATS have exactly zero impact on the children. It's not something you need to consider in your decision making.

Original poster
SassyS89 · 23/02/2023 07:05

Thank you all for your replies. I will definitely be looking for a new school ASAP. This whole situation has been heartbreaking. DD pretty much goes into school expecting something to happen to her, and constantly says she doesn't understand why she is being bullied and it's pointless telling a teacher as they don't do anything. DD's teacher doesn't seem to think it's bullying and that it's 'kids being kids'. The head seemed to agree in a way and couldn't tell me how my DD is going to be kept safe. That was a red flag for me. I will be ringing around the local schools today.

OP posts:
starpatch · 23/02/2023 07:14

Good luck with the move OP

Chibbin · 23/02/2023 07:17

Please move schools.

Also, involve the police, your DD is being assaulted.

Let's put it another way - if she was approached in the street and was hit, kicked, had her hair pulled etc, you would involve hgd police, would you? At the extreme, let's look at what happened outside the surrey school recently.

So, what is happening to your DD @SassyS89 is inside school. So what? This is still assault and in my mind should be reported and dealt with by the police.

Take no prisoners with these bullies, the school aren't helping, your DD will be moving school anyway.

welshpolarbear · 23/02/2023 07:23

I'm so sorry OP, the school's reaction is awful. Your poor DD.

You've definitely made the right decision.

You could also ring the council admissions team to see where has room (not sure on class numbers in juniors?)

When I moved my son here in Wales, admissions were instrumental in making it happen.

Oblomov23 · 23/02/2023 07:25

I'd complain to school and parent governors re lack of policy following re bullying. Yes I'd move her.

Choconut · 23/02/2023 07:40

Your daughter will not be able to do her best in anything if she is in constant fear. She may well do much better in any tests in the new school because she is able to concentrate and relax. See if she can spend a bit of time in the classroom with the other children of any potential new schools as you don't want to move her out of the frying pan and into the fire. I hope she finds somewhere where lovely.

watchfulwishes · 23/02/2023 07:43

Good luck with the move. I'd withdraw her until you find a place if you can do that with work. Also phone the council and explain why you are looking and why your DD is not attending.

lunar1 · 23/02/2023 07:54

What on earth are the school actually doing about the violence your daughter is experiencing. I would withdraw her until she gets a place somewhere else.

Gooseysgirl · 23/02/2023 08:01

Move her and report the school to ofsted for poor safeguarding practices. Your poor DD.

Gooseysgirl · 23/02/2023 08:04

If you are in NE London DM me. My kids attend a school where the pastoral care is superb, wonderful Y6 teachers and currently a couple spaces in Y6.