Thanks all! I'm glad there is such a range of different views and suggestions. One of Mumsnet's great strengths, I think. It's frightening how dependent you can become on an internet site - or should I say a virtual mother's network.
Your comments will definitely help me formulate my questions to the school's head on Friday. I have spent my internet time today looking up the new school's ofsted report and contrasting it with his present school. That has helped clarify things, too. The new school seems to have strengths in the areas most needed by my son.
Since I last posted, I have quizzed my son about feeling an outcast at the Beaver troup. He says only one boy told him he didn't want my son in his class, and he has four friends there - all in the same year as him. So that is one problem out of the window.
Rhiannon, Yes, our sons seem uncannily alike. What is a PITA, please? Like you, I feel my son is drowning in a large class. If he is asking for the teacher's attention so much, the chances are he's not getting enough of it. Not that I think bad teaching is solely to blame for my son's inattentiveness - other pupils manage to work quietly.
Debster,thanks for your warning. The prospect of further unsettling a boy who isn't the most settled of pupils has me worried, too. Furthermore, I have not yet been shown round the school, or met any teachers, so I don't know what we are letting ourselves in for. The school doesn't allow random visits from the parents of prospective pupils, unless a definite place for them is coming up. So many local children want to go there, I get the impression the school selects you, not visa versa.
I think, as Sudonim and ChanelNo5 have said, that I need to consider my deep down thoughts about the school and whether it feels right. Hopefully I'll be clearer about this after Friday, though we only have a half-hour time slot. If possible, and if this process is leading to the offer of a place, I want to make another, longer, visit without my son and talk at greater length with his prospective form teacher.
Chanelno5, thanks for telling me about your first-hand experiece of this. As you rightly guess, I am veering in the new school direction, but I do not want to go down that route unless I've considered every possible thing.
Batters, you've hit the nail on the head. I am not totally convinced that my concern over my son's poor concentration will be addressed by a change of school. Having read the ofsted report, I am encouraged that the teaching seems to be very good in this respect. However, I think that my son needs to be allergy tested next, and possibly, if that bears no fruit, to see an educational psychologist, too. It's so frustrating, because his general behaviour, especially at home, is improving all the time - he's a pretty good boy with me most of the time. Anyway, expect more postings and questions about this on the site very soon! If my son changes schools, obviously, I'll need to let him have time to settle in. Don't want to overload him with school changes and appointments with psychologists all at once.
RobinW, I think it's very true that I'll have to make a great effort to reinforce school bonds. It's going to mean me joining the PTA, taking some holiday from work to help at daytime school events etc. Unless the parents get to know me a little, my son may not get invites back to tea and holiday play dates. I think you are right to say friendships are more difficult to make if everyone has paired up already. I will have to do my bit. Thanks for reassuring my about the church aspect, too. I will pass on this news to my son.
Must go - have children to collect!
Thanks again. Any more advice very welcome!