Advice on moving from state to independent primary

[piggybank]

Hello,

Any advice for us please?

We are considering a move for ds1 age 8 (currently y3) and ds2 age 5 (currently yr) from a small state primary with single form entry to an independent day school with class sizes ranging from 9-14 students.

Specifically to Heathfield Knoll school in Wolverley. Any views on this school or other recommendations are appreciated.

Now, as background the move is prompted by ds1 being unhappy where he is. We have told him a school move is never a silver bullet so to speak.

Ds1's class has three pupils constantly disrupting the class. No sign of them being effectively stopped (although they are sanctioned) but not bad enough for exclusion.

To date I have thought to myself that there are difficult people everywhere in the world so just get on with it. I have also thought that even one child like this in a group of 9-14 kids might be even worse??

Regardless, our thinking is that at an independent the focus will be on learning and not classroom management. What do you think?

Ds1 is top set but not top of the top set. Heathfield seem to have provision for "much more able" children but I don't know how they or another independent school might cater for a child like my ds who is very able but not gifted. (I will ask the head when I meet him).

Then my thoughts go round in circles... does stretching my more able child even matter if he's not happy where he is? And therefore we should just do it and move to the independent even if they may not differentiate or challenge him?

My ds2 is probably brighter than ds1 but if he moves with his brother I presume this might not emerge the same way if the new school is not in sets. Not sure it even matters?

Sorry this is long. Basically, I'm looking for

1. Views on Heathfield Knoll School.

1. Should we be considering Wolverhampton Grammar (which is selective) or somewhere else?

1. Is a class of 9-14 pupils "Too small"?

1. Is progress in maths and English at independent primary schools deemed less effective than the state school provision?

1. Does any of the above really matter if ds1 is unhappy? These kids in his class aren't going to go away or magically improve.

Thank you for reading!

I don’t have any knowledge of the school you’ve mentioned, or of the private sector, so I’m really not best qualified to comment, but nobody else has responded yet, so here I am!

Firstly, if your DS1 is unhappy at school because of these disruptive kids and you’re in a position to move him and his brother, do it. A child won’t learn well if they’re unhappy, however good the teaching.
As for your general queries about independent schools and whether they are less academically rigorous than state schools, I understand from many other posts on MN that it varies from school to school: some are hothouses and some are much more relaxed or focus on other subjects such as sports/music (and a few are just not good at all!). If Heathfield provides well for the extremely able, it’d seem unlikely that they wouldn’t also cater well for the more ‘normally’ bright children, but of course you’d want to ask some questions to reassure yourself. Does Heathfield prepare children for selective secondaries? Pupil destinations can tell you a lot.

As for class size, again I’m going on what I’ve gleaned from previous threads. The main concern with small classes is the financial viability of the school, so make sure you check this out. The other concern is there’s a smaller pool of potential friends. Weigh this against the benefit of more focus on each child.

Have you looked at other state or independent schools?

I feel for you. I've just moved my year 5 DS to an independent. He was so unhappy at his state school; behaviour, bullying and lack of motivation for learning were all factors. It wasn't an easy decision and we moved him to a school that is renowned for it's pastoral care. It has been the best thing we could have done for him. He is so much calmer, happier and motivated. We feel that he is being cared for and known as an individual and that in turn is improving his results, quite dramatically. His self-esteem has shot up and family life has relaxed too,
It obviously depends on the school you move to, and I don't know the one you mention, but I feel that showing him that you can change things if you are unhappy has been a life lesson ... you don't have to put up with being miserable.

I think you need to bear in mind that all schools have disruptive students, so the move needs to be about more than just that.

My DS was in a class with lots of disruption and wasn't being stretched (y7). He goes to a different school now and the difference in him and his enjoyment of school is very clear.

You need to visit this school and Wolverhampton Grammar to see which is the best fit and whether both sons would be better at the selective or a non selective.
Wolverhampton has a good reputation and good results, but it depends if your DC will thrive in a more competitive environment.

Book visits and this will give a clearer picture. But before you commit to years of expense, have you tried talking to the current primary head? It could be that with a different teacher, for example, next year things might be different?

Forgot to add that I agree an unhappy child will not thrive regardless and you do only get one shot.

Are there any other state primaries you could consider?