Changing to independent in year 5

[juniperjune]

Hi all,
My child is about to start year 5 in a state primary, they are happy and settled, the school is fine. We are hoping for them to join a local selective independent for secondary school.

My question is, would it be worth moving them to the prep school now? Do independent senior schools tend to prioritise their own prep school students? Or are the prep school students likely to do better in the exam? The move would be primarily to give them a headstart in the application for senior.

Many thanks for your help.

Depending on the size of the school and the percentage of kids that transfer to the senior school I'd move them now or in year 6 if financially possible if it's a senior school that starts at year 7. It means they will settle in, make friends, lots of prep schools use the senior school facilities so they'll understand how the school works, who the teachers are etc. If it's a school where the senior school has 50% or more of their prep school kids coming up it can take a while for those coming from outside to settle in and make friends in year 7. This is all from a social perspective and you may not feel it's necessary for your child. Also there may be a number of pupils from your DC's state school that would be hopefully be moving up together. Also some schools try to balance the ratio of girls to boys if mixed which can also sway the numbers admitted in senior school. Most schools will let parents know in year 5 if they don't think the senior school will suit them so they can make alternative plans, so it's unlikely they would admit you in year 5 or 6 unless they were confident you would have a good chance of progressing on to the seniors. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I think there are various considerations. If the prep school is linked, or a high percentage of the secondary intake comes from one school, then there might be social reasons to move your DS, as the PP said. But if the school takes from a wide selection of feeders then that's less relevant. Second is the entrance procedure. If it's a very competitive school then the prep might prepare him better - but on the other hand the secondary might give more leeway to state entrants. DS joined a competitive independent secondary from state primary and we were definitely given the impression that the school actively liked to recruit from state primaries as well as preps, and that they would take into account the fact that he would have been less heavily prepped for the entrance exam (and that his primary school reference might be less polished or even non-existent). He didn't know anyone at all when he joined, but there were plenty of others in the same situation (although there were also plenty who did know each other from prep school). The main thing I noticed was that the prep school kids had done a lot more competitive sport before secondary, but it wasn't a big issue. If it's one particular secondary that you're interested in, I would have a good chat with the admissions office and get a feel for how they approach applicants from state primaries before you spend thousands on a couple of years at prep school unnecessarily (particularly as your DS is happy).

This is all great advice thank you, and thank you for taking the time to reply. I will definitely get in touch with the admissions department and get a feel for what they think is best.

Thank you!

If you move them now, unless they are obviously very able, they are unlikely to be given automatic entry to Senior school, however if they don't do that but child clearly is a hard worker and is a solid 'average', possibly with other skills in sport or music or drama,they may say that they will review that in Year 6. Year 5 is really a key year for indies. I wouldn't move in year 6. If you move your child now then the positives are that they will be a pupil and looked on more favourably, they will get the teaching they need for the test, there isn't a relentless awfulness over the SATS, and your child will make friends and get used to homework and the school set up, if on the same site. The downside is the fees, breaking up of friendships, that you could move them and they don't get in so have to move again in two years. It really depends on how bright your child is. If they are struggling now then they are likely to struggle in a more selective environment.

Some all through schools don't have an intake in Y6 because they take their entrance exam for the senior school early in that year. Might be worth checking that sooner rather than later.

Very sensible to move now - if you can.
I agree with @Avebury - but definitely worth looking at all through schools. Some guarantee senior place - so if youre in Prep ifs worth the move now.

Like PP I think if a lot of kids will be moving up from the prep it's probably an idea to move now so they can settle and make friends while still in the prep with smaller classes and more support.

I work in a prep with no attached senior school. Over the past few years we’ve had a couple transfer in y5/6 to Prep schools where the child may not have passed the entrance exam for y7 entry. Not sure if the senior school guaranteed entry for students already in the prep Or offered it as a sweetener to tempt parents across and fill up empty prep places or if parents were just hoping they’d be more lenient to pupils at the prep! In all cases the child did get in to the attached senior.