Moving school at the start of Year 10

[Mnaveed]

Hi,
My son is studying in King Edward VI Handsworth grammar school Birmingham. He is in Year 9 at the moment and will be in Year 10 from September 2022. Due to change in circumstances we might have to move to London. I am really confused about changing my son’s school. First he won’t be able to get a place in a grammar school. Second is it sensible to change a child’s school at the start of Year 10?
if someone has gone through same situation please advise.
Thanks.

Its not great really as he won't get a choice of GCSE subjects just whichever have space but if you have to you have to.

It’s not ideal. You need to do it at the very start of the as in by the end of September at the latest and to a school which has a 2 year ks4.

Thank you for your replies, a bit relief now.

Check when the schools he may be moving to start their gcse courses.

At my sons school they make their gcse choices in y8 and start the courses in y9 giving then 3 years to cover the syllabus.

Any child joining in y10 would have missed a year of gcse studies.

This model is frowned on by Ofsted because it reduces curriculum breadth.
Our school has a 2 year ks4, so moving at the start of year 10 would be ok, though the end of y9 would be better.

There will be other people moving over the summer, so places do come up, but if your school of choice has a waiting list you'd need to look carefully at the oversubscription criteria to understand your chance of a place.

In areas where there are no grammar schools (the majority of the uk) good comprehensive schools cater well for high attainers, so I wouldn't worry about that aspect.