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Original poster

Help!... Should we change Schools? Longish, sorry!

22 replies

schooldilemma · 29/01/2008 20:34

Regular with a new name for this thread.
dc's go to village school. I have been worried about the education they are receiving there for a couple of years.
It has a very high percentage of SEN that it doesn't seem able to cope with. Teaching, in my helicoptery parent kind of way, seems unambitious. they have no homework, they've had problems with head teachers and were without for a year but now have a new one.
This school didn't seem to be fitting the needs of either of my dc's, one who is very bright and the other who is artistic but struggles academically and despite my repeated attempts to get help, is largely ignored.
HOWEVER,.. they are both happy there, they have good friends and the school has good facilities.

To overcome the academic problems, the dc's have been going to a private tutor for a couple of hours a week.
This tutor is wonderful and used to be a Teacher at OUR school.

So the dilemma...

Tonight, she asked me if she could be honest...
Of course I said yes,..
She said, I would seriously rethink your schooling from Sept 2008.
Me .. Why.
I think the teacher they have now is the best in the school. the next 2 teachers are dreadful, one is a bully.
academic dc will be ok, artistic won't!

Obviously this is a very shortened version and unfortunately I secretly agreed with everything she said.
I have worried about this for ages but have stuck my head in sand, as dc's are happy. Now she has voiced my inner thoughts, I feel I have to act on them.
What do you all think?
Please help am now panicking like mad!

OP posts:

Quattrocento · 29/01/2008 20:36

To be honest a year out of primary school is a pretty short time.

What are the alternatives?

Hulababy · 29/01/2008 20:37

What are your realistic options?

List them an =d for each, inc leaving where they are, write down some pros and cons.

Diffiuclt to advise without knowing what the alternatives are.

tissy · 29/01/2008 20:37

so what is the alternative?

another village school, town school, private?

juuule · 29/01/2008 20:42

If your dcs are happy then I'd leave things as they are but have a back up plan for if they become unhappy.

Original poster

schooldilemma · 29/01/2008 20:54

Thanks for the responses so far ladies..
there are 3 other primarys within the same sort of vicinity.
they are all 3 miles away as is our primary.
1 is much bigger, but there has been quite an exodus from our school in the last 2 years and most have gone here,.. all are happy and this is the one the tutor recommended I look at.
1 is very similar but has slightly better academic results.
the last is similar again but has fantastic results and is hard to get into ..but academic dc's best friend with SN moved there a year ago. Together they have the potential to be disruptive.
I guess the question I'm asking is..
How seriously would you all take tutors opinion?

OP posts:

cat64 · 29/01/2008 20:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

critterjitter · 29/01/2008 20:59

Very seriously. She obviously knows whats going on in the school, how the teachers teach, and this can all impact on the children.

LadyMuck · 29/01/2008 21:05

Your children are happy, you are clearly monitoring the situation, and you've made plans to compensate for the weaknesses of the school.

If the tutor is right you will spot yours kids becoming unhappy, and I believe at that point you will act pretty much immediately.

FWIW I suspect that the issue of whether your children would get a place at another school won't be wildly different whether you apply for Sept 08 now or whether you apply suddenly on Nov 08. You are possibly slightly better informed now, and you can make your own assessment closer to the time. If you have a new head, who knows what staff changes may happen anyway by September.

I think that it is better to know the potential for the worst rather than be in ignorance, but you don't necessarily need to act immediately.

flamingtoaster · 29/01/2008 21:13

You have obviously been unhappy with aspects of the school or you wouldn't have the tutor. You say your DCs are happy there - but is that likely to continue given the teachers who are coming up for them? Other parents may also be considering this course of action. If there has been a mass exodus in the past then there may be another one as parents realize their children may be moving into the classes of these next two teachers. I would secure places as soon as you can in the school you feel would be best for your DCs. I definitely wouldn't wait until they become unhappy or have a very negative experience with these teachers which may affect their attitude to teachers and learning for years to come.

SSSandy2 · 29/01/2008 21:13

I would take it seriously. She knows what she is talking about and what she said reflects the concerns you already have. Go and see the other schools and try to find out whether you can realistically expect to get a place. The others all sound much better academically and you have so far nothing negative to report about them, apart from the presence of one boy in the school with the fantastic results. Have a good look at the other two

Original poster

schooldilemma · 29/01/2008 21:17

But the chances are, they'll be happy at their next school right?????
I just don't know if I can cope with knowing that I haven't given them the best schooling I can find.
Artistic dc, wouldn't mind if he moved I don't think. He's very independant and floats from group to group. likes the girls mind you.
it's academic dc who needs his close knit group more. but then, when his friend left, he didn't even notice for a week!
this teacher is well known as a bully, who loves the bright.
artistic dc is bright just not in a conventional way. teacher will dismiss him immediately, and there is no choice as only 1 class per year.

OP posts:

Original poster

schooldilemma · 29/01/2008 21:18

sorry, slow typing tonight whilst I ponder

OP posts:

SSSandy2 · 29/01/2008 21:22

they may seem happy at their current school atm but I see potential for that to change from what you've just said

wheresthehamster · 29/01/2008 21:26

If the new head is dynamic you may find the old teaching staff will leave. I think I'd put their names on the waiting list of the other school(s) and see what the new head of your current school does in the next few months.

Did the tutor leave under a cloud? She may have her own reasons for disliking the current staff

Original poster

schooldilemma · 29/01/2008 22:02

no, tutor left as she has auto immune disease so can't be around contagious children

OP posts:

Squiffy · 30/01/2008 15:43

my instinct would be to jump. A dreadful teacher could put your DC's off education for life.

Original poster

schooldilemma · 01/02/2008 18:13

So I don't know if anyone is interested but here's the latest installment.
Yesterday I phoned the 3 other schools to check if they had space for dc's and to make appt's to view.
Was collared by Headteacher of our school 1st thing this morning wanting to know why I was thinking of moving! was completely unprepared anyway.
I explained that school has really gone down hill since I chose it,
I thought the teachers left were poor,
that I've asked for 1 dc to be assessed for SN and have been ignored and dismissed as a pushy parent.
That I resent the tution because I feel the school is letting one of my dcs down.
That I thought since she started in Sept things were slowly improving but I didn't really want to get to end of primary and feel I've not done the best for my dc's.
She was very quiet, then said she understood, that the school was in chaos when she joined and some of the things I mentioned would never happen whilst she was head.
When she walked away, she said her dc had done very well at one of my 3 choices.............!
I interpreted that as a loaded comment! What do you think?
So now I've talked to dc's about this and they are really unhappy! They are really worrying about their friends and I feel guilty as hell!
Yesterday I was convinced I was making the right decision (for once! ) today I just don't know what to think!
AAaaarrggggghhH

OP posts:

Twiglett · 01/02/2008 18:18

well I think you've basically been given the heads-up by the head .. who understands your position and agrees with it down to recommending one of your other options

I think you're right to move

and I think your children will be annoyed and upset until they settle .. but involve them in looking round the school you think is best

Original poster

schooldilemma · 01/02/2008 19:14

Thanks Twig.

OP posts:

evenhope · 01/02/2008 19:41

I moved DS3 at the start of Y3. He cried about leaving his friends but day 1 in the new school had 3 new best friends and didn't look back. FWIW I agree with Twig and would move them while you can (before everyone else cottons on and takes the place!)

WowOoo · 01/02/2008 19:49

I would move them as hard as it may seem in short term. If the head said that to you, well, i know what I would do. Good luck.

Original poster

schooldilemma · 03/02/2008 15:28

Hi Everyone, Sorry to keep coming back to this thread but I need a bit of hand holding and I'm hoping you guys are going to do it
So having now got my appointments at the new schools what sort of questions do I ask?
Is it ok to ask
Can I see example of childrens work.?
How they assess for SN, about one 2 one teaching etc (bearing in mind dc2 needs help, and should I explain this?)
I'm just wanting to know, what really is it not fine to ask?
Thanks a lot... Again!

OP posts:

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