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Education

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Original poster

How disruptive do you think it would be to change schools??

27 replies

Christmassbee · 06/12/2004 22:10

He's be changing just before starting juniors (going into Y3) if he did.

I am concerned about his current school for various mostly educational reasons.

What do you think?

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Gobbledigoose · 06/12/2004 22:14

Hmmm, not sure.

Actually, we moved area when I was this age too and so obviously I moved school and I don't remember having any problems. Kids are still very adaptable at this age. What is his personality like? Do you think he would cope with change well?

Also, does he have a special friend at school now? Someone that he would really really miss and so much so that it might impact on his ability to make new friends?

If you think he'll adapt well then go for it if you really belief he'll benefit educationally.

Gobbledigoose · 06/12/2004 22:16

'believe' sorry!

I was (is) a very confident and outgoing child so when I moved schools it didn't really impact me at all. Key to this though, was that I was put with a girl who became one of my best friends so I was lucky in that respect - I had a little group of people who just couldn't wait to welcome me.

I think you should find that though at this age - if he went to a new school they'd be scrambling over themselves to be his 'partner' or new best friend!

Original poster

Christmassbee · 06/12/2004 22:17

He has problems making new friends which concerns me as is beginning to make friends now (in Y2!!). He doesn't have a special friend though.

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cardigansarenotjustforxmas · 06/12/2004 22:18

Choose the best school for your ds - he'll manage to settle in. I'd chage my dds school if I was unhappy with it for educ reasons - as this why they go.

Gobbledigoose · 06/12/2004 22:20

I don't know, I think it depends how serious your concerns are. I actually think there is more to school life than the grades you get at the end of it so I personally would be worried about imposing a big change that might impact his personality if really, he will do well enough at the school he is at. School life, for me, is also about having fun and enjoying it. My absolute worst fear is that my kids won't enjoy it and will dread going every day, so for me, as long as they are happy and have a nice network of friends and do their best, I'm not fussed about A* grades.

What are your concerns?

turquey · 06/12/2004 22:23

I would have thought that would be quite a good time to change. The sooner the better I would have thought.
We took ds from England to the US part way through Y4 and that seemed ok, he's not particularly outgoing but boys are less cliquey than girls.

Original poster

Christmassbee · 06/12/2004 22:24

Well I've had concerns that he wasn't being pushed enough for his ability and he often gets bored and can misbehave (he can misbehave anyway though!) but he is really quite bright. The league tables show another drop yet again and it has dropped down 6 places in the borough in 4 yrs. The 2 best teachers have just left and the head is going soon. The head is great. The latest ofsted isn't good either. The school is very unique though and generally is very caring nad happy. Hmmmmm....

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Gobbledigoose · 06/12/2004 22:26

Is ds very happy there? Do you feel he really is suffering educationally?

I'm not saying that moving would be a problem - as i say, I moved school at that age, loads of kids do and very succesfully. I'm just trying to establish whether it's really necessary for him because obviously keeping him where he is is ideal if he is secure and happy there.

Christmassbee · 06/12/2004 22:27

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Original poster

Christmassbee · 06/12/2004 22:27

I do feel he is suffering educationally. I try and help him with things at home but tbh I get little time to actually do so.

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Gobbledigoose · 06/12/2004 22:28

Also, don't put too much into the league tables - are the results overall still good? I mean, it may have dropped a little but is that because all the schools round about are fairly good? You may find that actually, there is very little between your ds's school and some of those further up the table.

Did you look at average point score? Ds's school was 30.1 and the one at the top was only 30.4 so hardly different at all.

Gobbledigoose · 06/12/2004 22:29

It seems as though for his education, you'd rather move him. I'd say do that then and I'm sure he'll adapt. Especially at such a young age.

turquey · 06/12/2004 22:29

Have you found a school that you'd like to move him to? Sounds a shame about the head leaving the current one, do you know anything about the new head?

Original poster

Christmassbee · 06/12/2004 22:30

it's now 27.7 (iirc) the top is 31

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Original poster

Christmassbee · 06/12/2004 22:30

They haven't got a new head yet.

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Original poster

Christmassbee · 06/12/2004 22:31

I'm looking at 2 schools this week. I do know them though. I would need to get dd in too which doesn't make it easy. She starts next Sept..

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Original poster

Christmassbee · 06/12/2004 22:32

I have to get the form in by Mon though btw...

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cardigansarenotjustforxmas · 06/12/2004 22:34

This is preassure - thinking what is the best that can happen & the worse - is how I sometimes deal with quick important choices.

tabitha · 06/12/2004 22:41

My ds changed schools just before he started Primary 2 - don't know what that equates to in England, but he was just turned 6. He changed because we moved house.
It all worked out well in the end and he seems, after a year and a term, to have settled in well but I do think I underestimated how unsettling he would find it although obviously part of this was due to moving house as well. He was very, very nervous, started having nightmares and would sob to me "what if nobody likes me, what if they all hate me" before we took him.
Also, he had one very close friend at him old school, who he still keeps in touch with to some extent (they stay over at each others houses every so often) and despite having made friends here, he doesn't have a good friend like this yet.
In saying that, I think a lot depends on the individual child. Also, if a child has had a 'shaky' start at school, perhaps a fresh start might be the best thing for them. My niece had a pretty miserable time in her early years at Primary School, very nervous, unusre of herself, didn't make many friends - moved at age 10 and it was like a new start for her. Her confidence improved drastically and she loved her new school.
If you think the move is the best thing for your son, then go for it. As long as you're prepared for him being unsettled for a while and make allowances if needed, then I'm sure he'll be fine.

Christie · 06/12/2004 22:42

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blossomgoodwill · 06/12/2004 23:27

Is that essbee? If so I know you have had concerns with your son so not sure if it is a good idea or not really. I don't personally look at tables now. Ds's school (which wasn't my 1st choice) was almost at the bottom of the lea table when he started and I was so worried. he is extremely bright and has done very, very well there. Infact the school went up 8 places last year so I don't think the tables are always a good thing to judge a school on.

tigermoth · 07/12/2004 06:37

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LIZS · 07/12/2004 07:37

Hi essbee,

Are you thinking of moving him mid year or next summer ? We've just done the Surrey LEA applications and have already been offered a place for dd whilst ds' "first choice" has still not looked at their applications yet. Not sure if you fall under the same LEA but you may need to get LEA/ECW support for a later application if you do in order to get it considered with the others but you should still be early enough in the process. Probably also depends on the popularity if the schools concerned and if they are a Primary School, as opposed to separate Infant/ Junior, it may just depend on spaces as they wouldn't need to follow the same procedure. Would you consider taking a place now if there is one rather than waiting as that may get you around any application deadline issues.

In our area there is a lot of movement at 7+/Year 3 entry anyway as they operate a Infant/ Junior school system rather than a through primary school, although, in practice, it seems as if many kids move en mass from one to another. If you are going to do it definitely do it sooner rather than later, before he establishes any serious attachments. I can't say I'm looking forward to moving ds at this age as he does have firm friends , but others have come and gone , and they do survive. For your ds it may be just the fresh start he needs.

Good luck, let us know how the visits go.

LIZS · 07/12/2004 07:39

Oh, and I'm also thinking if you get ds into a different primary school this year, your dd would then be considered as a sibling and jump up the priority list for a place at the same school.

tallulah · 07/12/2004 17:37

I moved 2 of my boys at this age. Both started Y3 in a totally different school where they knew no-one. (They are 2 years apart so obviously I moved them at different times, but they didn't move to the same school as each other IFSWIM). The younger one is very outgoing & gregarious anyway but was desolate to be leaving his best friend. They kept in touch for a little while. I moved him because he was being "disruptive" at his old school & not learning anything. He came home on the first day of the new school with 6 new best friends & we never looked back. The new school got his measure immediately & never allowed him to be disruptive.

The older one moved because he was offered an assisted place at a private school. He was very nervous about moving but hadn't had many friends anyway. He took to the strict routine of the new school like a duck to water & really flourished. He was invited to parties for the first time ever! (He has ADHD..)

For both of my boys moving them was a very positive experience & I have no regrets. HTH.

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