changing school - not sure what to do

[tatt]

we're moving house soon and are not sure what to do. Our daughter is in year 6 and an able child working at level 5. There are 2 schools that are possible - one large and we didn't like it much, the other small and with a nice atmosphere. However the teacher (pert time, shared with head) at the nicer school is leaving. We spoke to the head today who expressed doubt about their ability to provide for an able child as they have a lot of special needs in that year. Our new house is 30 miles away and the children could, just about, stay where they are until daughter goes to secondary school.

We don't know what to do. We aren't bothered about the special educational needs but are by the head's doubts that they could cope.

Personally I think I'd bite the bullet and do the travelling until she's finished Y6. I moved schools a lot but think having to move halfway through Y6 and then again at the end of Y6 would have been really horrible.

Me too - I'd do the travelling if you can to avoid unsettling her and to keep her schooling stable.

A really really tricky one (and I am a year six teacher...)
She has 2 terms of year 6 left - but next term is a hard one with the inevitable SATs preparation. you said she is a bright girl - is she a confident girl? Would she 'do well in any school'? And how does she adapt to change. The next two terms are unfortunately quite hard going in year 6 (a whole other thread about the rights and wrongs of this!) and even in a stable school which does not put pressure on the children, the most resilient, bright and confident children can find it hard work,

hugs....

there are very few girls in her year (4) although the school we liked was small it has 18 girls in year 6. They seemed friendly and she was happy to go there. She's shy and essily led and possibly because of that most children like her She's bright enough to manage the work easily. I worry about the travelling in case she has an allergic reaction when we aren't close by - and she doesn't want to get up half an hour ealier. She's also sat her 11 plus - so SATS don't seem very important.

think we're going to visit the larger school again/ talk to her current head teacher. More views welcomed, back tomorrow.