Do kids get effected with moving schools

Changethetoner · 28/12/2023 01:45

Yes of course children are affected by moving schools. But it isn't always a huge issue. A lot will depend on the individual child's personality. If they are easy-going and good at making friends and just getting on with things, then the transition should be okay. But if the child is more sensitive, it could really upset them long-term and affect their confidence.

One thing I found when I moved schools (many moons ago), and when my daughter moved schools, (twice in last decade), the curriculum can be different, and the child might miss something if the school they moved to has already covered it, but the child's previous school didn't yet. This can be frustrating, and stressful, and could lead to the child losing confidence in their abilities if all the rest of the class know something they don't.

At the end of the day though, if you have to move, you move. You could regard the experience as character-building.

Fivepigeons · 28/12/2023 01:50

It's easier the younger the child. So I'd prioritise moving the older child at a natural gap.. the start of secondary.. when there will ne alot of other new kids and they won't be so alone in their experience.

mondaytosunday · 28/12/2023 02:52

I moved mine Y2 and Y4, unfortunately in the middle uf the year. It was a huge adjustment for both - harder than I anticipated. My Y2 struggled, even though she was more happy about the move beforehand. She hated her teacher (as did I). My son faired a bit better as he is more outgoing, but still found it hard for the first term and didn't really settle til the following year.

poolviewthanks · 28/12/2023 03:01

My 10 year old DS has been at six schools in six years and is doing brilliantly. He adapts well, has learned to make friends easily etc. Kids are kept in their comfort zones way too much in my opinion.

junebirthdaygirl · 28/12/2023 05:13

My dc moved school at 10 and 8 and it was the thoughts of it that was worse than the reality. As soon as they got there they settled in immediately. However that was the nature of their personalities and they had no special needs. My dd made her best friend for life there but she is quite sociable so that wasn't too difficult for her.
As a teacher l constantly have new children arriving and it rarely is an issue. Families move for all sorts of reasons. It should be fine.

Devilsmommy · 28/12/2023 05:44

I was in 4 different schools and it isn't that bad. Depends on your child though because I can imagine an anxious child wouldn't be as blasé as an easygoing one

PuttingDownRoots · 28/12/2023 05:45

Dd1 went to five primary schools, dd2 went to four. Sometimes the transition went well, sometimes it didn't.

The worst move for DD1 involved half a term out of school..

You mentioned moving for Secondary... you need to be at the new address in the October of Yr6. Obviously you could commute back to old Primary school, but you didn't mention any distances...

AvengedQuince · 28/12/2023 06:15

Mine attended three primary schools, the last for a term. He only didn't like the last school, it was only single form entry and he didn't find much in common with the other 9 boys.

itsgettingweird · 28/12/2023 06:18

Everyone gets affected when changing anything in life. That doesn't mean it has to be a negative experience.

Moving to a better property and better area with more to do can counteract any changes in school life.

SutWytTi · 28/12/2023 06:22

Yes, but also those who never move are affected by that. We are all a product of the lives we lead.

A school move is not unusual and I wouldn't worry unduly.

I think moving between Yr 9-11 is to be avoided, and moving frequently, but one move is commonplace.

flowerchild2000 · 28/12/2023 06:25

We moved a lot due to DV and my DD was fine with it. There was enough stability for memories and bonding. All kinds of experiences can make a happy, secure childhood. I did all I could to help her feel that way and that's exactly what happened.

Occasional2023 · 29/12/2023 21:26

You need to time things right. You mention moving for eldest to start secondary, but that means you will be applying from out of area when you apply at start of year 6. Depending on the admission criteria you could fail to gain a place at a preferred school due to not being in catchment or living too far from the school. You would have to hope that a place occurs as a late application. As weird as it might sound it could be better to move at the start of year 6 so that although your older child would have to attend a new primary for just one year, you would be in location for a regular application to secondary school and gain a place in national allocation day at the start of March.

DawDaw · 05/01/2025 03:36

amikhi · 27/12/2023 23:15

Hi All,

this might be a long one…

so we are looking to move to a larger property within the next year. My eldest daughter is currently in nursery so will be starting reception in September 2024..there will be a 2 year academic gap between my eldest and youngest. Now the property we are currently looking at is close to the existing primary school but we are planning to relocate closer towards Oxford in the future.

what I would really like to know is if kids get effected by moving to a new school…..say we move when my eldest starts high school my youngest ultimately would be the one who would have to leave her current school to continue year 5/6 in a new primary school before she then joins my eldest in the high school..

Also moving to a new area would mean some schools would not have availability… any experience in what happens in this scenario
I
any experience would be appreciated and I hope all this makes sense…thank you :)

I sat and wrote out how many homes/schools I had changed by aged 16 yrs and it came to 17 changes in all. My father was in the military. They were fairly unsocial and I only saw the relatives up north about once a year. I was not put in social clubs as a child and hardly allowed friends round the home unless a birthday. Also, my dad was a bully and my mother kept quiet about it. I then went on to have about 96 job/college changes, the government agencies wern't bothered at all and just covered up, said go to dtrs etc.

Nat6999 · 05/01/2025 04:46

I changed primary school age 9 after we moved house, it was awful as I stuck out like a sore thumb as I hadn't gone through starting at infant school with the other kids, I was bullied non stop which carried on to secondary school. If you are going to change schools, do it as young as possible so there is as little gap as possible from school starting age. I had previously loved school & learning, but from changing schools, I hated it & probably now I would have become a school refuser. The fact that I was undiagnosed with autism didn't help either.

Onceuponatimethen · 05/01/2025 06:47

Like @Nat6999 I moved in late primary years and never managed to establish a new friendship group which also led to me being completely isolated in secondary as the bullies told the new school year group in Year 7 that I was scum and I was completely isolated.

I didn’t manage to get back to where I had been emotionally or socially before the move until I was about 14.

I think it will depend a lot on what the move is eg London to Northumberland where dc will stand out with accent etc will be a lot harder than between two schools in Essex. Where the move is to a very different catchment socially that also makes it much harder IME. Cool kids who are well liked by other dc will always find it much easier.