Moving schools at the end of Y10

[Teaallday]

DS1 is 15 and just finishing Y10. His school (a grammar, if that matters) is having huge staffing issues and 38% of teaching cohort are leaving at the end of this year - 5 out of 10 of his current GCSE subject teachers. The teaching to date has been patchy at best, no Spanish teacher for Y8, 9 maths teachers during Y9 (!) and the sudden firing of his Physics teacher earlier this year has meant covers in this subject (something he aims to study at A Level) for the last 6 months. Despite this, DS works hard and is doing well, but he’s seriously fed up and stressed about Y11. The school have been refusing to engage with us since we raised concerns last week (politely and respectfully, fully appreciate retention is a massive issue nationally - I work in a school myself and really feel for them.)

We met with another local school today who have offered a place for Y11 on the proviso that DS commits to catch up on parts of the curriculum he’s missed due to a couple of subjects (English and History) being taught to different exam boards. He’s willing but understandably anxious. It would also mean dropping one of his options and instead taking RS as the potential new school is a faith school and the subject is compulsory. He’s sad about the work he’s put into this original option going to waste, but not too daunted by the prospect of picking up RS.

I’m worried about the social aspect too, but he’s friendly and very into music, so hopefully joining a music club would help build a new network. And the bus to school would stay the same so he’d still have his bus mates.

Are we insane to consider moving him? Has anyone done this? It feels so risky, but equally risky keeping him where he is when the staffing is such an issue. Help!

Hi. It is risky. Catching up a whole GCSE year will not be easy and the English will be essential. If you do make the move, I'd consider getting a tutor for the two catch up subjects because it's so hard to do it on your own..but my instinct would be to hang on where you are and maybe fill shortfall with a tutor at the current school.

By the end of year 20 they’ll have completed 75 percent of the content. That’s a big ask. I would move him for sixth form. GCSEs are just a gateway to sixth form

You'd be better getting tutors imho

Okay thank you, that’s good advice. I was reluctant to go down the tutor route just because of how little free time he has at the moment anyway what with the journey to and from school (leaves at 7.15, home at 5ish) and homework. But at least that’s something we already know and can potentially manage. Just so frustrated with the current school’s response and worried that the compromised staffing situation will jeopardise his chances of getting into somewhere better for sixth form. But I suppose getting tutors would help with that. Thanks again for the advice.

I have seen children start Year 11 multiple times and they never reach their potential. They often end up dropping at least one subject as it is too much to manage. I wouldn’t consider moving at this point unless there was no other option.

Like others have said, I’d advise against it. You’re right, it’s an awful situation but you really don’t want to move right in the middle of the GCSE course. In English, the differences are substantial between the different exam boards (even with the same text, the approach to the questions is different). He’ll get better outcomes with tutors in the key areas. Obviously, that’s an added expense but if it’s only for a year maybe you can manage it.

Has the school managed to appoint teachers to any vacancies? Might they amalgamate groups? Have larger classes? What plans do they have? I know they are tight lipped but I’d ask for a meeting with form tutor or head of year. Look at other 6th forms.

Does he have end of year 10 mock results and can you use those to pinpoint where a tutor could support him to reach the grades he should be aiming for (focus on the subjects he wants to study at A-level as unrealistic to tutor for all subjects)?

I agree that sticking it out for Y11 and planning to move for A-levels would be a better option, both socially and to fit in with exam board and existing option choices.

I have no idea what their plan is because their only response (from head of year) has been that they don’t plan to share their staffing structure until September. I’ve tried to contact the deputy head, but no response as yet. Haven’t bothered with the head yet because they’re famously unresponsive. Sounds like tutoring will be our best bet.

Yes - we have that data, so that’s a really good starting point. I better start looking for tutors.

No. Don't do it

I've taught English and History at GCSE for 30 years. He can't catch up. The other school will make the right noises, but if they are teaching different exam boards then he is starting from scratch and will have missed far too much to ever catch up on.

In History, my Y10s have currently done 3 out of the 4 text books/units they have to cover. They started at Easter in Y9 and have not only covered the content, but know how to answer specific questions/source work etc.

If he were to come into my class in September having done, say, AQA instead of Edexcel I'd be looking at him in despair, knowing there was little chance of him getting a pass mark, however hard he worked and however bright he was.

Even if he'd done the same exam board, there are something like 15 units to pick from, and he's unlikely to have done the 3 I've already covered.

Firstly my sympathies for him- hugely frustrating situation and adding to the already high yr 11 stress levels .

Agree with the above that it is too late to move schools particularly given that there would be syllabus changes .

If he is willing, get him to make really good use of the summer from now. Revision guides will help him pinpoint gaps, build a workable plan with him so that he still has a break and enjoys himself but he also goes back feeling on the front foot.

For a capable hardworking child , which he sounds like he is, he can really do a lot for himself at GCSE. He needs to find what suits him- my DD finds an hour a day where she does 20mins of 3 subjects easier to face than an hour of each over 3 days. There are lots of resources online. If he is doing AQA science PM me and I can send you some ideas.

Ideally a tutor will be someone has taught that exam board / syllabus and can really target exam technique- in a one to one you can be very effective in a relatively short timeframe. I hope it works out for him.

@Teaallday I never understand why schools only give superficial news. What does matter is teaching and it’s not good enough to be so unresponsive to concerns. Often losing teachers is a symptom of a malaise that’s often done to SLT. Although staffing is an issue in many schools, teachers that are available can choose better schools.

The school might have recruited NQTs of course. You might find it’s better than you think.

Year 11 is basically two terms of teaching, then exams. This is not the time to move. Get tutors where you need them, have a look at online resources too (try UpLearn for sciences) and move for year 12.

My DD has to leave her school, she is end of year 10 too. She has to leave because the bullying has been so bad she can't handle another year. She was going to enrol in online school but she really wants another crack at finishing school the normal way. Sometimes it is necessary to move schools at the beginning of year 11 whether we like it or not. If you think it is necessary, try to make sure you pick the school that uses the same exam boards at least.

Wow, this is massive. I have ds2 finishing year 10 now. You'd have to look at their exam boards on each subject, compared to yours. Where they are in the syllabus, and which topics they have taught compared to the new school. I'd advise against it. Get tutors.

Just because they use the save exam boards (unlikely for every subject) it still doesn’t mean they’ve done the same topics or texts. It’s a massive risk to move during GCSEs. It should only be fine where there is absolutely no choice at all and then it would be better to reduce subjects right firm and to get tutors to help catch up on content changes (or repeat a year if possible)

And yes the fact It's a grammar does matter. They aren't going to let results drop that much, or else it'd be suicide.

Our school is a comp, one of the best in the country. They don't just let results slide.

Agree that it is not a good idea but definitely move him for sixth form. We have finished the English language specification in year 10 so will be revising next year (still got 1/3 of lit to go) and it would be extremely tricky to catch up

Presumably as part of a managed move which this isnt?

Just to add our experience which is more positive than pp’s.

We moved our dd in between year 10 and 11.
2 exam boards were different (English & Geography).
It has worked out incredibly well for her. The new school has been very willing to support our dd, also because they could see she put an enormous amount of work in herself.
She’s a high achiever and has been aiming for all 9’s. We won’t know her results until later, but is confident she’s done well as was fine with the exams. But she is an independent learner and made her own revision schedules etc. She has also been on top of the gcse contents of every topic and actively discussed with teachers any gaps she needed to cover.

Socially she found the first 2 months tough but then found her group and it all settled down.
Looking back she says she’s so happy she’s moved and how it all turned around.

I totally understand this is a tough move and needs careful consideration. I just wanted to show that it can be done successfully. Good luck with whatever you decide.

This is a different situation - for your dd, remaining at the same school, the risks are to her mental health, self-confidence, emotional wellbeing etc. Which are more important than dropping a few grades at GCSE. So I agree your choices amd decisions are likely to be different.

No. I work in admissions and we get several enquiries every year for reasons just like the OPs.

A managed move is a new school. A child moving voluntarily is still moving to a new school. Challenges with curriculum and catching up apply to both. One set of dc might be more motivated but the challenges are similar.

I think it better to wait out until after GCSE. Moving for year 12 is much more logical. If the alternative school was much closer to home to allow later depart time in the morning and earlier home coming then extra work needed due to different boards might be slotted in but if he's still got such a long day out of the house and then need to add on extra work it sounds a recipe for disaster. As another poster has said a state grammar school is not going to let it's results slip. I think you need to hold tight for one more year.