To move schools or not

[Dawn95]

My DD is 7, she attends a school a 20 min walk from our house. She has a best friend, who she is in a class with at school. Best friends parents have decided to move her to a new school, which is less then 10 min walk away from our house. They have decided to do this because of the better ofsted rating. Our Daughter will be gutted her best friend is leaving, but we know she also likes many things about the curent school ( friends, routine, teacher). Should we move our DD to the new school, as its closer to home and best friend will be there or leave her where she is? Best friends parents have said it would be nice if they both moved.

That's very difficult to answer. There are such a lot of unknowns.

What happens if you move and the school isn't as nice and the friend moves again? That could be very difficult.

Having said that, it could be great. There are just such a lot of things that nobody can predict.

I wouldn't move her based on a friendship at age 7. Friendships are very fluid at that age, and even if they remain friends, as the PP says, there is nothing to say the family won't move again in the future. I also wouldn't move based on an Ofsted rating. I would however consider moving if I preferred the other school and felt it would be a better fit for my child or the shorter commute would be more convenient. But presumably you chose the further away school for a reason?

So original reason we chose the school was that our DS attended. But he now goes to secondary. It would be convienient for DD to be closer to home, but its only a 10min difference walking between the two schools. A reason we wouldn't have moved her closer was friendships. So now her best friend is moving its tempting. I'm just not a fan of moving schools if they are settled.

I wouldn't move for that reason.

Send her to the school that is the best fit for her needs.

Go and visit and suss it out. Do your research and if you like it, move her.

Nope I won't move her. They probably won't be in the same class so won't see each other as much. Also they're best friends until one of them finds a new best friend. They'll see each other outside school if they're best friends and will have lots of stories to tell.

I'd go and see the school but tbh would t be moving schools for a friendship.

A better ofsted rating is NOT a good reason to be moving schools; I don't think an ofsted rating accurately depicts the quality of a school, staff and the education it provides but rather how well the school can advocate for itself using data, paperwork and how prepared they are for an inspection.

If however, you go and visit and like the school and want to move your child, don't let anyone on the internet stop you.

Is there a reason why you didn't consider this school for your older child when he started school!

@Dawn95 this is an opportunity for your daughter to make new friends at her current school. The concept of children ranking friends so that one is 'best' is toxic. It alienates other potential friends by making them feel inferior.

I would do nothing for now. You have no idea if the profile the other girl will stay at the second primary school anyway. They might not like it, or move area later. Wait and see how things go after she moves.

Is there another space in that year group anyway?

I agree that staying where she is, is an opportunity to develop new relationships.