I have three children, two of which are still at school. My daughters are about to start years 9 and 10, and my eldest has already graduated from uni.
My girls' secondary school was previously in a bad way but was then taken over by a new trust which promised the world. We gave it a lot of consideration and everything they were saying really resonated with us. We recognised that many schools go through cycles of performing badly but then get pulled up by the bootstraps, and we'd hoped that this would be the case.
Both girls wanted to attend this particular school, and we were of the mindset that happy children can learn anywhere. It feels like this has now come back to bite us. The education side really does feel like it's lacking, and it sounds like there are real discipline issues and attendance issues more widely. It's undersubscribed, so is the school where children also end up if they've been removed from other schools.
On the academic side, despite being in Years 8 and 9, DDs don't have regular homework, or are encouraged to do any independent study or even read at home, and neither seems to be stretched or are encouraged to strive for better grades that I can see. They're both doing alright, but I can't help but feel that they're invisible as they're not straight A students or pains in the backside and just sit, with many, somewhere in the middle.
Socially, they haven't had a particularly happy time there either - they've both been bullied and experienced some horrible friendship issues and both have struggled with their mental health since being there. To give it its due, the school has responded well, and made changes (some quickly, some dragging their heels), but it's a place where children are mocked and judged relentlessly by their peers and both girls are always mindful of what people will say. It's not a school where it's cool to be clever, do well or try hard - like many, I know.
So we're now at a point where we have to make a decision. Both girls know these are critical years for their education and they both want to do well. We have a couple of choices: keep them at the school they're at but pay for extra support from tutors to give them a boost, and engage as much as possible with the teachers to support them at home as much as we can.
Or move them. There are no other options within state schools locally - they're either much the same regarding results or there are no places, or they're a terrible fit (a very highly thought of Catholic school which seems to get amazing results but crushes kids' spirits). So we've explored private options, and there is one that ticks the boxes perfectly. It gets fantastic results, but the focus is on creating well-rounded adults. I've spoken with parents whose children go there and they talk about the environment - how supportive it is, how children cheer each other on and want to do well, rather than being mocked or bullied if they try hard. There's a lot of pros, and a handful of cons - not least the move itself, the cost and the distance. The current school is walkable, and the new one is a 25-min drive, but absolutely doable.
We would be looking at two years for my older daughter and three for my younger daughter, and we could make a decision about A levels nearer the time - there are good options locally that aren't private and I'd hope that they'd learnt really good study techniques by then to support themselves.
Is there anything else I need to consider? Younger daughter has strong friendships, while older daughter has very few friends to leave. Both girls know a couple of people at the new school, including ones who are also starting in Sept.
It will mean sacrifices as a family - less meals out, less holidays, less money over all, but I'm looking at it as a short-term sacrifice for their long-term benefit, or am I over simplifying it?
Any advice much appreciated and welcomed!