To move a happy child?

[Mrspepperpotpot]

DD is currently in a very tiny private primary, year 1. There will be 8 in her year 2 next year, one year group there is only 4.

She had a difficult start in life and lost a parent very young. She has been through tricky periods of not managing emotions but since starting school has been very settled and confident.

She is extremely happy at school, very good friends with her class.

The issue is I am not happy with the school, there are so many reasons but the main one is she is very sporty and they do almost no sport. I know several people who have stayed at the school until year 6 and have struggled hugely transitioning to a secondary school due to it being so small and they don’t seem to prepare them that well. They don’t make the secondary sports teams as haven’t been used to doing it at primary.

I think due to her start she may well have tumultuous teenage years and this coinciding with the transition to secondary seems to be bad idea, I also want her to have the opportunity to be in sports teams which may keep her grounddd during these years. (We do things out of school but there’s only so much we can fit in)

So do I move her to a bigger school? Or is that crazy when she’s so happy. If I don’t move her now (ideally before year 3) then when?

Isn’t it common to do sports outside of school though? Moving a happy child for something that is very accessible outside of school hours seems a bit short sighted, particularly as she might not even have an interest in a secondary sports team.
School sports teams still take place after school hours so it’s no different to being part of a club sports team.

does she do sports now outside of school?
is this a want of hers or yours?

My DC are sporty and went to a small primary school (although not as small as your DD's) and then to a secondary school that isn't good for sport. They played sport outside school (one of them at county level) and that was fine.

It sounds like she is really benefiting from a small nurturing school, so I think I would leave her there. Although I must say that your concern about the transition to secondary would worry me more than the sports thing.

Join some clubs!

It sounds possible that this will be taken out of your hands; how can a school so small be financially viable?

My dd went to a small primary with limit sports - she did sports clubs on an evening and weekend.

Id leave her happy where she is unless a move is forced.

Does there tend to be natural movement at any point? Maybe year 3 if she is still showing signs of being sporty and there are more opportunities elsewhere. Up to late primary age external clubs can usually cater well. The small class sizes may also be counterproductive as she gets older but fine for now.

Most kids who make the sports teams at large high schools are doing the sport competitively outside of school. Playing a bit at primary school on its own doesn’t usually cut it. For example, every girl on DD’s high school football team plays for a grassroots team out of school, most having played since year 4 of 5 or before. Some come from schools that didn’t engage in much/any primary inter school sports. Even in larger schools it is very variable what is offered. I wouldn’t move based on the team sport provision - if she is sporty I’d be looking for out of school clubs.
If there are other issues I might move, but not due to size or sports alone. I know some kids who have had friendship issues at very small schools - but this doesn’t seem to apply to your DD. Transition to a very large high school can be ok. DD has a friend who came from a similar small setting and settled fine. Such a small setting wouldn’t be my first choice, but if your DD is happy I’d be unsure about moving.

No I would not move her. I hated school, from infant school to secondary. I felt abandoned, displaced, unhappy and sad at school. To read how she is doing at school, especially after having lost a parent I can't imagine pulling that security from under her. Sounds as though she's thriving, what a blessing. I would of loved to of been in a small class.

If she's sporty she'll find her calling and she can do after school clubs, summer clubs. She'll get all the opportunities at secondary school. I really think it would be craziness to move her when you describe how happy and confident she is and to have such great friendships.

She would do every sport if she could! Currently she does 5 clubs which is too much really