My 12 year old son started high school last year. He had a terrible first year, he scored greater depth in all his SATs and had a glowing end of year report from his primary school yet upon starting high school it quickly became clear he had been placed in all the bottom sets. To cut a long story very short it transpires they had repeatedly confused him with a boy with the same name for the year despite countless attempts on my part to rectify the issue. I won't go into all the issues, but to name just a few I was sent the other boys personal details to my home address and I can only imagine my sons details have been sent, in return, to this other boy's address. My son also missed an entire lesson once as he was pulled out of class to attend a nurture group - he came home puzzled and wasn't quite sure why he'd had to attend - and at one point I was contacted by the school as they wanted to know if he'd ever been on the SEN register due to his levels. There were also a number of behaviour related incidents which my son was confused with having done. Anyway to cut a long story short he became very disheartened and went from a boy who loved learning to one who was very bored and unhappy. He wanted to move high schools and by Summer Term I really had reached the end of my tether with the failings of the school.
In the Summer Term we arranged a managed move, initially we heard nothing as the new school had misplaced the forms but at the very end beginning of September they contacted to say they wanted him to attend with a 6 week period in which he had to meet their attendance, homework criteria etc. He appeared to settle in well, although was obviously struggling with some of the work after effectively missing an entire years worth of schooling. However, last week after he had been at home for the day (sickness) he became very emotional in the evening and said that he really wasn't enjoying it and that he missed his friends and felt lonely.
Now I really don't know what to do, I hate seeing him upset and I want him to enjoy school. Do I encourage him to stick with this new high school where he is being challenged and is engaged with his learning and encourage him to join the rugby team and hopefully make some like-minded friends? Or do I move him back to the original high school where he has more friends?
Any advice would be greatly welcomed, thanks.