Would you move schools?

[treetop122]

3DC. 1 in year 5, 1 Reception, 1 to start preschool in September.

school is a very small village school, ofsted last year- requires improvement.

we are seriously thinking of moving my reception age to a new school. We have had a few issues with violence from high needs very complex kids. School have no idea how to deal with this and is failing all kids involved. Spoke to headteacher, not a clue and had no answers for me. I have lost all faith really.

so the question is,do I move schools? I would keep my year 5 child at current school as class is ok and moving to secondary soonish.

pros to current school is we walk to the school and it is in the village we live in. Small rural setting, community etc.

cons to potential new school are we have to drive. School is around 3 times the size of current school. Feeder school to a different secondary we will send our eldest too (and would want all our children to go to).

what would you do? Stick it out and hope for improvements (which aren’t even promised!) or move the younger ones?

Thanks in advance!

Super tough. Can you escalate the issue any further? Governors? Local authority? Ofsted? If there's violence then there's a safeguarding issue that others would have to take seriously, surely?

I would try all of that to avoid the disruption of a move. But ultimately, yes, I would move rather than have small DCs put up with that.

Stick it out, ofsted will want to see improvements

So I’m now at the point that I have had a meeting with the headteacher. Next step is official complaint to the governors.
problem is, the head was useless on the phone and admitted he doesn’t have the resources to deal with the students he has on roll. Couldn’t give me answers to my questions etc. I did ask very specific questions as I work in SEN.

so tough.. but ultimately I haven’t seen any improvements for years really. The violence is a new thing as two high needs students started this past year or so, hence the escalation.

I worry that if I stick it out, it just won’t get better.
my eldest we have questioned for years if it’s good enough but she’s never had any major issues and has always been happy. Covid got in the way, now she’s in year 5. But I do worry!

The head can’t ignore that they have violent students. There’s a safe guarding issue for all the other kids. I’d see how the next 6-12 months go. Potentially move when the eldest goes to high school if needed

You won’t be the only parent complaining

Lots of parents are complaining.
I know of at least 4 others… there has been changes and no further violence so far. But after speaking to the head who had no clue and no real plan I am seriously concerned. I want to stay in the village school but I just feel it’s falling short.

Is there space in the school you want for your two younger children? Can you manage two school runs?

No fucking way would I be leaving my children in a school with other violent kids and a head teacher who has no POA to control it. Secondary school is a long way off for your other two children

There is 1 space for my reception child. No idea about the pre-schooler as it is a separate pre-school to the main school. The new school is out of catchment for me so might be a pain when applying for the third in a few years.

the head has now separated the children but it is a tiny school and with high needs children and little resources the balance has tipped.
it is being so poorly managed I am shocked.

other alternative is I stick it out and join as a parent governor and try and offer advice and implement change that way… but I work part time and have 3 kids and this is not my responsibility (no matter how much experience I have).