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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Would you move your child in year 5?

18 replies

MrsBradleyJames · 26/10/2011 19:51

I would love to hear from anyone who has done this, or in year 6....or who thought about doing it but didn't - we have had lots of problems with DS's junior school being generally crap, and it's now come to a point where despite all the support we can give, the school are failing our DS, there's no other way of putting it.

This is not something we think about lightly of course, I just wondered rather than another year and a half of fighting with the school to put his basic provision in and letting DS flounder and struggle, perhaps just moving him to a school which actually DID help him, would be better?

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madwomanintheattic · 26/10/2011 19:54

ds1 has just started grade 5 in his third school, and tbh he doesn't 'fit' in the school system, so we are thinking of removing him to he. so that doesn't completely answer your question, but yes, of course, kids can move at an age.

dd1 has just started in her sixth or seventh school in grade 7 (we move a lot) and still loving every minute of education, still thriving.

some kids are more difficult... do you know where he will 'fit' for secondary?

do you have a lot of options to consider? what areas specifically is he being let down in?

madwomanintheattic · 26/10/2011 19:54

an age? any age, apols. crap typing.

SandStorm · 26/10/2011 19:55

I can't tell you if it's the right or wrong move for your DS but I can tell you that I've had children move into my school in both year 5 and year 6 and within a couple of weeks you can't tell who the new children are.

bubbles4 · 26/10/2011 19:59

Yes I would move a child in year 5,I did move a child in year 5 because the primary school had deteriorated and it was the best thing I ever did,from my point of view and hers.

Original poster

MrsBradleyJames · 26/10/2011 20:01

thanks madwoman, and you raise a very good point, eg that DS will NEVER love school!!!! I don't think he 'fits' school either or rather it doesn't fit him.
He has some SEN - and it's been a full on long term struggle to get the school to put in appropriate help; which they have done, eventually, each year but each year it's like starting afresh and fighting with the teachers to get what's written (what THEY have written!) on his IEP. This year we are now at half term, and he has had NONE of his input whatsoever. None. When we've had chase up meetings, the teacher has just said "oh it's been up in the air so far this year for everyone" and the SENCO said she didn't even know ds wasnt getting his provision!!! It's been truly awful. Meanwhile, DS gets sick with nerves and develops nervous tics etc.

But with the right help, he copes.....and he actually quite enjoyed year 3, with a good teacher....

am being kicked off PC, will check back later, thanks x

OP posts:

Whippet · 26/10/2011 20:02

Think it helps if it's part of a 'bigger plan'. I know people who moved their DD in year 5 to go to the junior part of a school they wanted her to go to at Year7, so although she had to make new friends etc, she didn't have to then go through it all again at Year 7.

DS has a friend however whose mum never seems satisfied with his school. They are now Year 5, and the poor child has just moved to his 4th school in 6 years (incl. pre-school). He has all sorts of social/attitude/behaviour problems, and I can't help wondering whether all the moves aren't contributing to them?

As a different example - one of my friends felt that he younger son didn't 'fit' at our school in Year 5. He is dyspraxic, possibly Aspergers and was getting bullied by some of the other boys. She nearly pulled him out, but the Head said 'please let us try to sort things out first' and then they spent time talking to some of the kids (and their parents) and developed a mentor/buddy support programme for him. A year later, and he is doing really well and very happy, and gaining in confidence.

Are you sure you have exhausted all avenues with his existign school?

Inghouls2 · 26/10/2011 20:06

I moved a son in yr 4 with absolutely no problems and my bf moved her son to the same school in yr 6, again easily, with no problems.
Children are incredibly resilient and it amazing how quickly they fit in and make new friends. It's us mothers, who find it all a struggle.
Move your Ds, you'll be kicking yourself you didn't do it sooner within a couple of weeks.

crazygracieuk · 26/10/2011 20:06

I moved ds1 in year 6. The main benefit for him was that he went from a school where nobody would go to the same secondary to one where half the class will be going to the same secondary. In practice this will mean that he only attends his current school for 10 months (Sept to July) but I think that the social advantages will outweigh this. There are 5 children in his class who have joined since September and while the reasons vary, the school is really caring so they have fitted in well.

flossflo · 26/10/2011 20:20

Yes - go for it. We hummed and hahed and eventually did it ( a good school that both the older children had gone through but had deteriorated ) and were so glad we had. Within a fortnight he had settled into the new school and had made some really good friends.

DamnedEdna · 26/10/2011 22:51

Op - your school sounds a lot like my ds's former one. He has now left but I so wish that I had moved him in Year 5 before things went downhill. He too has SEN and after battling to get him a statement school said that they could do a lot for him - they did nothing except cause him to become really stressed and miserable and cause huge damage to his self-esteem. Senco's idea of a strategy to help with his behaviour and social difficulties was to paint a square on the playground for him to stand in! I now have to live with the guilt I feel for not getting him out of there. If you don't feel the school will help your ds please move him to a school that will care and understand his needs.

Feenie · 26/10/2011 22:54

I am a Y5 teacher, and have had lots of new children. They have all been fine. I would do what you need to do

workshy · 26/10/2011 22:55

I'm having to move mine due to a house move

mine are year 3 & 5 and niether wants to move but circumstances dictate and I feel like the worst mother in the world

what does your son want to do?

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 26/10/2011 22:58

I have heard of it often and it can be a good age...kids are still very open...my DD may be moved at this age as we are looking t working abroad then....I worried and worried about it, but decided that sometimes change is for the best!

Original poster

MrsBradleyJames · 27/10/2011 17:42

Thank you everyone - you've all been so helpful. I haven't even mentioned the idea to DS yet. After reading this thread, I have decided to go and visit two schools that are in the neighbouring town to us, just as a starting point, and see how they feel.
Thanks again everyone I really appreciate the input. To answer Whippet, I suppose I don't yet feel that we have exhausted EVERY option with his current school but the only things left are a complaint to Headteacher and Governors basically. We will go down that route if DS's provision does not start by the second week back.

OP posts:

ProperLush · 27/10/2011 18:14

We moved DS1 6 weeks before the end of Y5 to another school so he could have a year with at least some kids who'd be going to our 'chosen' secondary (had to move to get into catchment).

DS1 isn't very social but the reality was that of his 'gang' of mates at the first school, one was a girl (who subsequently went to a different secondary), and the other 3 were quite different academically so he would have been unlikely to be in the same sets as them anyway.

He's been OK- maybe even 'fine'. I am aware that I do not have a 'handle' on this primary like I did with the earlier school- we lack the 'connectedness' that you get if you've been in the school yard for 5 years, but DS2 also now attends this 'new' school and did so from the end of Y3 and we are getting our feet more under that table as a result.

There is no 'right' answer but I wouldn't worry so much about the integrating thing- they do sort of 'scatter' to the winds, come secondary, anyway.

dailygrowl · 06/06/2017 15:02

If you've exhausted all the options to make things work, then I don't see why you can't move in year 5 or year 6, if your child is genuinely unhappy there. I know someone moving for year 6 - even though he has done well for Reception to year 5 academically and in sports. I have no idea how things will turn out next year, but presumably he liked the new school or they would not have done it.

I also know of people who had to change in years 5 and 6 due to moving house/relocating and the kids seemed fine. Really, the main thing is whether they are happy and thriving/learning in the school they are in. Lots of people move all the time at all ages, apart from maybe (fewer) during GCSE year (but many do move during sixth form and are still fine). I know someone who moved countries and hence schools to join at the start of the last year of upper sixth (A level). He topped the year and went on to Cambridge University (that said, he was always a good student at his previous schools). He also made friends easily and was very happy with his move. He did have a confident and outgoing personality though.

Trb17 · 06/06/2017 16:51

Zombie thread

Changebagsandgladrags · 12/06/2017 09:49

I moved DS in the middle of year 5 (in fact twice as the school I moved him to closed down).

He used to have SEN in his old school. However, something seemed to click in this new school and now he's doing really well (end of Year 6).

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