Yr4 To Move Or Not To Move Schools

[joencaitlinsmum]

My DD is in Yr 4 (nine next week) and is doing academically well at school and is a model pupil but her behaviour at home is atrocious, lots of rudeness back chat and moodiness I would say typical teenager attitude and its getting harder to manage we have tried every trick in the book and dont want to carry on at loggerheads any more :(

We live on the outskirts of a not so nice area and the school DS is at reflects this and she is exposed to plenty of unacceptable behaviour both from pupils and parents and I cant help feeling that this is not helping her behaviour at home. I accept she is not perfect but cant help feeling that she might not be so swayed if she mixed with "nicer" children.

Unfortunetly there are only two schools locally I would consider sending her to or we would out the frying pan into the fire iykwim and both of these have waiting lists. DS is kicking off big time at the mention of moving schools although she only has 2 good friends there.

Someone I have spoken to says its takes 6 months off a childs progress if they move schools, I dont want a move to be detrimental for her so feel torn.

Does anyone have any experience of moving their child purely for social reasons? Or am I being a mean Mummy and should ride the behaviour out?

TIA

If she's happy at her current school and doing well I'd leave her there, and manage her behaviour at home.

Children in the other schools won't necessarlily be any "nicer".

A lot of girls go through a "pre-teen" horrible stage that is partly due to hormonal changes starting to happen. Make sure that you are factoring this in with your dd. Also if she knows you are considering changing school, in effect that gives her a get-out for her behaviour "It's not my fault it's because of the rough kids I associate with at school".

Personally I'd try to manage her behaviour at home. Try not to react emotionally yourself or take the rudeness too personally. ( Say "It's hormones" to yourself if it helps) and just have very clear expectations of behaviour ( keep them realistic, no-one can be perfect) with clear sanctions when behaviour is unacceptable. Don't expect behaviour to change overnight either (though still consistently apply sanctions for bad behaviour) - just keep things calm and consistent and IMO she is likely to grow out of the behaviour as long as you can keep the boundaries firm!