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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

should i move him??

19 replies

loosinas · 01/02/2012 21:48

i feel so upset.. ive been unhappy with my sons school for a while and ive tried speaking to them about many different issues and am still not happy so im thinking about moving him. i feel like the worst mum for making the wrong choice of school as now im going to rip him away from his little friends...
what are my options if i want to move him ... where would i start ? THANKYOU

OP posts:

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cece · 01/02/2012 21:50

First thing to do is speak to the school and say that you are thinking of moving him because of x, y and z.

Also you need to find out if there are places in his year group in any other local schools. That really is the key - if there are no spaces you won't be able to do so immediately. However, you can put him onto the waiting list if you want to.

Original poster

loosinas · 01/02/2012 21:59

do i call the LEA to find that out or the individual schools ?

OP posts:

cece · 01/02/2012 22:22

I am in a similar situation.

I phoned the school I liked the other day and had a chat. They gave me the number for the LEA - they hold the waiting list here, so they were the ones with the details of the chances of him getting a place.

Original poster

loosinas · 01/02/2012 22:29

how old is your son ? im so worried about mine losing all his friends etc :(

OP posts:

SandStorm · 01/02/2012 22:32

I can't offer any advice about the practicalities of moving schools but I can reassure you that children are incredibly adaptable and your DS will easily make new friends in a new school and it takes very little effort to keep up with old friends from his current school.

Original poster

loosinas · 01/02/2012 22:33

thanks so much sandstorm :)

OP posts:

cece · 01/02/2012 22:34

Mine is Year 3 - he has a lot of friends but seems to make new friends very easily so not too worried about that. He has always been reasonably popular so far in his school life.

What re the problems you are having with him and the school?

Original poster

loosinas · 01/02/2012 22:41

hes in year one and they do very little formal learning. much of the day is still choosing. there's been no intervention for his handwriting issues. his reading book was being changed every 2-3 weeks until i kicked up a stink. he just doesnt seem to be getting anywhere. theyre very laid back.. saying year one is a transition year ... i think, yes, fine , i dont want him hot housed just stimulated. he comes home and they may have done one little numeracy activity in a day and he says he finished it super quick as it was so easy. i dont know. im just not happy. i wanted to go in to help with reading etc last year and they have a very closed door policy. they just got a satisfactory ofsted with some inadequate teaching commented upon :(

OP posts:

cece · 01/02/2012 22:54

I think it can be pretty normal for year 1 to seem like they are doing choosing but in fact they are doing work by stealth (through play).

But it might be worth your while phoning around to see if there are any spaces first.

I know there are no spaces for my DS so for now we are trying to work with the school to make it a better experience for him.

Original poster

loosinas · 01/02/2012 22:55

what problems is he having ?

OP posts:

IndigoBell · 02/02/2012 10:47

Ring up the LEA and find out which other schools have a place in his year.

If no schools that you like have places, put his name on the waiting list for the schools that you do like.

If a school that you do like has a place, ring them up and ask if you could look around. They will ask you if you have discussed your problems with the HT (say yes), and they will probably ring the HT and discuss you with them.

If you like the other school move them.

I've moved all 3 of mine, they've all kept their old friends and made new friends. My children were in Y4,2 & 1 when they moved.

Original poster

loosinas · 03/02/2012 11:27

thanks so much indigobell... so do i need to have discussed my concerns with the headteacher for real ?? i have spoken to the class teacher about it and been to a meeting about the ofsted but not actually had a meeting about my son with the head per ce

OP posts:

IndigoBell · 03/02/2012 11:33

If a school has a place in that year, they have to accept your child.

The new school will try to discourage you from moving, for all sorts of reasons, but it's not their choice. It is 100% up to you.

If you've decided to move, I see no reason to discuss it with the HT :)

If you're unsure, then you should discuss with the HT and see what they think.

I wouldn't lie to the new school and say I've discussed it if I hadn't. But I would just be prepared to be asked. The Heads will know each other, and may or may not be best friends.

And when they ask you why you want to move, I'd give them a few reasons, but not come across too negative :) Don't be too horrible about your old school.

Original poster

loosinas · 03/02/2012 11:37

do the same catchment rules etc apply ? here in reading im really near the border with west berks so will i be allowed to apply to west berks schools?

OP posts:

IndigoBell · 03/02/2012 11:44

No, catchment rules don't apply.

If the school has a place they have to accept him. If they don't have a place they can't accept him.

It's that simple.

iseenodust · 03/02/2012 11:46

For once have to disagree with Indigo, when I went to see new primary about moving DS they were very welcoming and said a new start was all it took sometimes. There had been bullying at the old school and we had gone to the governors after HT showed little interest. Moved DS partway through yr2 and have no regrets. He is now happy at school and still has a couple of friends from old school.

IndigoBell · 03/02/2012 12:02

Sorry, you're right. I should have said 'might' try to discourage you.

Obviously all schools are different.

I just wanted the OP to be prepared......

Original poster

loosinas · 03/02/2012 13:14

thanks so much Indigobell thats such a relief.... doing loads of calling around today x

OP posts:

jendot · 03/02/2012 13:38

We are in a similar situation (don't know if you have read my thread) Ds is in year 3 though...he has already moved school (at the end of year 1) as we moved house and area.
I have been unhappy with his current school since we moved but have been unable to get him into the state primary of our choice. Today he is on a trial day at a local independant school with a view to starting after half term...fingers crossed all is going well!
I would say if you are unhappy with the current school then get on and move him. Make the decision and don't look back...we have faffed and fussed and made the situation so much more stressful than it need be.
I don't yet know how this current move will go. But when he moved in year 1 it was stressful for him for a start but he soon made new friends!
Good luck

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