Head AND Deputy off to same new school

[Waswildatheart]

Am so upset with this news. DD is in Year 5 and we were hoping she would have a good last year but are now really worried the school will be in turmoil. Head started six years ago and turned school around, it having been pretty poor before. She is off to a larger school and, most tragically, is taking the excellent deputy with her. Both leaving at the end of this term. Year 6 teacher and one other are both acting assistant heads...... not great for DD. feel quite betrayed, unreasonable I know, but this little school has been through so much and it feels like the rug is being pulled big time. am sure it will all be alright in the end but not for DD's final year.

She will have set systems in place that are not going to fall apart during the coming year!
Unusual though for a HT and DHT to leave at the same time - normally a HT leaving triggers the opportunity for the DHT to be an acting HT for a while.

Same at my grandchildrens' school. In fact, sounds scarily similar. Wonder if it's the same school? North London OP?

Same thing happened in my school a few years back, head and deputy left together to manage another school.
What do you think will go wrong? All the stuff they've set up for the smooth running of the school is still there and in place, most schools are not dictatorships where the absence of the ruler leads to anarchy.

Not London, Crazy. I am being unreasonable I am sure but it is the impact on DD of having a full change of leadership (which always means changes) plus the year 6 teacher acting up - this has got to be disruptive and will affect DD in her last year. She has taken a long time to get going at school and has gradually gained ground academically. Really wanted a solid end to primary to get her confidence and basics sound for secondary.....

Well, you can't change what will happen, so if you are still worried you need to think of ways you are going to minimise the possible impact of any disruptions on your daughter.
One way would be to keep your worries to yourself so that she doesn't start her final year worrying about things that might not happen, and instead to build her independence and confidence as a learner in order to prepare her for secondary.

I do understand how you feel op and I don't think you are being unreasonable to feel upset. Perhaps you need a chat with the Head before she leaves so she can try to reassure you about how the school will continue/ recruitment of new Head and deputy etc. It is quite strange..

Hi Waswildatheart:

I think the way to look at this is that this change will in essence only effect 1/7th of your child's career at this school and it is rather typical for HTs to change every 7 to 10 years at a school - so this will be part of the process for staff.

As many have suggested very little will change.

If your DD is taking the 11+ in your local area - those tests are coming this first term - so really all the learning to this point (and any extra work at home) is already pennies in the bank and the change makes no difference.

The issue is the teacher for Y6 more than anything else - if he/ she is highly experienced and has guided children through SATs before than the likelihood is that all will go ahead as normal with as little disruption as possible.

Although it means change - the likelihood will be that the governors will seek to replace with as highly qualified staff as possible. The new HT may bring changes but there is a good chance they'll be for the best.

HTH