Advice needed on moving schools. Should we?

[ilovepuds]

My dd is 7 yrs old and due to start Yr 3 in September. She has been going to the local village school for the past 3 years. We chose it even though the SATS results werent good and the OFSTED was poor as it was local and as teachers ourselves we know how misleading those measures can be. However, after a good Reception year she has had 2 bad years. in Yr 1 her teacher went off on long term sick - she was replaced after 3 months of chaos with 2 supply teachers on job share and eventually settled down. At the end of Yr 1 both the Head and Deputy left! New head was appointed and DD went into Yr 2. We had high hopes for this year as felt the teacher was really good. However, she was so good she was appointed Assistant Head along with the Reception teacher. This meant 2 days out of the class each week. As the days out changed each week dd has had 9 different other teachers this year as well as the main one. Again, not much progress made and dd very unsettled. Class seems to be getting out of hand and children are unkind to each other. On complaining to new head was told I didnt know what I was talking about and should basically shut up. Reluctant to move dd as she is an anxious and shy child we have held out to find out next year's teacher. Is, IMO, worst teacher have ever known who is currently in Yr1. Was ranked low by OFSTED, friends with children in her class are appalled and have moved children. Unhappy with this decision spoke to head again and was told this teacher is 'outstanding' and to stop listening to rumours. I wasn't aware that discussing with other parents and seeing evidence of poor work and marking was just rumours. Anyway, should we move her? We can get her in to a good school about 10mins drive away with good reports and good recommendations but am worried about how she will cope. Are we doing the right thing? Apologies for length of post!

In your position, I would definately move schools. 7 is young enough to make plenty of new friends and any school that appears so dismissive of parental concerns should be avoided.

All these things can't be helping your dd if she's shy and anxious. And school is such a large part of daily life it's silly to remain in one that you're not happy with.

I was just reflecting about ds1 today and how much difference it makes now he's in a school he's happy in. This time last year every day I picked him up he would be withdrawn or argumentative and all he wanted to do when home was watch tv. Now he's happy and cheerful and interested in lots of things. I feel guilty I didn't move him sooner.

Oh dear this school has had a bumpy ride. I can totally understand why you are concerned. I think if you feel that things will not improve then I would move her. She will probably surprise you and cope very well. Perhaps take her to have a look at the new school you are considering before the end of term. It's a tough decision. Good luck.

I would move her. While she's young and there's time to catch up. Kids join schools all year round with transfers and moving into areas. She won't be only one! I wish you luck sounds horrible :(

Normally with a new leadership one should allow a year for things to settle down. New HT has had the year, things have settled, and clearly head is taking a direction you don't like the look of (selecting a teacher for next year who you have no confidence in).
I'd vote with my feet. dd1's best friend, now in year 8, joined their primary in year 3.

Year 3 is more of a natural "break point"(as some schools are separate infants and juniors: even if these ones aren't there's often more children moving about.

Yes I vote for moving too. If there is weak leadership from the head things aren't likely to improve with this teacher or the other concerns you have.

How do you know the teacher was rated 'low' in the OFSTED? OFSTED do NOT publish individual grading for teachers in their reports. They report as a whole and teachers are observed many times during an inspection and can be given different gradings for each individual lesson seen.
I would say that a school that is right for one child is going to be right for another. Any doubts and move schools.

I would move her and, as Edithweston points out, Yr 3 is a natural break from infants to juniors in some schools so she may not be the only child joining new class. We had alarm bells ringng within weeks of dc3 starting Reception. We gave the school the benefit of the doubt (good OFSTED Jreport) and persevered until Christmas Yr1 - it is my biggest regret Ds went from being a happy confident child to tearful, withdrawn and failing. We moved him to another school who worked hard to rebuild his confidence and he is now above average (which is good enough for me when I consider how low he had sunk) a bright, cheerful and vivacious child who loves going to school. I would never allow that to happen again - if we're not happy we'll speak to school (as we did on many occasions) and if things don't change then my child would move.

do it do it do it

I moved my dds due to huuuge shitlist I had with their school- a list that just kept getting longer and longer. Eventually it tipped from daily grimbling and moaning to Just-Can't-Take-Anymore

we HE'd for a while, and now they're in a new school, also started in Y3

I can't help but feel a great wave of relief every time I think of where they've been, and where they are now. It's so different in just about every respect, and they're so happy, doing well academically plus getting such a broad range of experience- also they have great friendship groups. The actual change itself- from school 1 through HE to school 2- was relatively painless- I expected it to be much harder. Both DDs are on the shy side but have blossomed in ways I didn't even dare to hope for

good luck!

The HT has had a year to introduce her style and priorities. She doesn't sound as if she is taking your concerns seriously. Your DD is anxious and her learning and confidence are not being well supported. There would have to be very compelling reasons to stay such as strong friendship group.

We moved DS mid-way through yr2 when his confidence had been totally eroded and school were still saying everything was fine. Never looked back. From day1 he was happier. Not had one morning where he has been in tears since (now end yr3).

Thanks for advice. I am pretty sure we will move her. The ofsted stated that they saw good lessons in yr 2 but not good for ks1 - well satisfactory so we deduced that it must be yr 1. also have seen evidence of work produced and marking. i dislike doing down teachers having done it myself and would normally never do it. but from everything I have heard and seen - no control in the classroom (when I have been in helping out on my days off), very boring style and children appear bored, makes alot of spelling and grammatical errors in children's reading records and marking, which I have seen when in there - I don't hold out much hope for her.

Only thing I'd say is if you're going to move her - I'd do it sooner rather than later. The work just continues to crank up and it does take time to settle in a new school.

We moved DS at 6 - a year ago. Finally this last term I can see the difference in him now he's back to a group of nice friends understands how the school works etc. He has his barings (sp?!)

The development has been so fast in the last 12 months that I'd say it would be harder than a year ago for him to make new friends. Happy child with friends means settled in education and best chance of learning as far as I'm concerned tho. We reckoned on a year of flat peformance at school and to just concentrate on friends. He's a very fiendly sociable little boy, but it was tough in the first term. A year on he's more savvy, self conscious etc. Increasingly they begin to sort/ask for their own plays. When he sarted he was fine with me setting up 1-2-1 plays so he got a chance to get to know as many of the new kids as possible. Has way fewere female friends ow which I'm sad about, but that's the worst outcome so far from a major geographical and school move. His plays etc are all driven by him now.

I feel like I/we just got in under the wire - at a time when I could still do something to help settle him in with new kids - ie have kids back to ours a lot after school.

But maybe I'm thinking about myself too much and my desire to help in a tricky situation for DS?

Good luck!