Moving schools

[taketheribbon]

We are going to be moving at the time our dd changes from Infant to Junior school. We are moving because we want to live somewhere cheaper than the South East, so are actually considering all areas from Cornwall to Northumberland!

I just wondered if anyone thought it would be better for dd to move to an area where they have the infant/junior system, so that all her junior school classmates had also moved schools at the same time as her, or whether it would be better to move her to an area where they just have the primary system, and she'd be possibly the only new child in year 3?

I guess if we went for a junior school, then all her other classmates, who would be new to the school too, might stick like glue to the classmates they know from infant school out of fright/initial insecurity and she'd find it harder to make friends? Or at a primary would she find it difficult to infiltrate what might be hard and fast friendship groups? Or would they all be interested in the 'new girl' and it might be easier?

Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you.

I think year 3 probably isn't too bad an age to move. My sister moved at that age, spent part of a term in one class and then was moved up a year so had to then make new friends again. She settled very happily.

Certainly the school my daughter is at did a big class shake up at the end of year 2/start year 3 so children were separated from some of their friends anyway. Plus I think there is an inevitable change in children's friends at some point around age 7/8ish as they grow apart from the friends they initially had things in common with at 4 and start to make new friendships so I think I would base it on what the atmosphere in the school is like and whether they have clubs and activities she will want to be involved in to help her make friends.

where do you think you would LIKE to end up living? Cornwall probably isn't that much cheaper than the south east to be honest. Where we are in the south west is ludicrously expensive compared to average salaries for the area (unless you have a well paid work from home job or something I suppose) although if you are selling a home in the south east you will be ok. I often wonder where I would CHOOSE to live, if no family ties, no job ties etc.

Periwinkle, you're right - I hadn't thought to look at it from the point of view of where we'd actually like to live. I'm the only one that does any thinking on this - dh wasn't brought up in this country, so has no idea and is happy to go along with whatever I think (which makes it hard actually because it would be nice to have some input from someone else who has a stake in it too!). I'll think about that.a

But do you think it would be best to look for an area that has the infant/junior system, or would it be ok to move her to an area that just has age 4-11 primaries, where she might be the only 'new' girl in year 3?

It would help me narrow down the county selection you see!

I don't think it matters to be honest, I really don't. Most infant/juniors are automatic feeders anyway, you have to reapply but they get priority so I don't think it would make any difference. I think your priority should be where you want to live and where you want your family to grow up and then see about schools. Do remember though that rural areas are normally much more limited with schools especially at secondary level and long journeys might be needed. also as kids get older they do want the ability to have some level of independence. I grew up in a village, only 3 miles from a town so not far, but we didn't have buses going anywhere, the train was expensive and we were limited in going to do activities as teenagers as we relied on parents to a point.

what sort of place are you looking for? country? town? smaller city? outdoor lifestyle?

I don't think it will matter that much. I would take other things into consideration first.

Just to complicate the issue a bit further, some areas of the country have a 3 tier system where dcs usually move from first school to middle school at the end of Y4. So this could rule out some areas if you prefer a primary school.

I don't think moving in yr3 should be a big problem. Ds moved part way through yr2 and was fine. They had a girl come inot yr4 midterm and she has settled well too. Maybe reading the education threads you should consider whether you want to be a county with grammar options at secondary and all that madness or not?