Changing schools at Y3?

[Vixxxen]

Has anyone done this and for what reasons?

I think I will be able to change dd's school next term, I am very excited because this was my 1st school choice and she has been on the waiting list for this long, but she is settled and happy...not sure if I should do it or not.

Pros
-Christian ethos (we are Christians)
-More Academic (dd is struggling with her learning now)
-More strict (dd doesn't have behavioural problems as such but do things behind my back/teacher back and lies sometimes)
-Breakfast club, wrap around care and loads of after school clubs, school bus (parents helping each other with the school run)
Parents are well involved in the school

Cons
-Further away (15 min walking instead of 5)
-Bigger school with more children
-Obviously she will be the new girl (however she is very sociable)

Also dd was flagged as dyslexic this year and is not improving much. The new school is the only one in the borough which has a quality mark for dyslexia.
In the current school the parents don't get much involved and the majority don't even make an effort to say good morning to each other unless you are part of their closed group. Also some of the parent's parenting style at school grounds and gates is appalling, I hate when my dd see her friends treated that way.

I like the current school, the grounds, the staff and I feel like betraying them if I move dd, but children do come and go they won't care that much will they? I just feel that dd would benefit more from the other school, that is all.

What do I do?

Almost certainly in-year application, but the county council will be able to tell you for sure.

Year 3 is a great time to change if you are going to. It is the start of a new Key Stage. Some schools only start at Year3 so everyone is new. For those that go right through, the Juniors, which begin in Year 3 are often treated a little bit differently. Even those who have always been there are excited about entering a new phase and it is new for everyone. Easier to do it at start of Year 3 for many reasons than say in Year 2 or 4.

Hi Vix if your chosen new school is a faith school then I would say check with the school admission officer as the school may have their own form/s as well as the la in-Year admission form which you may find in your county council website.

Thanks. It is a Faith school and when I applied I also provided all the extra paperwork they ask for.
I called the council to ask about the in-year transfer and they couldn't advise so I contacted the school anyway.

There was a waiting list, but as we were in catchment we went straight to the top (as the others weren't), as it happened someone left a week after so it was quite a quick decision for us.

Good luck vixxxen, I hope you get the place you want