Changing schools in year 5 - good idea or horrible idea?

[Simbaline]

We moved house during the summer and have moved about a half hour journey including a 10-15 min bus ride away from my 9 yr old dd school. At the moment we are managing the journey and sharing lifts with dd best friend who lives round the corner. Next year though my 4 year old will start school and as we've moved about 10 meters away from a good school it seems daft not to send her there. That means that when dd1 goes into year 6 they will be in different schools. We have the option to move her to the new school but she seems devastated by the idea - we had a look round and to be honest I wasn't that impressed although it has a fantastic reputation. Is a child in year 6 old enough to get the bus to and from school by herself ( would often be with friend but can't guarantee it) or would moving schools be good for her?

My oldest started a new school in y6 and a major selling point to him was that a bigger proportion of his class at the new school would be going up to y7 with him.

He also enjoyed having local schools friends that he can knock for.

I think 9 is a bit young to be getting the bus, but others might disagree.

The years when moving school is problematic are the second half of Y10, anytime during Y11, the second half of Y12 and anytime during Y13.

I think it might not be ideal to change in year 6 then have to change again in year 7, unless the child wanted to do it for some reason, in which case it would be fine. If DD is happy at her current school and the bus is safe for her, I would let her take it if that's what she prefers.

Do you get the bus with her at all at the moment? Is she happy to do it by herself.

I think it would be fine for a yr 6 to get the bus on their own on a journey they were familiar and confident with.

Alternatively, could you pay the friends mum to continue taking her or use breakfast clubs to vary the drop off times?

I'm in two minds - terrible at making decisions! She won't have to get it until next year so she'll be 10 but it still seems quite young. It's only a year earlier than she'll be getting it for secondary school but think that's more of a school bus iykwim!

Friends mum would be happy to help out but her daughter is off sick a lot! Friend also has after school stuff etc and I think it's more the coming home that I worry about. Dd is convinced that she'll be fine on the bus - but pretty convinced she can do anything!

Simbaline:

I think you need to consider where your DD will definitely be going (not if she passes the 11+ or you win the lottery) next year for secondary school and what the catchment for that school is. If your current primary feeds into it anyway - then look at logistics - can DD2 go to after school club whilst you collect DD1? Can DD1 join more after school clubs so you can collect DD2 first and then get her? If the primary doesn't feed into your secondary option(s) - then consider whether making new friends over Y5/6 from a cohort likely to go to that secondary would be helpful.

DD2 started at the new primary after we moved in mid-Y4 - but was made very welcome and has absolutely thrived at the new school. It's shabbier than the old school (which is a new build) but deservedly is very well respected and rated Outstanding by OFSTED. Also possesses a much more relaxed group of kids that just rub along together.

I had several months with two kids in two different primaries (Y4 and Y6) and we opted not to move DD1 (then Y6 when the offer came from DD2's primary rather unexpectedly) because there was only 5 months left at her old primary and she adored her circle of friends. We successfully juggled it by just accepting that for a while we'd be spending more on after school clubs/ after school child care - and I'd be dashing about here, there and everywhere to collect kids between 3:30 - 4:30/ 5 p.m. with DH or friends lending a hand when I needed to be in two places at once. But we knew it was just for a few months - by July 2014 things would be settled with both primary & secondary quite local. It was a logistical nightmare at the time - but we got through it.

HTH

Agree it's helpful to think about where she will be going for secondary.

We moved DS at the start of year5 & one of the reasons was we didn't like the secondary his then primary fed into. For DS it has worked out really well & he is the happiest I've seen him with regard to school. He settled in quickly and has made a good bunch of friends.

Thankyou all for your advice! Both primaries feed into the same two secondary's so not much different but she's more likely to know people to travel with etc if we move her. It's reassuring to hear that other children have settled well - it's such a shame we got such a poor impression when we visited ??
It would be just about possible to keep them at different schools using afterschool clubs etc but certainly not easy, or cheap!

In our leafy commuter town, a primary school child getting the bus on their own would be regarded with horror but I have friends in other parts of the country where it would be quite normal so it partly depends on where you are. Two children started in DS's year 5 (officially outstanding primary), one newly moved and one from another local school. Both settled extremely quickly and were very happy. I know there are at least 4 people on the waiting list for DD's year 5 this year so moving at this stage is not uncommon.

Really good to hear some positive moving stories! I think I will move her, she's usually a happy little thing and teachers have always said how popular she is although this doesn't seem to translate into close friends. Spoke to the school today and we can meet her teacher before she starts and they've been quite reassuring so fingers crossed!!

Simbaline:

With DD2 after we moved to the new school, we made a point of keeping in contact with good friends from old school - and still see them (especially over holidays/ half-terms).

It's not an ideal solution - but it helps to smooth the transition.

HTH

It will help her male local friends

I grew up in an area with primary, middle and high schools. I started getting the bus alone aged 9 (year 5). It was about 3 miles.
Hugely depends on child, area etc. I now live in a huge city and it would be common here for children to travel alone too.