Possibly switching schools - opinions please?

[mumto3boys]

I am looking for some outside opinions on this one please.
I will try to keep this short and to the point!
DS1 - at local school (year 5) very good on paper but behaviour in year group appalling, has come home with swear words starting with C and W, been hit round head with plank of wood, kicked etc and now can't concentrate in lessons.
Have option to move to localish school with intake of just 12 per year group. but ofsted states that the intake is generally well below average at starting point, altho progress well but still below average.

DS1 is in top sets and gifted and talented group.

DS1 wants to move schools as he has had enough and is becoming scared of some pupils (he is tiny for age, but usually confident and out going)

we haven't visited the school yet but if we like it, thinking of just going for it. after all the good reputation of the local school has not done us any favours.
The league tables of the other school are hard to use as only for 12 pupils, but the ofsted says it is a good school, but with a mostly below average intake
we will discuss al this with the prospective new head teracher but was just looking for opinions

oh and this is the only school with places we would consider, the other one is on special measures and looks set to close
thanks

Hmmm - difficult.

I think if he wants to go - at his age - you have got to take some notice haven't you ?

Schools aren't all about Ofsted reports - and he is obviously a clever and hardworking boy - so I would have thought that he would do well pretty much anywhere. I guess my only worry would be "will he be bored" at the new school - will it stretch him enough and how will they cater for his G&T needs ?

Go and see - ask the head loads of questions - the rely on good old gut feeling !

Will the change influence where he goes for secondary ?

No, they both feed the same secondary, plus he will take the 11+ as well, but we are out of the area so he will have to do exceptionally well.

My hope is, if he does go to the local secondary, the problem will be somewhat watered down as there will be a lot more children there.

the boredom issue is the thing really.

I guess we take a look and see how we feel. Obviously very worried about getting it wrong!

Its just a very small school, 12 is the intake number.

funnily enough, when we viewed the current school, we didn't get a very good feeling, but because it was the catchment and supposedly best in the area - plus we didn't really know why we weren't keen, we went for it.

difficult but very important he is happy and confident. You need to have a look and ask a lot of questions at the other option.
My DD is not at school yet but understand your concerns about year group's behaviour. Our local school takes a large amount of kids from the "rough" area of the village and the language of the parents and children at the school gates makes your hair stand on end! However, excellent Ofsted but I cannot bring myself to put my DD's name down for the very reason you have outlined. I am looking at a nearby village but feel I should send DD to the local one. Think gut feeling has to play major role in your decision after you have made the visit.

I'd say move him. At his age being happy at school is sooo important. If he's unhappy he may develop a long-lasting dislike of school.
My ds1 really loves going to school and so do all his school friends. happiness is the most important thing at primary school. And if he's talented he'll do well wherever he goes, especially if he's happy.

Thanks
Well we have applied for the place but shouldn't think we will hear til after half term now. If we get the place (fingers crossed!) we will defnitely go and speak to the head and see if we feel its the right thing to do.
he's asked me again today if i've found him anywhere. This is a child who is usually so happy and confident, I know he really wants to move. But we worry about the same or different problems at a new school

Onlytheone - I woudl go with your gut instinct. your concerns for your child are the exact cause of our problems. its not the school that is the real problems, its the other problems. I now cringe when I pick him up from school when i hear the other kids / parents. I think i'm becoming a snob too!

Glad you have made some progress. Doing something is better than it continually going around in your mind.

by the way, I never actually mentioned the extent of the swearing but the words I have heard are "where's your f.....g bag?" (parent). The response (child) "in the f.....g cloakroom". This is pretty standard. Foul!

thats about what we have here. my son was called an effing c recently. this isn't a word i expected him to learn at the age of 10!