Move schools? Child has no friends.

[Tiii20]

My son has no friends in his year. He'll be going into Yr5 in September and I don't want him to spend the next 2yrs alone (to most likely be in the same mindset for secondary, Uni etc.)
He has been at the school since Reception. He did have a good friend and they became a group but a boy he has never got on with pushed him out and became best friends with his then good friend.
Every year the Teachers have said he is well liked and respected and seems to prefer to do his own thing. He does but has also told me he sometimes feels lonely.
He was best friends with an older boy for the last couple of years, this boy is now moving onto secondary school.
The school is good. Very academic, as is my son.
I think he just hasn't bonded with anyone in his year. As he can make friends easily outside of school. He is funny, kind and intelligent. He is good at sport but isn't into football like alot of boys in his year.
He has said the children all have their best friends and groups now.
I haven't made good friends with any of the parents which doesn't help. (With my younger child I have which does help).
Should I encourage him inviting someone weekly to his house 'playdates'? He does one club a week which alot of his class go to, he plays with the others but again it's the same groups. Encourage more sports activities after school?
Or just move schools? (Ideally to another feeder school of the secondary school).

You may be best leaving your son where he is as moving school is no guarantee that he will make friends, unless he confirms to you he's so unhappy he wants to move.

It sounds like a good school which he enjoys, and some kids just don't make 'good' friends until their older, myself included. I was in high school before I found 'my people' and developed a strong friendship group. I moved schools a bit too and whilst it wasn't for lack of trying, sometimes you just don't gel as friends until you've met the right people.

Your son will get there I'm sure, just continue to talk to him so he knows he can tell you if he's unhappy with his school setting and encourage whatever interests/groups he's into and he'll be fine

Have you explored the likelihood of schools you’d consider having spaces? Whilst spaces might change and fluctuate, it would at least give you an idea of how realistic or not a move might be.

Also, float the idea with him. See what he thinks. If you don’t want to set it up as too distinct a possibility if you’re unsure, you could casually mention a ‘colleague’s’ kid has just moved schools, and wonder out loud if he would move schools if that was an option.

I would try and reassure him that not having a ‘best-friend’, does not mean he has no friends at all. This was the same scenario with both our dc around year 5....they do tend to grow out of that best-friend mentality as they approach secondary school. After a shaky year 5, in year 6 everyone became that much more mature and cohesive, and our child was so much happier. They are now all friends in one way or another.