Moving school at year 5

[ilililililil]

Hi all, hoping to get some insight..

DD got an offer from a very nice all through school, to start beginning of year 5 (or summer term in year 4 if preferred). Currently at a good prep school but I've always been scared of the thought of having to do the 11+. She does have nice friends but not too attached to not want to move. She liked the school when she visited and is very keen to join, very happy with the offer.

Now that we have the offer which is something like 1 out of the 15+ girls who took the assessment for, I'm thinking could she actually do better if she sat 11+? Or should I still take the offer and see how it goes, and still go for 11+ if needed? (If so the schools we'd be trying out for will be SPGS and G&L tiers) I haven't been over the moon with the current prep school but it is fairly good in how they prep the girls for the exams.

My mixed purpose to have her sit was 1) avoid the stress of 11+ and 2) have a good backup, 3) so we could spend some better family time in the weekends 4) and have her focus more on her musical instruments and sports, not just workbooks, 5) recent dissatisfaction with her Y4 teacher and some of her classmates (from my perspective)

DD is fairly good with academics but I am the one who gets the cold feet and pressure her to do more work which I know is not healthy. I would have easily decided if it was 7+, but at 9+ thinking is there really a good point in moving her now.

Really wish I could just say the names of the school.
Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks.

Just to add the new school would have many (most, I think) girls going onto the same senior school which is ideal. It is known for very good pastoral care which I am keen on but the academic output is somewhat not as handsome as a couple of other options nearby, that we would try out if she stays in current school.

I would just say what school it is!
If it's a WHS/PHS type just move her and don't bother with the 11plus.
I wouldn't move her and then do the 11 plus- not fair on her.

Move her now and enjoy skipping the drama and work of 11+.

Move her now.

Thanks all for sharing your thoughts.
@11plusdoneanddusted yes it is that type of school but then my understanding is even WHS and PHS are still quite different in academic output. I know she will do well wherever she goes but do want her to be stretched (but not pressured😂) with bright girls!

I think you’re over thinking it all. If you’re dead set on the ‘Hammersmith schools’ you can still do the 11plus and have family time and time for sports etc. If you were going to give all that up in order to do extra work for St Paul’s it’s not going to be the right school for her anyway.
What school has she got into?

We know Dc who went to a through school but sat the 11 plus. Super selective grammar and not in London. Both are possible.

Just to say I work in a small prep which only goes to y6, not in london (if that’s relevant) and we frequently get girls join in year 5 for 2 years then move on to grammar/another senior school. Usually they move from state to us for 11+ prep. But the point is, a move at y5 and again at y7 is quite common where I am.

Thanks all. Could moving a term sooner benefit DD in terms of settling in? Instead of autumn term beginning of year 5, to start at summer term year 4.

Really thinking through if I should hand in our notice in a week’s time. There is another school we’re waiting for but this one feels so right.

Or should we still give the other school our best and see how it goes? That would mean start at year 5.