To move DS for a second time, back to old school

[Sarahlovessandwiches]

We moved DS1 at the end of reception (last year) to a new school. He’s now end of Year 1. Old school was an infant school and the feeder junior school had historically had a bad reputation (we didn’t get any of our school choices on original application - we were centrally allocated). We also believed that moving him would mean he’d get into a closer secondary, when the time comes. That junior school has now had a “Good” ofsted due to a new head who has been in there for a few years and general parent consensus seems to be positive. Previous infant school was very small, nurturing and the junior school is pretty small too.

DS’s new school is 2 form entry and whilst he does seem happy there, good friendships etc. I can’t help but miss the nurturing feel of the previous school. To complicate matters, we live on the border of two counties. His old school falls in the county / LA we actually live in and his new school in the neighbouring county. Due to massive overpopulation in the neighbouring county and our distance from the secondary school (albeit our closest one), looking at previous admissions, it seems highly unlikely that he won’t get in there (it’s a relatively new school so I didn’t fully realise the extent of this when we moved him last year).

We also have a DS2 due to start school in September 2024 so I’m currently stressing about what to do. The secondary school I mention above has a primary school opening (so it will be an all through school) as part of it. Intake from 2024 - so no option to send DS1 there.

As I see it, these are our options:

1.	Move DS1 back to old school for Year 2. Then send DS2 there as well when he starts. DS1 will then automatically get a space in the feeder school and then go on to a secondary school with friends. Cons - due to the infant and junior split (schools not on same site - about a 5 min drive apart), will have two school drops (other than when DS1 is in year 6 and DS2 is in year 3). Also, DS1 has more solid friendship group at new school and would he fit back in at old school? Smaller class at old school so less friendship options. 
2.	Leave DS1 at new school. Send DS2 there. Problem with this is it’s very unlikely that either will get into the secondary their friends are going to and we’ll end up at the secondary in our LA (even though it’s further away). My only reservation about this is moving up to secondary without knowing anyone (although they will know others from the original infant school as we still see them occasionally- but of course, are more like acquaintances, not friends). 
3.	Try to get DS2 into the new primary (which then goes straight through to the  secondary as it’s an all through school so if DS2 gets in there, he will automatically get a place in the secondary). And then hopefully, by sibling priority, DS1 will get a place in the secondary as that’s where 95% of children from DS1’s current primary will end up. Cons to this is two school drops (but that applies to option 1 as well), and there’s no guarantee DS2 will get into the new primary so it’s a bit of a gamble. Also, it being completely new, no stats etc to go on. 

Due to the age gap between DS1 and DS2, if we want to move DS1 back to old school, we need to do this by Christmas as will need to submit DS2’s application by mid-Jan. I’ll also need to apply for a junior school place for DS1 at the same time and he would need to be back at old school to do that application to get feeder school priority. I can’t wait to find out if DS2 gets a place at the brand new primary (option 3) and then if he doesn’t, move DS1 as all the junior school places will have been allocated and filled so only hope of getting in there would be an in year transfer if and when they had a space.

In hindsight, I wished I hadn’t moved DS1 but hindsight is a wonderful thing. And I honestly believed that he would get into the secondary (even though it falls in our neighbouring LA as it doesn’t have a “catchment”).

I guess by going for option 3, and not getting it, the fall back is option 2. And maybe it’s not the end of the world moving up to secondary without friends.

Anyone have any thoughts?!

The secondary school application will be from your address. I’m sure you know there are criteria, such as LAC, SEN, siblings and distance. It will depend on what the school publishes as it’s criteria at the time and you’re still some years from making a decision, so it could be different in many ways by then.

I worked in a school where there were quite a few feeder schools and we always had a substantial number of children entering year 7 who knew no one else. After a week or so, you’d never have known. Plus, those who came with a group of friends made new ones too.

I don't think moving up to secondary school without friends is a big deal. They tend to make new ones anyway.

I'd go with Option 2, as long as you are reasonably sure about getting DC2 in. I don't think it's fair to move DC1 again, particularly as he'd then have to do a move to a separate juniors s well.

@Bluevelvetsofa @redskytwonight thank you for replying.

You're right, moving up without friends probably isn't the worst thing in the world!

And yes, I think deep down, I know to move DS1 again wouldn't be fair. And as you say, then would have the junior move too which might be unsettling.

Will go for option 2 and keep everything crossed!

Is the juniors a feeder to the secondary? If so, do all the children get a place in secondary - its not uncommon for even feeder school Yr 6s not to get a place if there are more children than spaces.

You would also need to check on sibling priority; sometimes it only applies to a younger sibling (so your eldest wouldn't get priority)..

Moving up to secondary without friends is a pretty normal thing, tbh though.

Two questions occur to me.

You talk about moving your son back to his original primary school, but are you sure there’s a space for him there?

It may be too soon to know, but can you be confident that having a younger sibling in the new primary school would give your older son sibling priority for the secondary school? This will depend on how the admissions criteria are defined.

@PatriciaHolm - no, the juniors isn't a feeder for the secondary so we're not guaranteed to get a space there but as that school is in our LA, it's more likely than the other one (not in our LA).

And yes, I agree about the sibling priority not working in reverse order. The admissions policy doesn't mention reverse order at the moment (only refers to a sibling at the school as a whole)(presumably because the primary isn't open for the all through school) but I'm hoping it will reference that when the new policy is released, come September / October when the primary applications open. But also run the risk that it might change by the time we apply for DS1 to go to secondary (even if DS is at the all through school).

That's why I feel it's not as black and white / my continued stress about it all!!

@PanelChair yes, there are spaces at the old school. There's 22 of them in the class, PAN of 30.

And see above reply about sibling admissions - it only says sibling currently but this might change when they issue new policy, come September (or later down the line - which would be annoying if youngest had got in as it would have then been for nothing!).

That's why I'm thinking, do I just change DS1 back now for a bit more certainty. But it doesn't seem fair on him changing him back.

Possibly overthinking it a lot but it causes me a lot of worry over it!

As I said, hindsight is a wonderful thing!

@Sarahlovessandwiches "@PatriciaHolm - no, the juniors isn't a feeder for the secondary so we're not guaranteed to get a space there but as that school is in our LA, it's more likely than the other one (not in our LA"

Why do you say that? Admissions authorities are not allowed to prefer applicants from their LA. Admissions must follow the published criteria, which may include a catchment, but cannot prioritise residents from their LA.

If you failed to get a spot in any school, it is your LA's responsibility to find a space, but that is the only reason there would be any reason for them to "prefer" a school in their LA.

@PatriciaHolm

Sorry, probably haven't worded it very well. Just because of the distance that we are from the secondary in the neighbouring LA and the fact there's a lot of houses closer to the school than where we are, we might miss out due to distance (which is what we'd be relying on if DS2 wasn't at the school or if sibling priority didn't work in reverse order).

So if we miss out on that secondary, due to distance, our LA will allocate us a secondary in our county / we'd put the secondary that would be our second closest (which is in our LA) as one of our choices, which would be the one most of kids from old infants / juniors would end up at.

Hmm, while children do make new friends at secondary it is pretty intimidating to leave primary and that be that. It isn’t the worst thing in the world but personally I would avoid if I could. I think I’d move him.