Changing schools

[BananaSlug]

Would you change a child’s school against their wishes? My children’s school isn’t our local one and it’s a bus ride away. I dread the school run as it’s always a nightmare and the bus is very very busy (live near a secondary school so they pack out the buses) usually takes ages to get home and end up missing several buses because they are always packed it’s a pain and takes ages. The mornings are the same as bus is busy with people taking their kids to school or going to work etc All my children went to this school but now 2 have left so I only have 2 there. I want to change their school as there is a school literally on the road after ours 2 minutes walk away and then I wouldn’t have such a long school run. I actually dread it every day. But the children don’t want to change schools, what would you do?

Did you use to live closer to the current school when your older children were younger or have you just finally had enough of the commute? I'm just wondering what made you pick this one over the other school in the first place? If you've moved I totally get it. If you've always lived closer to the other school I'd remind yourself why you picked the current school over that one and investigate whether those points still stand. I get that a lot may have changed in that time though in terms of leadership, ethos, Ofsted etc.

How old are they? If all they've ever known is this school I can understand they would find the idea of starting afresh somewhere new daunting but I would big up the positives (short walk to school, local friends, more time for things like park visits after school on nice days due to less time commuting etc) and book a visit. Once they see the other school for themselves it might not seem such a scary thought.

Make sure they understand the visit is just for a 'let's see' purpose, rather than a definitely move, so they're not too resistant about it. Once you're there, point out all the lovely things you see which you know they will like (play equipment, clubs on offer etc), really try to sell it to them but in a non-pushy way. Take several walks past the school on weekends etc and again talk about how lovely it would be to live so close to school and not have to face the busy bus every day etc.

You might eventually be able convince them if you take a drip drip approach. Ultimately though I would go with their wishes if they really hate the idea as their happiness is paramount.

My first thought was about whether the school near you actually has space. If it does or only has short waiting lists then ask for a tour and take the children with you. But I would also consider the age of your children. If the older of the two is in year 6, could you perhaps move the younger one once the older one has left primary? A friend of mine has been desperate to move her children to a different school. The older one is now in year 6 so she won't move her, however the younger child who is only year 3 is on the very long waiting list for another school. It might be similar in your area.

I don’t mind waiting on the list. It would be worth it in the end to have a school 2 mins walk away. I moved before they started school so this is the school that was allocated to my older children we didn’t have a choice as it was the only one with space at the time.

How old are the two still at school?

Unless the more local school has spaces, it’s unlikely that both children would get in from the waiting list at the same time, so you’d need to consider whether you can make arrangements for getting them to two different schools for an indefinite period.

Worth finding out what shape the waiting list is in and where you’d be on it. It might be a moot point if there are lots ahead of you and no spaces come up.

9 and 6