Moving schools

[Louise353521]

Hello!!

I am really struggling with a decision and would like some fellow mums’ input please!!
we’ve been given the chance to move to Cornwall,rent free, by family very near the beach from another county so would need to move my children from a school they are settled and happy in- to a new one.
I have 3 school age children age 9, 7 and 5. They are happy and have lovely friends as do I. We are happy where we are but this opportunity makes financial sense, we would air b and b our current house.
the disadvantages I can see clearly are- moving schools (just the thought really worries me!)
and the fact we’d be much closer to my in laws, who have previously been a bit of a pain, but they are very keen to babysit, so that may also be a positive.
what would you do if you had very anxious and shy children? Would you make the move? My eldest is in year 5, she’s the main anxious and shy one, and I don’t want to ruin the confidence she’s grown these last couple of years!
please advise, all the thinking it over is giving me a headache!
thank you in advance!

I would look at the potential new schools and see if they are appropriate and consider whether there is a private equivalent that would be affordable.

You are the one who appears anxious.

Lots of families move when their oldest kids is around 9 for secondary school provision.

I'd be more worried about just how stable the offer of housing was to be honest. If the offer is removed at short notice in the future you will have to uproot everyone all over again.

How secure is this housing? What about your jobs?

Thanks all!
the house would basically be given to us in inheritance, so it is secure- the in laws want us nearer as they’re not getting any younger.

I am extremely anxious 😬 if there’s something to overthink about, I’ll be doing just that 🤣

we run our own business with engineers that travel across the uk, so again not an issue.

my main huge issue is uprooting my children. Do children adapt and make new friends as easily as people say they do?

@Louise353521 , if you are going to make the move you need to do it soon before the 9 yr old gets into year 6 because then you are tied into the secondary school application system. I would visit the local primary schools with space asap to help make a decision.

Given to Us or given to your DH?
Will it be ring fenced in the event of divorce in any way?

Things to consider...
-school spaces... can you get all three into the same school?

• is the Secondary school good?
• can they continue their extra curricular activities?

Yes children adapt easily with some transitional support - visit to new school, a buddy in the new school, meeting teacher first etc.

Service children move frequently sometimes four or five times and in my experience manage really well.

Some information here to help with questions to ask. Much of it generalised and not specific to service children. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/787792/ADR007943_Moving_Schools_Guide_ONLINE_PDF.pdf

Do children adapt and make new friends as easily as people say they do?

Yes. Just time it if you can for end of the school year if possible.

The only people I remember moving whose children complained moved at the beginning of July. (Their dad insisted on it for some reason there as apparently the buyer would have waited 2-3 weeks.) It meant their children missed all the end of year things at school like sports day, but couldn't start their new school until September.

Why do your children think?

Sorry WHAT not why!