Mad to consider moving my child in her last year of primary?

[Tranquilitybaby]

She is a summer born child, bright , kind and friendly but can be quite young in her ways and she feels like she doesn’t have many friends anymore. She feels that have all outgrown her as she still loves to run around and play games/role play at break time and lunch, but all they want to do now is stand around and chat. They are 10 years old, makes me sad how things have changed.

She broke her heart at bedtime last week asking to move to another school (one where her dancing friend is at, a lovely little school) as she’s tired of being on her own and wants to make some new friends. None of the children are being mean to her or anything as far as I’m aware, it’s just that age, year 5 seems to be quite tricky. Also the class is very girl heavy (19 girls out of 29 children) so I’m guessing hormones are coming into play too.

she’s also worried about going into year 6 there as isn’t keen on the teachers as they are known to be quite strict.

Just a lot of anxiety going on right now.

I don’t know what to do for the best.

thanks

I don't think it would be mad to move her, no. Years 5 and 6 are tricky for girls. Beat in mind that dancing friend will have her own group and moving might not be the greener grass that she imagines.

You could ask to look round the other school with your dd, so that any decision you make is based on what is rather than what is imagined.

I'd look into the other school, but I think she might find the same problems (or perhaps different problems) at that school. The grass isn't always greener.

The better choice would probably be to help her settle in the school she's in. Could you speak to her year 6 teacher briefly before school breaks and express her concerns? Arrange some meet-ups with school friends, they're much more likely to play properly outside of school and one-on-one. Lots of girls that age are trying to be 'cool' at school but still playing Barbie's at home. Does she know anyone in the year below? Maybe you can arrange some playdates there too so she has options at break time.

Not mad at all to move her. Perhaps just the culture in your school, because our year 5 and her friends does all that you have mentioned - run around, play role play games etc.
Take her to have a look around in the new school. Move her if she wants to and you are happy with the new school. Perhaps it will be the best year of her primary school ❤️

I’d speak to the school before you rush to move her. Our school has jobs/roles for Yr 6 kids, a play leader would be perfect for her to help and encourage play with other kids across the year groups.

Also agree with pp, that dancing friend will likely have her own group and there is no guarantee she would ‘fit in’ with them.

Do not be swayed by ‘strict year 6’ teachers at all. They are often that way to start getting them ready for secondary, so that’s a good thing.

Does the other school have space? Where will your DD and both schools go to secondary school?

We moved when my DS had just started year 6, and it was actually a good time to move. Everyone is so fed up with each other by year 6 they welcomed a new face. He didn’t have many friends in his old school (and I was never convinced the friends he had were nice to him), but in the new school he settled right in and got on well with lots of them. The learning itself was pretty identical, but the children were quite different- more innocent and yet more mature (if that makes sense!).

So it could work.

Sympathy to your DD - I’m summer born too and I was still playing while my older classmates were chasing the boys. Better that she tries to find new friends than tries to change herself to fit in.

We moved our son because we got the worst teacher in the school allocated for his final year of primary school.

I'm so glad that we did.

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the different perspectives.

Her dancing friend is her only best friend, they’re very similar and she has an inkling that it’s a possibility as she spotted us at a prospective parents evening we went to last week.

We are going to do a walk around with the Head in the morning and see what we think as my husband hasn’t visited the school yet.

just so hard to know what to for the best and worried she’ll regret it that’s all in my heart of hearts I think she will thrive at the new school. It’s just being brave enough to take the risk and make the leap

thanks

While it does seem like generally not a good idea my year 6 child had someone join after Christmas of year 6 as they were unhappy at their old school and they’ve thrived. Year 6 is big with trips, plays, leavers activites so a move can be positive

In a similar situation and wondering how it all went?

Is it that easy to love school though?

I meant move school! And also is current school a feeder for secondary?