Am contemplating sending 6 yr old dd to an independent school...

[tissy]

various reasons... she doesn't seem happy at her school, says it's "boring", I don't think she's achieving what she could. In addition, in no particular order, the school buildings are rather run down, there is no secure fence, so dogs poo on the grass, local yobs run on the roof and smash bottles in the playground, her childminders are close to retirement age, and won't be able to do school run much longer.

It's not a bad school as such,probably one of the better ones in the area, but class sizes are going up (19 to 25), and likely to rise more (new estate being built in catchment). Secondary school it feeds to is pretty good, but big.

Private school is smaller, aims for academic achievement, loads of extra curricular activities available (at a price, no doubt). Has a breakfast/ after school club. Con- it's about 15 miles away, and she'd most days have to get the school bus- quite a long journey, once it's visited all the pick-up points. There is no other independent school in the area, so can't shop around!

Am going to ask for a prospectus and look around, but what do I say to a 6 year old to encourage her to accept the idea? She'd lose the friends she currently has, and she's rather nervous of the unfamiliar....

I would go in and speak to the present school and raise your concerns. Are there any other local state schools she could go to if things dont improve ?

some social aspects to consider: what happens if your daughter;s new best friend lives 15 miles the OTHER side of the school - would you be prepared to do a 60 mile round trip to do playdates / sleepovers / parties?? This is one aspect of sending to a non local school that I had never anticipated and it leaves you either resigned wih being a long distance taxi driver (especially as they get older) or your child not seeing their friends as much as they would like (your child's friends' parents may also not want or be able to come to YOUR house IYSWIM). Also consider the weekend commitment to things like matches etc as she gets older

Understand your worries. Same age as you....only one child...year younger! Only 12 in her class but she loves it....because class is so small teacher is aware of all of their personalities and is able to develop them socially as well as academically. Fees and expenses are biggest consideration....do go up annually. Sister has older children and did warn me that once in independant system hard to go back! I travel same distance but it is part of our life now! I have no doubt your little one would settle in....just go along to the school ....trust you first impression of Head etc.....if the children are happy...then parents are happy!
Lots of Luck!

Moved my son to a local independant school at the start of Year 3 (couldn't take his old school's obsession with 5-a-day over learning any longer). Never looked back, he loves it. I have noticed huge improvements in the basics and his social skills.

As Classic62 says, go with your first impressions.

And sure, some of his new friends live miles away, I just have to manage my time a bit better.

Good luck!

It sounds as though you have nothing to loose by moving her. It sounds as though they cannot cater for her, moving at the speed of the slowest will be incredibly frustrating and the poo/roof situation sounds grim. Has no one else complained?

When I chose my ds's school I went with what felt right for him and ignored the local friends/commute issue. It is easier for me to drop at a school that has wrap around care (our local schools didn't offer this to any great degree) and as it turns out a lot of his classmates are local (5 - 10 mins drive). Yes there are some further afield but it isn't as if we will be organising playdates every day. The geographical spread of his classmates is surprising similar to that of his nursery (which was in our village).

susie100, yes people have complained about the state of the school and grounds. Yobs on the roof- the janitor has called police on many occasions, but so far, no-one has been caught. Dog poo- I think that there may be a public right of way running through the school grounds- my childminder says that there has never been a secure fence around the school, and you can certainly walk out of the adjacent estate much more quickly if you take a short-cut through the school. As for glass in the playground, well the janitor does his best, but as quick as he can sweep it up, they chuck down some more! I've suggested that the Council buy the janitor one of those sit-upon street sweepers for the playground, but they're too expensive!