Current School's Reaction when asked for reference to change school

[Beenthere02]

My DS is in Y11 and is doing well at his current school which a very academic one. We are really thinking of our options for next year (6th Form) as he is really interested in doing IB (which is not offered at his current school) and/or thinking of moving to state for financial reasons.
I have contacted a couple of schools and sixth forms and almost all of them have told me that they will need to get a reference from his current school.
I am really worried that this might have a negative impact to how his current school is seeing him and how much support he may have with the upcoming GCSEs.
He is also a fulltime boarder there which may make the matters even more uncomfortable for him.
On the other hand the school might not care at all as they have many students and I am sure they will be able to feel in the gap if he moves easily.

Has anyone had any similar experience that can share?

Why wouldn't they just wish him well for the future and write the reference? The thing with private schools is that they get paid by parents, so they need to at least appear to behave reasonably even if they didn't want to lose a student. If word got around that they deliberately make life difficult for students/parents then it would look bad.

DD left quite an academic private school to go to a football academy and there wasn't a single negative comment, any comment at all was just wishing her all the best.

I’m sure not all Y11s stay on for 6th form. And it’s usual for schools to ask for a reference. They must be very used to it.

This is very very common and with the VAT changes very expected. You are over thinking it and it certainly won’t make a difference to how he is treated,

My dc changed schools between years 9 and 10 and I was worried about how they would be treated after we gave notice but it was fine and they still won a prize at speech day that year.

This is a standard request among private schools and I don't think I've ever heard of it being a problem... certainly not around the 16+ transition when many if not most students will apply to multiple options and students need to seek out different courses or programs that not every school can offer. His current school will also be receiving outside applicants and planning a new intake.

Thanks for sharing your perspective everyone. I have since completed the application. My biggest worry was/is because we are not even sure if he will be moving and how this might be seen by the school. But my son was far more cool about it than me! So I think as JamesWebbSpaceTelescope said I am overthinking it! Fingers crossed