Leaving private year 9 to go to state

[SprinklePartyCat]

Anyone with advice having done this?
We are increasingly frustrated with school and are seriously considering moving - the only local option is two state schools. How best to navigate this? Any tips of what to look for at state/settling in tips? Thanks.

Let your child view them with you and see where they would feel happiest.

Move sooner rather than later so she can start to eatablish friendship groups before starting year 10.

When do they have to make their choices for GCSE? Our private has a very limited offering (new and recent change as they have changed their focus to sports!) and would like her to have a good choice now that the arts aren’t going to be offered.

Go for a visit during the school day. Don’t let them fob you off with an after school hours visit.

Are you leaving private at the end of Yr9 or the end of Yr8? If your child is already in Yr9, I’d move them as soon as possible - even forfeiting the term’s notice fees if necessary - so that they can get to know the school and get a feel for the subjects before they have to choose their GCSEs

One further thought - do both of the schools have spaces? If one of them doesn’t, that may make your decision for you! If neither of them do, you may be looking further afield.

At our high school, they started talking about GCSE choices in January of y9, and they put their options requests in over March. They were confirmed a month or so later. Obv all schools might do this differently but if you’re considering it, best to get going asap.

I would suggest contacting each school via their admissions officer, asking to visit, and also asking if there are spaces. Then take it from there.

You need to speak to both schools quite quickly. Many schools have already asked pupils to indicate, if not finalise, their GCSE choices and you may find that not all the subjects she wants will have spaces available. If the schools do have places they will expect you to take them up immediately. They won’t hold them for you.

Does your child do out of school activities with pupils at the state schools? You can go intel from other parents on what they are like.

Also moving at the end of year 8 at the latest would be a good idea, don't drag in to year 9.