Moving Schools in 4th yr

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Long story short.
I'm not at all happy with the teaching or support in Dd's school, she didn't get great results in her prelims, but I thought it was workable, now I'm not so sure.
We only have one school in our town, other than the Independent so no movement here, but possible maybe to move house for a better school.
Should I even consider it?
(There's an almighty backstory but this would be the main thing)

Can she tough it out? Most coursework deadlines for Nat 5 are approaching within weeks and her new school might struggle to obtain them from her old one in time to meet them. Also as topics studied might not be the same within the subjects, so her exam prep might suffer too.

I teach in a school where there are lots of placement request - even from outside LA. People tend not to move as it house prices are pretty steep in catchment area.

But if you have somewhere in mind remember S5 course choices are underway and popular courses might fill up. Good luck!

I think it might be a bit late for the Nat 5s
Maybe get a tutor and put in a placing request for 5th ?

I have no idea how it all works now in terms of course work but I moved back from Australia in the middle of 4th year and sat standard grades 4 months after I started (the curriculum was taught over 2 years then) I got straight 1s. It's definitely doable but very, very hard work and I was determined and gifted

I think the amount of coursework that is involved in the Nat 5s would make it tricky

I tend to agree with the others: tough it out until the exams (maybe with extra tutoring if that is possible/feasible/affordable).

A radical action like moving would take time anyway - and the disruption would probably be distracting for both your dd and for you providing support to your dd

Maybe have a think about where you'd like to move to/which school you'd like your dd to go to and contact them about a placing request for after the exams/S5. Most of them are doing choices now (ds chose his S6 subjects today). At the very least, you could check out the "columns" that potential different schools have, so you/your dd could check out whether she'd like to do her preferred selection of subjects in S5.

There are less than 6 weeks until the Easter holidays and then only a couple of weeks after those until exam leave begins.

Unless the backstory is really really bad, I think a tutor or extensive home study using bitesize and "how to pass" type books and loads of past papers may be the way to go and then look to move for highers is you still want to/she wants to do Highers.

Could she tough it out to get her assignments in (Mid March?) and then it should mainly just be study and revision and see if you can negotiate that she self studies rather than attends school (no idea if that is possible, but shy bairns get nae sweeties so they say..)

It would be after nat5's, I have that as sorted as I can after many stressful phonecalls yesterday.
We have tutors already.
It'd be for 5/6th year and she wouldn't have to move house, I would which I was always going to do anyway, just not quite yet and I wouldn't have had to think about schools.
Dd is in care but completely voluntary, she comes to me whenever she wants, I live next door so she could still live where she does, I'd move into catchment of a good school and she'd go there continuing to swap between my house and the unit, but with a bit more structure since I'd be a train ride away.

That sounds slightly insane now I see it written down but she is so upset about her school.

Absolutely no chance of placing requests, there aren't any better schools in the next town either.
Totally outing myself, we're in H town with Waitrose, I was always planning to move into Glasgow somewhere roughly between Annisland and the west end to be closer to my medical care between Gartnavel and QEUH

A boy in DS2 class last year did this. Stuck it out until his national 5s and moved for S5. I believe he's much happier at his new school. I think he actually made the move in late May/early June after his last exam so had a 4 weeks before the summer holidays to settle in. S4s will be choosing subjects for next year soon so it would be worth looking now to make sure your DD gets the subjects she needs.

If I'm thinking of the same H town with a Waitrose I know what you mean by schools. I was born near there and my parents still live in the area. The private school is meant to be very good - a couple of my rich school friends have sent their kids there. Do they offer large scholarships to local kids? Hopefully someone will come along with info on Glasgow schools.

What about college for Highers? I know the town you mean, not sure of schools that way, we are in Bearsden and I wouldn't fancy your chances of getting into Bearsden Academy, Boclair or Douglas for S5/S6. Think Cleveden is OK.

Clydebank College, Anniesland College or even the colleges in town might be an option - direct trains from where you're living now?

Clydebank college, no way, never.
A friend of mine has said to look into Clevedon, I think she definitely needs school rather than college.
I'm not 100% sure on this but because of her status as a LAC, I think she'd get into most schools so long as I am in catchment.
My immediate thought was Jordanhill, as it would be, but apparently not that great unless you are a high achiever and need no help.
Dd needs to be pushed, and needs top standard pastoral care.

She is determined, but needs support too, more than I can give her alone, and the Unit she lives in have no idea what to do with an academic child, the kids they are used to don't go to school.

I did suggest the Independent here (perhaps possible), but she's said no, we just don't have the lifestyle to back it up, she'd really stand out.

Interestingly, if you're where I think you are, friends who moved out there moved their ds from the private school to the state school as eg wasn't happy there.

Shawlands Academy is good for pastoral care/additional needs but it's on the South Side (although with good transport links). It has a friendly rivalry with Hyndland, so that's another possibility.

Being such an international school, Shawlands will also be used to pupils coming and going.

Would her status get her help with transport? Balfron is under 40 minutes away by road but obviously not so great by train. Because a lot of the kids travel, maybe friendships would be easier as it's not like 90% of the the kids are locals?

Have just had a look at what the guidelines are for E Dunbartonshire placing requests - the website says applications have to be in by 15th March so get your skates on. Have you anything to lose by applying for a whole heap of schools in East Ren / East Dunbartonshire / Glasgow / West Dunbartonshire and see what happens? You;d get a decision by 30th April and you might be in the fortunate position of being offered several places.

According to the guidance notes children with "additional support needs" which includes looked after children, are top of the list after catchment area and siblings. For S5 entry it's probably worth a shot, isn't it?

In our council area you can only apply for one school at a time so it wouldn't be possible to blanket apply, but I guess there is nothing to stop you applying for one school in each council area even if they do have a one school at a time approach.

Exactly - OP could apply for (for example) Hyndland Secondary, Bearsden Academy, Gryffe High School, Williamwood High, Our Lady and St Patricks and St Columba's High - all in different council areas and see what sticks.

Not all council areas will be equally easy to get to from her home town, but from where she is E and W Dunbartonshire and Glasgow city council are do-able.

Brilliant advice, thanks.

Placing request made for Hyndland, it looks to be the best for her, both teaching wise, ethos and logistically.
I've not told her so as not to raise her hopes but fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed :)

You'd think that a request for 5th year should be easier to accommodate than a request for 1st year or P1 since a number of children will leave at the end of 4th year so there may be more options to accommodate incomers? Hopefully anyway. She may also have to decide fairly quickly on 5th year subjects as I presume a lot of schools will be doing that over the next few weeks.

Let us know how it goes.

Yes, I'm thinking there shouldn't be too many catchment/sib request for S5 and with leavers after S4 she has a good chance.
She knows which highers she wants already so no problem there.
Here's hoping, and I'll keep you updated.
Thank you all for the advice, it's been such a difficult year and she wants to achieve so much, that I hope she does, and I'll do anything I can to facilitate it.

I'm sure she will do amazing with you supporting her and a fresh start is maybe just what she needs.

Do you know anyone that can give you any info on the % of 4th year that stay on? I know at DSs school it's something ridiculous like 97% or something but that isn't necessarily a bad thing if you are looking for spaces as the class structure stays the same as there aren't enough leavers to mean that they can cut down the number of classes but does mean that there are now some spaces in the existing ones. Equally if there are more leavers, the school may welcome extra pupils so they can keep their teachers numbers up.

I guess it's not clear cut but I think she would have a good chance at a space.

Good luck. Hyndland will have a high proportion who stay on for S5 but there will be a few who leave.

Fingers crossed. Hope they don't keep you waiting too long.

They've been in touch already to check we have different adresses so we're definitely in the system.
A fresh start is what she really needs, with better teaching too.
A high proportion staying on is perhaps bad for her getting in, but says a lot about the school which I'd noted.

Here's hoping.