DS move schools after higher prelims? But before higher exams?

[Kipperties]

DS goes to a ‘good’ state school where he has no mates and is miserable.
His mates go to a different school and he’d like to move
It’s his highers and he needs good results to apply to uni.
he realises the syllabus may be taught in a different order so suggested finishing the syllabus and moving to the new school to revise and sit exams. His thinking is that you can revise and sit exams anywhere.
im unsure as to whether it will be a bigger mental upheaval than he realises, or he’d be happier and do better.
hes pretty bright and gets school work done easily but isn’t interested in any extra stuff at home.
teacher at the new school suggested moving after exams, which would seem logical but he’s been so down, and would move tomorrow.
has Anyone any idea what might be best?
thank you.

On the surfaces it's not the best time but only you can assess how significant the impact is on his mental health and what's actually happening at school. If it's just that his friends aren't there then moving is a terrible idea, he could move after the exams.

If you and he think that moving is the best option and might allow him to do better mentally therefore also likely academically, it can't be that hard to find out the teaching order from other pupils he knows there for his higher subjects. They won't all be different. Are you in a position to top up any gaps with a tutor?

If he's just a bit lonely and not being actively bullied or made miserable then I would do what you can to encourage him to wait until June to move. It's really only one term of lessons left. And encourage him to socialise more outwith school with his friends.

I'd move after exams. Realistically, he might only be in school around another 4 months if you take out half term, easter, study leave. Once final exam is done, you can look to move him. His grades might be impacted by a change now.

Thank you, that’s what we thought. I think it’s a bigger deal to move than he maybe thinks.

Please don’t move between prelims and final exams unless you really have to. As a Maths teacher,I can only tell you about the Maths curriculum… but we would not have taught the whole course prior to the prelim. Still a few topics left depending on timing of prelims.
Also, the evidence required if he is unable to sit the final exam due to health issues etc would have to come from the previous school which would be a massive problem too. Schools need to submit the prelim paper, sourcing, evidence of cross marking, marking scheme etc.

Thank you, that’s brilliant to know, especially as maths is his favourite. It looks like the overwhelming advice is like he should move after exams.
thanks you. He’s been so down, poor chap.

Poor thing. Four months will go quicker than he realises. Definitely best to wait until after the exams in such a crucial year.

Thanks rainbow

I would caution moving between prelims and final exams. Speaking purely as an English teacher, not all schools teach the same texts or Scottish text and it would be a big ask of him to change (and catch up on) new texts. If he continues with his original texts and the school don't teach those, he would effectively have to teach himself while the class is being taught. The teacher would of course mark any essays, but teaching time for him would be limited. I really hope he can hold on until after the exams

Thank you. He really struggles with English so this is helpful to know. It’s just too abstract for him, whereas maths you do the steps and it’s logical. So If you have any tips for English!! I am a cf!

There will be lots of support from the school, I would hope. BBC bitesize offers support with higher English. By looking at his prelim papers, he can identify the areas he needs to work on. RUAE paper, he should identify where he lost marks and if there's a pattern. Then he can revise those areas in particular. He needs to learn a range of quotations for his critical essay text(s). What texts is he studying?

I was going to mention the same issues with English. Each school does their own choices of text. If he's been studying Macbeth and the new school he goes to teaches Hamlet, that's an issue. There are similar differences in History - each school will do a Scotland/UK/Worldwide topic but those will differ - my kids who did H History were taught Germany 1815-1939 for their "Worldwide" topic, but other schools do the USA in the 20th century, or the Cold War, or the American Revolution.

For his Highers ds still had loads of new work for most subjects after the prelims. The new school might teach in a different order and he would miss huge chunks of work, subjects like English will probably be covering different texts for critical essay and Scottish text. Will the schools even allow it?

I agree with everyone else, move after exams, there’s just a few months to go.

Thank you everyone. That doe s make the most sense. I’m hoping that just knowing he can move will help a lot.
Im just so glad he finally told us, he’s not been bouncing with joy for ages but I didn’t t realize things were so bad. I feel terrible. You try and be a good mum then when they get to teenagers it’s a different ball game.