Would it be crazy to move my DD after a week of secondary school?

[lazymaisy]

We've had a strange situation happen locally where the local private school has announced it will be be merging with the local outstanding primary school and becoming a state funded academy from September 2013.

We considered sending our DD there before this happened really because it's very local to us and a lovely school. In the end we decided not to stretch ourselves financially and she has just started at the excellent comprehensive all her friends have gone to.

This has really thrown me into turmoil, part of me thinks we should move her straight away and pay the years fees to guarantee her place in case there's a rush next year, whereas another part of me says just stay put and see what happens.

Any comments or advice would be great. Thanks.

I would stay put.

The private school will only be considering a merge because of poor finances.

I imagine they are in significant debt.

Is this initiative definitely going ahead, or is it still at proposal/consultation phase?

If it is still a wish, I think it is unlikely to get free school funding if they have debts.

Are you within catchment area of this school? Would you not be in line for a place if you do not pay a year's fees?

What is the deadline for joining the school and guarantee a free school place? I imagine Easter... Keep an eye out for an exodus of fee paying pupils over the next couple of terms, which would worsen the financial situation ahead of any government funding. Is the bank likely to keep bailing them out?

How have competitor independent schools reacted to the announcement? How do the Charity Commission documents look?

I would stay put too.

Who's to say what the school will be like after such upheaval.

Stick with what you know is good now..

Stay put. You say it is excellent and all her friends are there - why move? Have you asked DD?

Knowsabitabouteducation is right, the school is in financial difficulty.

Stay put - you say yourself she's at the "excellent comprehensive all her friends have gone to". Stick with that, unless there are actual problems.

Kings Newcastle by any chance?! Stay put!

Stay put.

Thanks for all the replies. Think we'll stay put and watch how it progresses for now.

I'm not quite getting this- just the facts, I mean, not your choice!- if a local state primary is merging with a local private school to become an academy- surely it's a primary academy? How can it be a secondary academy if it's absorbing a primary?

Maybe it's becoming a through school in the maintained sector?

What land/buildings will they occupy? And how far will class sizes rise?

Tansie - a lot of secondary schools (state) are becoming academies with their partner primaries. This means an executive head over the academy but each school has its own head; also an executive governing body with individual bodies branching off from it. The result is a far larger budget......

The private school is in financial difficulties. Is it the one where they've only got 30% of their places filled?

Just so we can build up a picture of emerging free schools, it would be good if the OP could answer some of the questions raised here.

OP may not want to answer this, but are you in Tynemouth, by any chance?

Stay put!! I wouldn't rock the boat if I were you and yes ask your DD what she wants to do. I would stick with where your DD is to be honest. If she is happy and settled then I would leave her where she is!!