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Secondary education

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Original poster

Year 10 Dd returns to find herself in new form class! Wwyd?

12 replies

Catinthebed · 04/09/2013 22:10

Year 10 Dd went back on Tuesday. Some year 10 Form teacher had retired so they changed some kids into other forms. Dd and her 2 best friends are in new class. Only two of thier 10 subject teachers are same as last year. Their is a boy in this class who bullied Dd in primary very seriously.

No advance warning from the school. Dd was very happy. She is not great with change and making friends but was really happy in old class.

Should I contact school? Would they just expect a year 10 to cope with this? Should Dd raise it herself?

Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
YoniBottsBumgina · 04/09/2013 22:15

I think I would leave it. It's quite normal for subject teachers to change year to year, and not unheard of for form classes to shift around either. She is with two friends and she is 14, not 4! I would be concerned about the boy who bullied her, but probably would leave this too unless it became an issue, primary school was 4 years ago and dynamics between the children will have changed. I would imagine that the secondary school are unaware now of the history between her and this boy even if they were made aware back in year 7 - I wouldn't hesitate to bring it up seriously straight away if there are any issues with him in particular, but the rest of it - no, let it go.

TheFallenMadonna · 04/09/2013 22:16

If they have dispersed a form between other forms, and have kept her with her friends, then that is pretty good really. If the boy is likely to be a problem, then I think they would be sympathetic, but she might then be moved away from her friends. If you are concerned, then speak to Head of year or equivalent.

Very normal for subject teachers to change between year 9 and 10.

BackforGood · 04/09/2013 22:21

WWID? er Nothing. I don't even see the problem. In Yr10, they don't exactly spend a lot of time in their forms anyway, even if she weren't with her 2 best friends.

mysteryfairy · 04/09/2013 22:32

Has she started GCSE courses n year 10. Surely their subject teachers are dependent on the options chosen and sets they are in and will have changed for most students?

Original poster
Catinthebed · 04/09/2013 23:20

She doesn't start GCSE course to next year. She is 13.

She moved schools at start of year 6 and bullying started very soon after it was several months before I was told about it. She became very withdrawn etc She says this feels like moving schools again.

I was just going to ask new form teacher to keep an eye on her but suspect I should do nothing.

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 04/09/2013 23:24

Year 10? 13 would be year 9.

Asking the tutor to keep an eye on her is fine.

tiredaftertwo · 04/09/2013 23:25

It is completely normal to have a reshuffle at start of year 10 - GCSE subjects, sets and teachers. IME, children in year 10 and 11 can often be with none of their friends if they have picked different subjects. There is probably very little flexibility and I would let all that go.

The boy who bullied her is a slightly different situation - people mean different things by serious bullying so it does depend what happened. If you are concerned, I think I would have a word with the form tutor in confidence, not say much other than there is a history that gives you cause for concern and please contact you if he/she sees anything worrying or thinks knowing more would be useful.

tiredaftertwo · 04/09/2013 23:29

Sorry, just seen your second post. If she is year 10 she is starting GCSE courses, but she would be 14. ANyway, yes I think it would be fine to ask the tutor to keep an eye on her, and if he/she seems receptive, fill them in.

In the long run, she does need to learn to cope with this level of change - it is completely normal at secondary school (bullying issues aside) and it might be reassuring for her to know that and that friendships revolve more around lunchtimes/after schools as everyone is doing different subject combinations, often more setting and so on. At sixth from, she may not be with any friends at all.

ihearsounds · 04/09/2013 23:32

Wouldn't do a thing. Totally normal for year 10's to change groups, what with being gcse first year.
The only thing that I might be concerned about would possibly be the bullying. But, in the past 4 years they would have seen each other. They would have even possibly spent some time together in the same lessons. So, it would depend on all of this before I said anything.

Original poster
Catinthebed · 05/09/2013 07:04

we are in Northern Ireland. She is 13 and not choosing subjects to next year!

I don't wish to go into fetails of bullying but the school principal said it was worst case he had come across in his 20 year career!!!

I have decided to give it a few more days to see how she gets on.
Thanks everyone for your help.

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 05/09/2013 07:22

Ah. I did wonder if you were in another part of the UK Blush

I can see why the boy would worry you, and her, but asking the tutor to keep an she on things seems the best way to go. Completely fine coming from you in the first instance if your Dd is reluctant to bring it up.

tiredaftertwo · 05/09/2013 07:25

OP, if the school principal said that, I think it would be absolutely fine to make the secondary school aware of the situation.

I hope your dd settles into her new groups happily.

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