Has anyone ever moved a child to a school at the end of year 8 just because they feel they are simply in the wrong kind of school?

[mrsjavierbardem]

We sent Ds to an all boys state secondary but I far preferred the local mixed comp as did ds. We were a bit strong armed by family to ignore our instincts and I now sometimes regret it as I realise the school he is at is so old fashioned and doesn't see the children as individuals just as results.
Even if I were to be able to move him I would fear the damage of upheaval. He is not even very unhappy, he just seems to me to not be thriving and I think the other place would have suited him much better. He's not super academic either.
Any way, I just wondered if anyone had any experience of this.

Is he unhappy at all? Did he "thrive" in primary?

We moved DD1 at beginning of Yr 8. We relocated at the end of Yr 6, most of her primary (she attended for half a term) went to School A (full) she got allocated school B. Did a year - not happy, teachers appeared disinterested at parents evening. Decided to move her at end of Yr 7. Approached School C (Catholic school - we are not Catholic) at beginning of Year 8 - they had space - did visits - seemed great so she moved at half term. Best thing we ever did - she was much happier and teachers fab.

Coincidentally DS (younger) went to School A (school C second choice) and DD2 gets to choose soon - will still go for A first and C 2nd - B has changed a lot since but I still "feel" unhappy re it

We did not move DD but it was a major mistake not to. Go with your instinct and see if you can move but your DS will have to make a real effort to fit in because friendship groups will have formed. I think it is old fashioned to care about children. The modern focus is on results, results, results!

Thanks fly your posts. He is ok and has some good friendships and is finally settled. It is only when i hear about how humane and rounded the other school is that I wish he had gone there although no school is perfect. The school he is at is made for the winners not the strugglers (IMO)and the leadership is too results focussed. If I could go back in time I would not have sent him here. Maybe it will turn out fine in the long run, I am just interested to hear of anyone else who has gone through this. I wish I had followed my intuition and not let myself be leaned on so heavily by relatives who were so focussed on league tables. I kept saying but where would he be happy? I blame myself for buckling to pressure really but at the time I didn't have the confidence to be assertive.

Ì did. He was at a language college and I moved him to one that specialises in performing arts where he did much better.

yup, kids in DCs school changed their minds in year 7, year 8, year 9, year 10 and year 11 : if there are places and they would be happier elsewhere, do the right thing for the kid not your other family members

My DCs haven't moved, but I have been surprised by the amount of comings and goings there have been during their time at secondary school. Nothing to do with any particular school being good or bad, but just to do with friendships, fit, teacher issues, whatever. I think it is less of an issue than "back in our day" as they have so much more contact via social media and have a wider social circle.

In our day you could not move because there was not another school to go to! Out in the stick of course.

I thought that because a school had been suitable for elder DD that it would suit younger DD. It should have done, but a change of leadership completely changed the ethos of the school. It is really important to consider if the school you might want to go to is actually any better. Sometimes they seem better, but they can change too, especially if results start to falter.