Has anyone lived through a major reorganisation of secondary schools in their area? And survived to tell the tale?

[casey]

We have 5 secondary schools locally, ancient buildings, and falling rolls. The changes will be made 2010-2017. My dds will be at secondary school 2008-2015.

The various options on the table at the moment all involve flattening schools, building new ones, closing schools, amalgamating schools, and crucially moving students from one school to another during the period of transition.

Now I have to say my gut reaction is to have nothing whatsoever to do with it (i.e. go independent and pay). Do you think that is a measured response, or over-hysterical?

cumbria lea by any chance??

when i was at school the year i went fro primary to middle it all changed. it had previously been primary then secondary only but they then split it so that there were three different school's.

it mean that quite a few of my freinds who were in the year above had classes splitin half and some went to one school some went to the other and some were closed completly.

i came out alive.
they are usually well considered and by the time your kids get that far you will have a better idea of how well they will be able to cope. you will also have a good idea of the plans for your LO's school and if theywill be affected by the transitions.

I am in Southampton and we are at the consulation stages at the moment. If the changes go ahaead, the local boys school will definitely be mixed, we are not sure what they intend to do with the girls school. It may close and all have to join the boys/mixed school. I just can't stand the not knowing, I wish they would make a decision and get on with it. I currently have a dd in Yr9 and one in yr6. I am supposed to make a decision for dd2 in the next couple of weeks and I have nothing to base it on as no decision has been made! Where are you, as a matter of interest?

Is this happening everywhere? Where are you Casey? We are in SW Cumbria and are about to enter consultation phase. According to the options on the table new school buildings are supposed to be ready for 2010 ... yeah right!

I don't want my boys to go through that disruption. We (along with everyone else) will apply to the school that is not involved in the reorganisation, (which is our first choice anyway), appeal if necessary; and if we still can't get in then we'll pay to go private.