Changing schools in Year 10 or 11

[Butterly]

Due to various factors, we're considering moving DD to another school. This would be an absolute last resort. She is currently in Year 10, fairly bright and just started GCSEs. She would be moving from an independent school to a state school if this is relevant.

My question is, how much of an impact could moving schools (most probably for the start of Year 11) have on her GSCEs? Does anyone have experience of doing this and how did it work out? Do all schools follow the curriculum in the same order, or could she end up covering some topics twice and missing others?

You'd need to check the exam board they sit as not all gcse syllabi correspond. Dc school is still doing some iGcses with controlled assessments and coursework but some other boards have eliminated this aspect. Texts for English lit may vary too, for example.

No, not the samend curriculum in the same order. Not necessarily even the same exam boards. So she could end up having done a load of work that won't count and having to do a massive amount of catching up.

If you're going to do it, do it asap. Catching up after a half term is much more manageable than catching up after half a year. Speak to her current school about the exam boards and specifications she is currently studying and then see if the new school matches up. That might make it a bit easier, though there is no guarantee that the two schools will have done the work in the same order, so you could still have the missing / repeating work problem. The key thing would be to know exactly what topics she has covered in each subject, so that you can let the new school now. This will give them a chance to come up with a plan to address the gaps. You may need to hire a tutor to support if there are significant portions of the courses that she'll have missed out on.

It is a major pain in the arse, but to be slightly more positive it does happen fairly often, as families have to move, kids get expelled, moved for bullying etc. Schools are used to it and they will try to get her caught up (after all, it buggers up their results if they don't.) but be prepared for some extra work at your end too.

Speak to the state school and ask them. Ime a good state school won't butter you up or tell you what you want to hear, so you should get the truth. If she's motivated, bright and willing to get stuck in she should be OK. Syllabus may not be the same thoug so subjects with options ie history could be completely different.

Fwiw we moved our dd from private to state for 6th form and wish Wed done it earlier it's been fab.

It will be difficult. If you find a school that can timetable the same subjects they will probably not be using the same boards or options. Do it ASAP, if you can find a school to do it. They'll be much less keen the later you leave it, and it will be harder for your DD.

Thank you for your replies. Sounds harder than I anticipated! The plan was always to move for 6th form but stay at the current school for GCSEs and I think we may have to stick to it. She's on track to do well in GCSEs and I would hate to jeopardise that, which a change of boards etc (on top of making new friends, getting to know a new school etc) might well do.

We have just done exactly that for our DD. She was at a boarding school that was just not good in any way - we took her out at end of year 10. She is really happy at her new school - a different child and so pleased we have moved her. Her new school offers one year GCSEs so she is able to revise work done last year -