Year 9 - being asked to move form class

[Stopmeifyouveheardthisonebefor]

My DD has been in the same form class since year 7 (in her school they stay in the same form from year 7 to end of year 11 and even in year 9 spend all their time when not in setted subjects together). Very happy and settled, doing well, has a good friend from her primary school in the class and they are still close and gets on well with lots of other girls in her form. They seem a nice bunch of girls and touch wood not too many fallings out or nastiness. Don't hear much about the boys but generally seems a well behaved group.

Class started year 7 with 28 pupils. In the first term of year 7 two more girls joined as they hadn't settled in their initial forms. At the beginning of this term another girl moved into their form as she wasn't happy with her friendship group. Then a week later a new girl starts the school and is moved into their form on grounds that she was in primary school with someone in that class (although DD says that the "old friend" wasn't interested in new girl and she and her friends looked after her).

Now the form is too big at 32 pupils and a teacher has told some of the class that they will be asking people to volunteer to move form. As far as DD knows, nobody wants to move and she is worried that the school will just pick people. She is very worried that she might be chosen or one of her close friends. I don't want her to move form, possibly being placed in one of the forms that other girls have left as unhappy because of nastiness!

I am very annoyed that the school has unnecessarily allowed this situation to happen. Surely they shouldn't have placed additional pupils in the form when there was no space. I'm posting because I was just talking IRL and my friend said if she were me she would email the head of year and make it clear I do not want DD being moved by way of pre-emptive strike?

You're seeing a problem for DD before it happens. She says that nobody will want to move but she doesn't KNOW that. There could be any number of children who'd actually like a fresh start.

Friendship dynamics are not always as they might seem on the outside.

Don't email unless DD is "just picked" which is highly doubtful.

I think that's a bit too pre-emptive tbh - if they haven't even asked for volunteers yet! I suspect there is a good chance that some people would volunteer (DS is in a similar set up and he would certainly have moved like a shot - as he has other friends in other classes he'd rather be with although he is quite happy in his own class) and if not, the school may just wait for the class sizes to naturally settle (though having to move other DC, or people leaving).

Thanks both, yes maybe e-mailing a bit premature then. I was taking DD's assertion that no-one wanted to leave on face value!

Much too soon to worry. The teacher hasn't even said they'll be forcing people to move who don't want to.

If they do ask her if she would like to move, then presumably she can say no, so talk to her about how to gently but firmly refuse if she is asked.

At dd's school they allow them to move form and children do move regularly. Sometimes you could see it coming, sometimes there isn't an obvious reason.
But this does tend to mean the nice forms end up larger, and the forms where nastiness is going on are smaller. But then changing the dynamic of the "nasty" forms sometimes improves it and then they become a desirable form too.

I think its odd they added children when there wasn't any space. I wouldn't be surprised if a child or two wants to move though. I wouldn't say anything unless they tell your DD she has to move unless she's getting seriously worried like not sleeping and then I would just let the form tutor know its worrying her.

If they don't want the form to be too big they need to stop putting new people in it!

Yes, separate to me being concerned about DD personally, although I'm going to wait and see what happens now, I am a little concerned about the management competence of a school that allows new people to join a particular form and only then realises it is too big. Don't they have a list of numbers or something!

I'd wait op but I see why you are tempted. You can see rationally but 13 yo girls often can't and I can see how it would play on her mind.

DD came home from school today saying their music teacher had referred to their class as "the big year 9 form that's going to have people moved out". "Moved out" has a worryingly non voluntary tone to me but I am probably overthinking!

Anyway DD went mad when I asked her if she wanted me to do pre emptive email so good job I didn't. She says that if she is told she has to move I can "just phone then and say no".

I really wouldn't worry. They are generally only in form for registration anyway. Options start in year 10 (or year 9 in some circumstances) and they are split up even more then.

callmeadoctor Depends how many subjects are setted based on OP's opening post. Don't assume it is minimal. My DD spends at least 80% of her lesson time with her form - as that's the way the school timetables.