Would you move your dc to a new school for y10?

[StableGenius]

My dc (one in y9 one in y8) has just had the worst ofsted report I've ever seen (and I worked in education for many years and have seen a lot).

I knew the school was struggling after the last head (who had turned it from a 'bog standard comp' to the shiny super-school of the area) left suddenly in horrible (and identifying, so I won't elaborate) circumstances at the end of 2015, but I'd held on in the hope things would settle.

Clearly, 2.5 years later, they are nowhere near that point and I'm concerned.

There are 4 schools in this town, and not one has a rating above 'Requires Improvement', but in the neighbouring town (9 miles away) there is an Outstanding school with a very long-standing reputation for excellence. As it serves a rural area with declining population, it's likely to have spaces. I've called them this morning and am waiting for a call back.

It would involve a 30-ish min bus trip each way for the dc, but as they will be nearly 15 and 13, that doesn't bother me too much. My main worry is that the school doesn't offer one of dc1's GCSE options.

Dc are both on board with the idea and pretty excited (at the moment).

WWYD?

Sorry, the school had a bad ofsted, not my dc .

I moved Dd for 5th yr (Scotland), went from 30min walk to 50 min walk/train, from small town to big city.
Best thing I ever did.

Ask when they start teaching GCSE content. Some schools start in yr9.

Yes, I would seriously consider it. I don’t always think Ofsted but it is an indicator. I know of good and outstanding schools who are anything but that.

Thanks, BrilloHair, that's great to hear.

I think Y10 would be a difficult time to move.
Many schools start work on the GSCE course in Y9 - even if it's just the 'core' subjects like maths and the sciences. Others start all of them
in Y9.
I would be concerned that DC might have covered some things that the new school hadn't and therefore be doing work twice and/or might not have covered stuff that new school has and therefore miss out completely.
Also, do both school follow the same exam boards/syllabus for each subject as again there could be missed work.

Another angel, dc school started teaching GCSE content after Easter (they chose options in y8), so they wouldn't be disadvantaged in any way.

I know ofsted isn't always reliable, but I've been dissatisfied with the teaching at the school for a while, and when even safeguarding is rated Inadequate, your feet are bound to get twitchy!

Yes, Seeline, this is potentially a problem for dc1. I'm going to ask to speak to the curriculum leader to see what's what before I jump.

I probably would. How important is tgat gcse to dc. Also is a subject that they can do at a level without having taken the gcse as quite a few are.

I would also check that new school hasn't started teaching syllabus in year 9 and if they have is it stuff dc have done or could easily catch up

I would move them like a shot. Things must be pretty bad if they're happy to go.

Potential new school is slightly unusual in that the area operates a 3 tier system, so most kids started in y8 and quite a few come from the independent sector in y9.

I would hope this might mean GCSE teaching hasn't started in earnest yet.

Reservoir, it's her favourite subject but yes, she could take it up at A-level without difficulty.

Dc2 (an angel in primary school/y7) seems now to be on the fringes of a group of bright but disruptive kids, and I want to put a full stop to that as well.

I moved my DD to start a new school in year 10 and it was the best thing we did.

Regardless of OFSTED, what are the GCSE results like in the old school?

Not normally, but in the circumstances, you describe, yes.

Bedfordshire??

Regardless of the GCSE results, why ate the kids happy to move? That suggests quite strongly that all is not well - generally young teens want to stay with what they know and their friends.

In upper schools here they have already started Year 10 and GCSE teaching. Started a couple of weeks ago.

How important is that one GCSE option? Is it a must have (to DC) or a would like?

GCSE results have gone way down in the last 2 years. This year's y11 (friend's daughter is in this cohort) are very anxious that they haven't had adequate grounding in the new exams.

When Progress8 scores were released earlier this year, old school's were awful. (Along with the other 3 schools in the town.)

If the DCs are keen then I would. One of mine moved at October half term of year 10, not ideal but still the best thing we ever did. If they are keen and the teaching is any good it shouldn't be a problem especially if you/they liaise with the school during year 10 to check for any gaps that won't be covered.

Barbarian, I think they're happy to move because they just don't really like the school. They have friends there, but they all live very locally so they'd still see a lot of each other.

Dc2 is very sporty and musical, and extra-curricular provision at old school is rubbish, whereas the new school does all sorts, so she is v keen to join teams/choirs etc.

Manatee, the GCSE is Media Studies - obviously something not many schools offer at GCSE, so easy to take up from scratch at A-Level. But she does really love it.

In that case, yes move if children are willing to put in extra work. Do so quickly before everyone else jumps ship too.

Skinny, my thoughts exactly! I bet their switchboard is red hot this morning.

I thought with three tier system, children moved at the beginning of Y9, usually straight into GSCE courses at that stage. It's possible the new school could have already completed a year of the courses.

Media studies not the most useful qualification, can maybe do as extra subject later.