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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Moving from state to independent school... leave/start dates??

19 replies

silverback · 25/06/2018 16:38

Would like to get some opinions please....

Our daughter ("DD"??.. new here so not sure) is currently in Year 9 at a state secondary school. For various reason we decided that she would benefit from a move to another school. We did our research, applied for an independent school, did the entrance exams etc, and she has been offered a place.. to start at the beginning of Year 10 in September. We would have liked for her to start the new school before the end of this term, but they only have two weeks left until they break up at the end of next week.

Her current school still has four weeks until the end of term. Our daughter would leave today if it was her choice, but we are questioning whether it's worth making her attend until the end of term or let her leave a bit earlier, say in two weeks time.

If she was happy at her current school we wouldn't even consider letting her leave early, but she's not happy there. Don't get me wrong, we are not having to drag her there kicking and screaming, but it'd be a relief for her to kiss it goodbye in a couple of weeks rather than in four weeks.

Justifying to ourselves an early departure from her current school..... they appear to already be in the end of year wind down, there is a day's school trip coming up, and sports day, plus a few exams to put them into sets for next year. So, I reckon of the two weeks until the end of term that we are querying, there would probably be about a week's worth of actual lessons.

Just looking for people's opinions on this..... stay until the end of term, or leave two weeks early???????? Are there problems we could face that we haven't considered?

OP posts:

TurquoiseFrog · 25/06/2018 17:25

Would she not be considered 'out of education' if she leaves her current school early. So then you'd have to register her as home educated or explain to the LA.

Otherwise, I totally agree it sounds like she'd be best finishing at the state when the independent term ends, enjoying a long summer to feel relaxed and ready for her new start.

I wouldn't start her at the independent before Sept as you'd have to pay an extra terms fees!

Trialsmum · 25/06/2018 17:31

She wouldn’t be ‘allowed’ to. Ds moves from his old school to the school I worked in after Christmas a few years ago. I broke up on the Wed, he broke up ridiculously late on the fri but should have gone back 2 days later so have the same amount. I told his old school that I would like him to finish on the Wed but they said no. Looking back, I should have just done it, not sure why I needed permission. But just be aware, it would be unauthorised and they could fine you.

SixHoolaHoops · 25/06/2018 17:34

I think you would probably be fined. I think she should stay at her current school until the end of term (and year)

AlexanderHamilton · 25/06/2018 17:36

We did the opposite last year & were advised by various agencies to take Ds out of his private school at May half term for him to start at the state school in the September. He however wanted to complete the year despite all the problems he had been having at the school.

QGMum · 25/06/2018 17:43

I’d just let her leave now but ask her new school for the topics they have covered in Year 9 in her GCSE choices and cover any gaps over the next two to four weeks.

Leeds2 · 25/06/2018 18:12

Is there any chance her new school would let her attend for the next two weeks without charging you a full term's fees? If so, I would do that just to get her used to being in the school, and so that she can hit the ground running in September.

ThinkOfAWittyNameLater · 25/06/2018 18:34

Honestly, I'd take her out.

What are they going to do? Fine you? It'll probably cheaper than if you'd paid the new school fees for a few weeks.

She isn't really going to be learning anything at this school. She's not going to give a rats arse about the next war sets. Sod it. There's more to life than attendance awards.

That said, if you can get a copy of the yr9 syllabus from the new school to make sure she's covered what she'll need from September that would be a good idea. Maybe so the odd tutoring session?

Lonecatwithkitten · 25/06/2018 19:47

A girl joined DD's class last year in similar circumstances and registered for last two days of summer term.
She had her uniform had spent two days with her class, found her way round and was ready to slot in in September.

Original poster

silverback · 25/06/2018 19:51

Thanks for the responses so far... Seems that taking her out early is winning currently.

Very good suggestions re. asking the independent school what they've covered in Yr 9 and trying to fill any gaps in the two weeks or over the summer hols. Thanks, will do that.

OP posts:

Jorah · 26/06/2018 11:21

Its a shame she didn't do this summer term at the indie as summer term is always lovely. I would send her for the final two weeks tbh.

underneaththeash · 26/06/2018 22:37

Just take her out and say you're going to home educate for the remaining month.

BubblesBuddy · 27/06/2018 00:21

Most independent schools do cover the national curriculum and, unless it’s full of geniuses, the children won’t have been taught much that’s different. They are now moving into the GCSE syllabus, so if your DD has started the syllabus in Y9, this is where there might be differences. If she’s not started GCSE Work, then I wouldn’t worry too much. You could have a frazzled summer holiday if you start to think she’s behind.

Just apply for 2 weeks holiday and pay the fine. Does she not want to go on the trip or join in with sports day? It’s never all about formal learning in July.

montenuit · 30/06/2018 11:09

ask the new school can she do the last few days of term to "familiarise" herself.

then tell her current school she's moving there.

then they break up. job done.

Rudi44 · 30/06/2018 11:22

Yes take her out if she is unhappy. I don’t think a few weeks will make any difference. If asked by current School say you are home schooling for a few weeks.

BewareOfDragons · 30/06/2018 11:33

I'd take her out.

Just tell the local authority she's starting a new school and you'll be home educating for the remainder of this term

Thundercracker · 30/06/2018 22:17

You're not taking unauthorised absence, she is going off roll from the date you say. They can't fine (and won't care, more to the point). If that means you sign to say she is being home ed or simply moving to a new school, do it.

No one including the LA will care enough to pick a fight about whether you are home educating her for a fortnight or not. There aren't special requirements for what constitutes home ed anyway.

Original poster

silverback · 07/07/2018 09:50

So, bit of an update...

We decided to allow our daughter to finish her current school on Friday, two weeks earlier than the school's end of term.

We informed the school in writing of our intention to remove her and home school for the next two weeks. The admissions officer at school has refused to delete her from their roll until the end of their term, and also advised that they will only do this once they have received confirmation from the new school that she is going there in September. (I'm sure the new school has done this already but the communication has somehow got lost in the current school, as stuff usually does - but that's another story).

Her current school also insists that if we are choosing to home school her then they have to provide work and support (this totally defeats the purpose of removing her from the school, as the poor levels of work and support are the reasons we have removed her!). According to them this has been supported/advised by the LEA.

I have already pointed out to them that as our daughter's parents it is our right to provide an alternative education and instruct them to remove her from their roll. I've even directed them to the relevant legislative paragraph covering deletions.

Finally, the school has said that she will be marked absent for the remaining two weeks of term.

We could just leave it here and say no more, however I kinda feel the need to get them to do as they should do. Also, I don't like the idea of them thinking/claiming they now have more of a say (or any say) over our daughter's education etc than we do.

I think I'll go back with one more email, providing links to the LEA and Government website pages which clearly state the guidelines/laws for deletions from admission registers.

If that doesn't work, meeting with the head is probably next I think. Doubt I can let this go.

OP posts:

BewareOfDragons · 07/07/2018 13:02

"She won't be absent. I'm de-registering her from your school as is my right."

Repeat and put in writing.

Sorry they're being such prats, OP. But do put it all in writing to school and LEA. You'll probably need a paper trail for when they try to fine you for unauthorized absences if the school presses ahead in its punitive idiocy.

fuzzyfozzy · 07/07/2018 13:06

Oh I'm glad you moved early, she'll know people when she goes back in September.
I'm not sure what your old school are trying to gain from this. Is there a head count date in the time of year.

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