Last minute panic re state school - switch to private?

[SpoonsAndForks]

Because my son's state primary school went into special measures, we put him in private school for years 5 & 6.

He's now due to go into year 7 at state school this September but I'm having wobbles about it being the right school for him.

I have three options now:

1. Go ahead with current choice of state secondary
2. Go ahead with current choice but apply for 13 + (year 9) entry into private school
3. Keep him at current prep school (yrs 7 & 8) and apply for 13 + entry into next school

I'm quite keen on the number 2 option but can see some issues - he might not want to move if he's well settled with nice friends and also he might have slipped backwards and not be able to keep up with the kids who have been to private school all the way through.

Does anyone have any experience of switching from state to private at year 9?

Or do any of you have experience about worrying about this and it all working out just fine at the state school?

The state school is Ofsted good, and has a good reputation but I've been hearing some stories recently from other parents whose kids at the brighter end of the class are bored and disengaging. Only maths and english are streamed (not sure if this is the case for all state secondary schools?)

How selective are the senior schools you are looking at?

Also I'd check what subjects they do entrance exams in.

If it's a less selective school and it's just maths and English you can probably keep him to the required standard.

If the Senior school expect him to sit exams across the board you are probably going to pay for tutoring for languages etc.

I'd really explore your school choice and how many students actually enter from the state sector.

Thanks for all the posts, it's all really useful and interesting. I'm having a mad busy day today but will come back later or tomorrow.

Had an email back from the state school reassuring me that they're in the top 10% of state schools and that teachers work hard to ensure that everyone is engaged with the work. I'm almost tempted to copy the full reply in here but it seems a bit wrong sharing someone else's words on a forum.