3 weeks in at secondary school and my DD has moved tutor groups and classes..she’s devastated

[Tinkie25]

DD came home from school yesterday and told me that her and about 5 other children (who she didn’t know that were in other tutor groups) were told by the HOY that they were moving tutor groups and here is your new timetable. My DD walked out in shock where she looked at her timetable and all her classes have changed too.

She is really devastated and spent the whole evening in tears. She is now away from her best friend and other friends that she made in the first few weeks. She was given no reason for it. (And she was too shocked to ask) She said a new girl has started in the tutor group (last week) and the tutor mentioned he has too many in the group now. DD said she is not struggling in the lessons nor has she found it easy. She took a maths and English test and got very similar scores to her friends in the class.

She was so anxious about starting secondary because a girl in her previous class had bullied her, but luckily she was put in a different tutor group and was never in the same class. Now her new tutor group is with this girl and she’s worrying the classes will probably be the same too☹️

She will also have a later lunch setting, so will not even see her friends for lunch.

There have been no issues with DD since she started, her old tutor even emailed me telling me how pleased she was to have DD in her tutor group as she had looked after a few children who were struggling and being overwhelmed. She really liked her tutor and found her really approachable, she has previously met her new tutor during transition and didn’t like him very much.

I called the school, but there was no answer.

I’ve emailed the HOY asking for the reason DD was moved.

I’m just gutted that my DD appeared to have settled in school and now she’s saying she doesn’t want to go.

Anyone with any secondary experience who can offer any advice.

TIA

[montenuit]

sounds terrible tbh.
So your dd has effectively been moved down a whole stream based on one maths test?! I'd be outraged.

[Tinkie25]

it has had a high turn round of staff in the past few years and three different heads in as many years. I think the new head is making his mark. So far parents do not seem impressed.

[JellySlice]

So tutor groups are set according to maths ability? Bizarre. And a recipe for disaster, I would have thought.

[elkiedee]

It seems an odd decision. In my last year of middle school, equivalent to year 8 now, we were effectively streamed for English, separate sets for Maths and French but the English group for everything else. Streaming for everything except English on the basis of Maths seems a bit strange.

I think there should have been some forewarning as well, 3 weeks in seems like a tricky time to do this and without much apparent explanation.

Glad she's not in the same group as the bully anyway. and it's great that she was introduced to her friend's friend. What a lovely idea.

[Tinkie25]

Yes it appears that way. English and maths are on ability, but other groups follow maths. HOY said it’s the first year they have done this. I’m suspecting probably the last.

[MrsChollySawcutt]

Glad you got some answers from the school OP and that your DD is doing OK.

That's an odd way of running tutor groups, sounds like they are effectively streaming them based on maths ability.

[Tinkie25]

Finally spoke to HOY today. Apparently they did do a maths test and my DD got a lower score than average for the group. Whatever maths group you’re in, your in that group for all your other subjects! They are testing again just before half term so may move some people round again😳😳

Luckily DD is not in the same group as the girl she had problems with and she was one of the few that also moved.

Dd has made another friend in her class and that seems to have helped her.

[JellySlice]

Any news?

[Speculoos]

Hope you manage to get it sorted out

[JellySlice]

What lovely children! Now your dd knows that her friends are looking out for her, too, hopefully Monday will be less daunting.

Hope this gets swiftly resolved.

[Tinkie25]

Feeling a little better. DDs friend (who is in her old tutor) said her other friend is in her new tutor group and invited DD round to meet her. Both girls got on and she said she will meet Dd in the morning, so they can walk together.

I’m still going to speak to the school tomorrow for some answers, but pleased that DD is now talking about how nice the new friend is.

[Rudi44]

I think even if bullying wasn’t an issue a move at this key stage in forming new friendships and settling in would be a problem for most children, particularly the way it’s been sprung on them.

[Foxyloxy1plus1]

We would bend over backwards to achieve a good mix of students in each tutor group and would be very reluctant to move anyone. Exceptions would be, if it was clear, after a while, that the dynamics weren’t working, or if a parent came to explain that there was a particular circumstance that needs to be looked at and potentially changed.

Don’t go in guns blazing, but you have emailed and can do so again with a little more emphasis if necessary. Your angle is not the move and the changes, but the bullying and the lack of information. There must have been a reason, but you should know about it and so should your daughter, so that, at the very least, you understand the reasons. I don’t think this is a safeguarding issue, unless there is something you and we don’t know, so Ofsted is unnecessary.

[Rudi44]

Also what bad form of the school to drop this on a Friday knowing they won’t be around to answer questions.

[Rudi44]

I think a more strongly worded email is important as it sounds like your first email I sent accepting of the situation but want to know why.
I think in your shoes, given the history with this other girl I wouldn’t be sending my daughter in on Monday without a meeting with the school.

Not only is what they have done completely unfair to the children affected but how they have gone about it is pretty dreadful too.

[Perfectly1mperfect]

You and your daughter deserve an explanation and I think you have done the right thing to email the school. However, I would not send a second email at this stage. Give the school til Monday afternoon to respond to your initial one and go from there. That way you get the facts, their reasoning etc without actually complaining. There could be a valid reason for your daughter moving. If there isn't, then is the time to do more. Reassure your daughter you will get to the bottom of what's happening. It's always best to find out exactly what's happened and why before you say anything else in my experience.

[Tinkie25]

I’ve been trying for the past few hours to word my second email, but I keep coming across emotional when I know I need to be factual.

I’m going to try and sleep now, but If anyone can help me word it correctly, I’d really appreciate it. 🙂

[SassitudeandSparkle]

Send a second email mentioning your DD's distress, and that you will be coming in first thing on Monday morning to speak to someone about this.

I'd go in and see them just to ensure that they see this is not a suitable move for your DD, not because I expect them to respond to an email instantly. I hope it is sorted out for your DD very soon.

[SavoyCabbage]

I would also go to school for 8am on Monday,

[MaisyPops]

One day in a different form is not the end of the world.
If a meeting is needed urgently then it won't be the end of the week.
It doesn't change the fact that turning up before school demanding a meeting is not reasonable. For a start, the member of staff might not be on site. Secondly closer to the starr of school starting there are often staff briefings. Thirdly, people don't have to drop what they are doing because someone has turned up and decided they want to see someone now.

I get the OP wants answers. I get that it's a big change for their child. That doesn't mean turning up demanding meetings (typical MN advice) is the best way forward.

[MrsChollySawcutt]

Maisypops you said : Give them Monday to deal with it and then request a meeting as soon as possible. Hope it works out.

OPs DD has already been given her new timetable. If OP gives them Monday to deal with it and waits for a meeting later in the week, her DD will be in the new tutor group all that time.

Hence my previous post...

[MaisyPops]

MrsChollySawcutt
It wouldn't leave her in the form for a week.

My point is that if you hear of something after school on a Friday and haven't got a reply to something sent outside the working week then turning up at school first thing Monday morning demanding a meeting isn't a reasonable course of action.

The OP's plan to wait until end of Monday and then seek a meeting is reasonable. Some of the replies on this thread aren't (and are essentially 'kick off because someone hasn't replied to you when they arent working and the institution is closed')

[Lenazayka]

Not surprised. A lot of schools do the SAT test ( or similar) again at the beginning of the year 7 and complete their forms according to the knowledges.

[toomanyeastereggsurghh]

I would be on the phone on Monday demanding an explanation, if you can’t get hold of the Head of Year ask for the Head of Pastoral/deputy head or request that one of them ring you back the same day. An email might take them a while to answer.
I’m a teacher and a parent and this is completely unacceptable.
I have seen this happen before and the hope is the child moved and the parents don’t make a much of a fuss. There are times when I think parents are overreacting to minor things but this is definitely not one of those times.

[JellySlice]

In my dcs' school, such an email would by now have had at least an acknowledgment and promise to look into the case.

I have never, even during holidays or weekends, had to wait longer than 24h for a reply to an email (which is why I never email during holidays and weekends, unless the matter is truly urgent).