Moving from private to state year 9

[fussygalore118]

Hi
Has anyone got any experience from moving their child out of private education into state. For a multitude of reasons we need to move our 14 year old. I'm really worried about the transition.. I'd love to hear if any other parents have had to do the same and how their child coped.
We are looking at doing it Easter time so she is settled and in time for picking GCSEs and can make friends for over summer etc...

Thanks

Not in terms of the moving but they have probably already submitted their preferences for GCSE so she might not have quite such a free choice and some subjects (maths and science) might already be covering the syllabus but possibly different order if she is already doing that at her school so she might be ahead in some areas and behindin others. Hope the move goes well.

Not experience of moving but just to advise our yr 9s are all doing options now. Booklet last week, open evening next week and final choices week after

My niece's school chooses options year 8 and do the GCSE syllabus over 3 years

Do you have a specific school in mind? If so, might be worth checking with them on timings and what GCSE's they offer in case your dd wants something specific - e.g. niece's school offers Media, DD's doesn't

How is your DD feeling about it?

Thank you for replying, we are meeting with the new school next week so will see what the options are re GCSEs, I was hoping they wouldn't have selected quite yet ( only just starting the process in her current school). But she is quite open to what she would like to do so fingers crossed that should be ok

My dd has picked her options already but they don't start until next year, there was only 3 subjects to chose after mandatory subjects, so it's no great angst. I reckon it's much better to swap schools now than another years time.

Yes we are making the leap now rather that have it potentially mid GCSEs...
Daughter is feeling ok.. up and down which we expect, bit excited and bit scared she won't make friends, or kids will bully her for coming from a private school..
It terrifying in all honesty, I dont know if we are doing the right thing.

We have a school in mind, we are just waiting to hear if they have space fingers crossed they do and we should know in the next week.

Re options she is keen to do medicine so she wants to do separate science, she loves RS, French and enjoys history and geography equally.. shes a pretty good we artist bug she isn't sure she fancies it for GCSE ..

No, but two of ds's friends have moved from private schools to his state school: one was end of Y8, the other Y9. One knew some of them already, the other was totally new into the friendship group: both have established themselves quickly and integrated well. I'm not aware of any bullying for either, although they are a pretty nerdy group in general! Fwiw, my Y9 is just choosing options now so the timing does vary by school.

Some state schools do GCSEs over 3 years so check for that. Ours does mainly over two but some start in year 9 and they take a couple a year early - English Language and RE. My DD is in year 9 and just choosing her options - for its double or triple science (top third strongly pushed to do triple), maths/engx2 and re compulsory then 4 options of of 16 or so but you have to have already studied some options to chose them. One is supposed to be a language, one geography or history.

Thank you,all great things to be mindful of!

I did but it was halfway through year 8 and my ds has been so much happier and settled in really well. It is a well regarded state school but three times bigger than the private one and he has been just fine.

We wasn't happy with the private school (one of the best outside of London apparently ) and he wasn't happy there either. Moving him to state school was the best decision we have ever made and he is flourishing there. I would apply asap though with your child being in year 9. I wouldn’t worry about it being specifically after a school holiday.

Surely the children at the new school won't know she comes from a private school unless she tells them? IME children aren't that curious about new students anyway.

We moved ds at the end of year 8. He was seen as the posh private school kid for maybe 3-6 months then he totally embraced the accent and culture of the school. Maybe it helped that he told anyone who would listen about how awful the private school was and how he had no friends there (I almost cried when he made friends at his new school who actually invited him to places.

Thank you all so much! I'm feeling a little more confident about our decision I'm really hoping the new school will suit her better.

Eeek just waiting to find out about a place now

Hi Fussygalore118,

I am in the same position as you were and I am so torn and terrified of moving my daughter. Did you make the move in the end? How are things working out? Thanks

if they have a place then surely you'll need to take it straight away - they won't hold it until easter for you?

That might also be easier for your dd - just move her now rather than have her knowing for 2 terms that the shift is coming?

I’m sure it will be fine op.
However on threads about private education on mn there are always a few posters who says things like ‘I’d never send my dc private - don’t want them mixing with ghastly ‘ poshos’ “ so I hope she won’t be bullied by a minority who have learned from their parents that having a go at anyone perceived as ‘posh‘ is absolutely fine as it’s ‘punching up’ not ‘punching down’