Changing schools due to relocation at the end of year 9

[Dreambee]

Hi all,

Does anyone have any experience of changing schools at the end of year 9 for a school in a completely new area?

My son is happy at his current school and DH and I are reasonably satisfied with the school's provision. Saying that, we are strongly considering a move to another part of the country for mainly financial reasons (living in the home counties is becoming financially unviable because we just can't get on the property ladder or even rent a decent family home).

Although I like the prospect of moving to make ends meet financially, my son is young in his year and not the most academic so I am concerned about him having to adjust to new systems, environment and teachers. However, a part of me thinks it might provide the opportunity for him to go to a better school. I also think a move away from his current social circle could encourage him to focus more academically in year 10. He is of course concerned about leaving his current friends and I would hate for him to struggle to make new friends.

Another point I should mention is that neither my son nor I enjoy living in our current area (we are the most vocal critics in our family). We moved from a city a few years ago (when DS was in the final year of primary school) to an area that is known for good schools and lovely (but expensive) houses. Both of us would prefer living closer to a city. So as well as lowering the family's living costs, we would really like to improve our lives socially.

I wouldn't move now; go at the end of year 11 before sixth form. Many schools start GCSE work in year 9 and ensuring a new school has covered the same bits of the curriculum in each subject will be a nightmare (and pretty much impossible). It's only 18 months longer as you could leave in June after his last GCSE.

I really wouldn't move just as he's about to start year 10. It's likely he will have already started some GSCE work, and finding another school where he will be able to take the same subjects, and cover the same material is almost impossible. I think you need to stay put until after year 11, and look at moving before he goes to sxith form / college.

I changed schools at the end of Y9 (way back in the 80s) due to a house move and it worked for me.

We moved to a new town when my dd was 13 and said never again with our younger ones. She didnt settle at all well. However your son already moved once at end of primary school and doesn't particularly like the area so is probably in a quite different place. I'm not sure about suggestion of waiting to move for another 2 years. Isn't that going to be even harder. I think 16 is probably an even worse time to move.

I'd wait until he's finished Y11 as well.

Thank you for your very welcome replies. I am concerned about schools that start GCSEs in year 9. I know it is very much frowned upon by DFE/Ofsted so hopefully we can avoid schools that do that (DS's current school does not start GCSEs until year 10).

readytoretire - yes DS gained a lot of confidence from moving primary schools at an odd time as he made friends well. He also actually mentioned that he thought it would be harder to get into existing friendship groups after GCSEs. But I know that people move around a far bit after key stage 3 so he would not be the only "new boy".

It's a really tough decision. We also have younger children to consider also so any move will impact on them too. If we do stay in this area our quality of life will not be great but it might be the price we need to pay for stability.

My dds changed schools at year 10, everyone did there and it was fine. Dp's dd changed schools half way through year 10 and coped ok. Do what is right for your family - personally I would move soonish rather than waiting for next summer if you can

One of my children just finished year 11. I think it would have been really hard for him to move this summer. The end of year 9 would have been much easier (though still tough). They did start a bit of the science GCSEs courses at Easter of year 9 but really hadn't done much before year 10.

I have no direct experience of this although my nephew changed school at the end of Y9 and ended up not being able to do all the options he'd chosen at his previous school as they were full at the new school. If you are seriously considering a move, it would be sensible to contact possible schools now and to ask when GCSE options are chosen, if any subjects are done early e.g. RS and if science starts teaching GCSE content in Y9. You would also need to find out about your likelihood of getting an in-year place at your preferred school. Another possibility to consider is looking for an affordable independent school in the area you'd like to move to and discuss him redoing Y9 next year. It might not be financially viable but if you're moving from the home counties to further north, it may be achievable.

Thank you again for the helpful replies. Leaving the move until summer 2023 will be much better for our younger children and will give us much needed time to get everything sorted out. It's never an ideal situation to change schools but we're looking to settle for the long term.