Moving from private to state school experiences…

[Jaipur]

DS (14) is in year 10. He has a full bursary for a private school where he is pretty unhappy. The school is fairly strict which he doesn’t like, has long hours and also has a particularly snobbish undercurrent - which I know not all private schools do.

He has a group of friends, although they don’t bring out the best in each other and he has got himself into trouble for silly things (vaping, skipping a class and a few other things). The headteacher is at the end of his tether and has said he feels we should look elsewhere so he can leave with a clean slate.

He’s a bright boy and teachers and other kids like him, he’s just says he’s not really happy at the school and never has been. He wants to go to the local (high achieving) state school. He has friends there and feels he would be happier.

Private to state seems the opposite way the majority of people move there children. Any experiences of doing this? I’m concerned DS may go completely off the rails…. Equally if he’s happier and more relaxed he may really come into his own.

@Tallerthanmost - “Suggesting “move schools” instead of working to sort the issue feels like a dereliction of duty on the schools part.”

Exactly this. Perhaps a few full paying parents have complained about the bursary kid… Nobody gets expelled for a bit of vaping.

OP - are there any race issues? Just wondering because of your user name. Always use whatever you can to defend your DC, but make sure he understands that he is there just to get his GCSEs now and can then bounce.

I’m well versed on state discipline, behaviour and exclusions. Private is utterly different. They won’t tolerate this from a DC they have spent mega bucks on. The other DC won’t be keen either. Nor their parents. He’s Y10. They know exactly what the school is! Why didn’t they say “no thanks” at the end of y9 or y8? As for settling in: do you think bursary DC should be singled out for separate treatment? Or separate coaching? Or just treated differently? Most people don’t want this. If you think a school is snobby snd you don’t like it: don’t go! However the OP took their money! She was happy enough to do that!

Also plenty of bursaries are paid for by the fees of other parents. They simply won’t expect this type of behaviour. Some of them won’t be the richest either. This behaviour would not be acceptable at state schools either. Most schools don’t see the type of violence and drug dealing you describe. If this is repeated behaviour, the school will want him out. If he’s suddenly a poor fit (and I assume he went in y7) then admit it snd move much earlier. However “something for nothing” is a massive pull.

@TizerorFizz wow that is a sweeping generalisation about ‘useless state schools’. Many of them are really good, some much better than private counterparts.

@barnbaby
Most people apply for bursaries at private schools because they believe the state schools to be useless. Otherwise why apply to join those snobby awful private school parents? You wouldn’t bother, would you? You would be happy for your DC to go to the comp with all his friends.

I am well aware many state schools are brilliant but the OP clearly didn’t think so. Or DS would have gone to one. Now she won’t accept any school, she wants the best school which doesn’t have places.

Curious what grounds you think you have for appeal?

Others are right to point out that it’s not just the subject but the exam board… but also, be careful with regards to a full school and individual class availability. At my teen’s state school some students don’t get their first choice subject because they need to balance the subjects. If you do find some valid appeal grounds, don’t be surprised if you want top set Geography and he gets second set History.

Has the OP disappeared?