To move school mid Y7 when she is doing great?

[SimonBolivar]

Hello
my daughter has settled really well in a local comp. She was selected for the scholars program and may or may not be gifted but is super bright and interested, studious. I a not super keen on assessments and so I’m just happy she’s getting on very well socially and academically. She loves languages and unprompted her favourite new subject is German.

the challenge: there is a very unique school in our area (Europa if anyone knows) - it teaches primary bilingual so half the week is English and half the week is either french, German or Spanish.
for secondary they continue with the bilingual focus. Teaching history georgrsphy and literature in french. They do not do A levels (or even gcse) but prepare for the IB. they have good results. It’s a free government funded school. Yes - unique.

i am french and my husband English. My kids have had a standard U.K. education so far except for the few short years abroad where my daughter did the equivalent of Y1 at a french international school. She is fully bilingual

we have received an offer out of the blue for her to join after Easter

i don’t use mumsnet a lot but it’s here I have come across the expression “don’t move a happy child”

the advantages for her and my family are as follows:
if she takes the place her sister and brother woul be given priority automatically. This means my youngest could start reception next year in bilingual environment, and my middle child could join either in Y5 or Y7 depending what we decide.

it would be an amazing boost to their french. They speak it but without peers/ teaching etc, it’s made it really hard on me to be the sole provider of french and I revert to English often, as they know I understand everything: what’s the point of speaking to me in french, when it’s harder for them to do so: not a virtuous cycle!

she would work towards the IB in a demanding environment which I believe would suit her

BUT no school is perfect and like all others they have their own issues. The long term sustainability of the European project behind it… will it survive? A question for sure.

and more transport and therefore longer hours (not necessarily an issue, for my husband and I that means longer working days.. but not ideal for the reception child)

as you can imagine, very conflicted. There is no amount of tuition I believe would give them the experience of developing daily sustained friendships in the language….

i am aware of her being a strategic placement for the rest of my family to then join the school…

what would you think and ask yourself?

not looking for do this or that but rather : consider this or ask that.

thank you

I’m sorry you had to experience this. Perhaps you are still angry with your parents for this. Thank you for sharing. Obviously it’s not the outcome I am hoping for. But I know it’s a possibility.

so COURAGE is one of your key principles, doesnt mean its your DDs.
She has told you her views and you just haven't listened because COURAGE.
She speaks excellent French already and I really don't understand why you need her to be fully Bilingual. If its for future career prospects excellent spoken French will be a huge help, although if she only has a Uk passport not so much.
Maybe it will work out and I really really do hope so but if not it will be down to you and your COURAGE.
But it sounds like you have made your decision so best of luck to you all

@Vive42 Scholar programmes don't really exist in state schools. The gifted and talented funding is non existent so most schools don't have it. It's very unusual and normally only happens in the 'leafy' comps that have a healthy PTA to help out. Hence my statement that it's VERY unlikely she can just go back. These types of comps are often more oversubscribed than some of the private schools you're probably familiar with. At least in a private you can call and speak to a human that has the power to make a nuanced decision about a return. In a state school you will be hearing from the LA that will say something along the lines of "computer says no space".

You asked about book recommendations. At a similar age when changing schools one of my girls loved the Gallagher Girls book series by Ally Carter. Exceptionally gifted girl moves to specialist girls school which trains future spies! Enjoyable nonsense but good escapism for her and shows pros of a new school environment!
Don't be put off by the covers - they're quite innocent

Just to let you all know we reversed the decision and she’s staying in her current school. She put a big fuss and as we were tying to convince her, she got an excellent school report- she’s clearly so invested in her current work it was too much to handle for now.
i am still upset she could not find it in her to see the long term benefits this opportunity offered. Perhaps in time…

thank you all, which ever side of the dilemma you came from I genuinely learnt from hearing your perspectives. I do wish some were expressed in a less judgemental way but I know you all cared for doing the “right” thing. It’s just so hard, sometimes, to know what is right or less right, none of us have a crystal ball and all of us have highly unique lives and stories

on the positives she feels truly heard.. in time I think she may resent us for not having forced her to take this opportunity… OR not!

I am so pleased to read this.

Me too.

I wish your child all the best op. I think you should be really proud of her for standing up for herself and being firm. She'll be a strong independent woman I reckon!

I think you need to politely and firmly say if she does ever resent you (and I am not sure she will) I think you make it clear as a parent it is your role to guide/offer and make sure she is aware of the consequences of a decision as she is heading towards being a teenager and an adult but that you cannot and should not force her into a decision she is uncomfortable with.

and the sane goes to you OP, it isn’t your role to force her into a decision she isn’t comfortable with when the alternative one suits her as well, guide and try to convince her the choice was right but ultimately that was all you could do

I'd probably ask Europa if you could get a taster day there to help your daughter to decide. We live in one of their catchment areas and considered the school, but from Oxford we have found the commute is too far and not worth it. The traffic around Abingdon is equally horrendous. I keep hearing stories of kids being stuck 2 hours per day on a bus. I think it's not a great experience when you can do any classes you like in Oxford, especially the French ones, or meet up with French families easily.

I had also looked at their results, and to me (I work as a French tutor myself and come from a multilingual family), they are not impressive, in fact many kids leave this school with passive knowledge of those languages. I don't necessarily think the kids know the languages better than someone who does A-level in French or Spanish. Your daughter is bilingual already, you just need her to do some reading and writing which you can probably do easily on a side and she has time to do it as part of GCSEs for example.

I'd consider the commute and definitely see how it goes with the taster session before deciding, but I do not think it is necessarily a better school, although as a European I understand it's ideologically attractive, but beware of the ideology. We should not be choosing a school based on that, I believe. In many respects the 'British values' are really good too :-)

Thank you @IzzyMartin for offering this perspective. I am also European, and definitely idealise the Europa School as this fantastic place to learn. I have no direct experience and live in Oxford, I sign up to the continued interest list every year but it seems like getting a place is like winning the lottery. And perhaps it is not so desirable after all? It is interesting to read what you wrote :)
I think the original poster decided not to go for it, @SimonBolivar , thanks to you as well as it was for me a very interesting topic, I hope your daughter is happy where she is. I am curious to know more about the scholars program you mentioned, do you know which schools in Oxford offer this?
Overall a very useful conversation for me, thanks!