New school at Y9 and its not a good fit

[Teenybopper123]

Hi all

We recently joined a school in Y9. It wasn't our first choice as DC didn't make the 11+ process due to undiagnosed ADHD and didn't get an offer.

All was sorted. We got her diagnosed, including medication, and we went to a school that fit her educational needs after a 13+ process

She’s there now, and I'm slightly panicking as they aren't great at sports. She's very sporty, and her friends live a bit further out.

I'm wondering if it is ok to move her already. I feel silly as I quite possibly should have gotten this sorted, but she was keen to go as a friend she knew was there, and that friend moved away. Oh dear!

Any thoughts?

Is it a private school? You were aiming at some supersporty private?

In every state secondary the kids have similar amount of PE lessons. And there are after school clubs.

I don’t think you should do anything until you know whether there are spaces elsewhere, and worked out if one of those is definitely the right fit.

Schools have only just started back - she hasn’t even had a chance to actually settle in or really make friends yet. Relax and give things time. Re: sport it can be done outside school. Her education should be the priority

Certainly where we are a lot of the (non fee paying) grammars are highly renowned, even quite famous for their sporting offerings and teams. Rugby and hockey are an especially big deal. It’s not just a private school thing.

Curiculum looks the same in all state schools and number of PE lessons across the week. The difference is in the extracurriculars

Clubs and teams will be starting back shortly, it does take a week or so and if she’s already settling then don’t panic. Most schools have quite an offering of sports clubs. Hopefully she’s doing sports outside of school which gives her a second friendship group. Give it longer, you must have seen something in the school that would suit her. If she’s not settling or complaining about lack of sports. On the first one contact her tutor or head of year and the second one send her to PE and find the list of clubs and work out what she’s going to join.

What type of school did she attend from Yr. 7 - Yr. 8? Could she have remained there or was it a prep?

I think it's too early to say.
But, if your main concern is sports and friends, then couldn't she join a local sports club to do her sport out of school and also make local friends there? I think having friends and interests out of school is a really positive thing to do anyway.

I also wonder whether there is a "better" school available where she will actually get a place? You say this school is a fit from the educational aspect, that might have to be enough as finding the "perfect" school for an ad-hoc occasional place is likely to be tricky. I'd also suggest the perfect school doesn't exist for most people anyway - you pick a school on a number of good aspects if you can, and work around the rest.

Thanks I think you're right.

DD was at a very sporty prep school until Y8 in Surrey however she struggles a bit with academics, but did really well in her finals, although I had to help with with everything. Not sure I can offer that kind of support each time with the demands of work.

So to see her in a school which goes at a slower pace is probally ok, but she finds her confidence in sports. Tricky fine balance. And yes she does sports outside of school.

I agree no such thing as a perfect school, although when you're paying and working very hard, id like to see the value.

Thanks for all the brilliant advice.

If you don't have a sporty private school then you may as well send them to state.

I sent my dds privately because the sport/fitness/health education at our local state was non existent.

Which is OP’s concern. PE is a tick box exercise in my opinion - no real sport goes on and typically half of the class are disinterested. The proper sport goes on extracurricularly

Is she a top lax player / hockey player. The level of competition in private is crazy quite a few are national players. Some times only taking the A/B team. So it can dishearten some just doing it for fun.

Is she happy at school? That’s the most important question. If she is don’t move her.

If she truly doesn’t like the school I’d move her. Providing you can find a place. But double fees / get out contract

St Cats is very sporty / St John’s / St George’s but then you have to get them to school for the early morning practice and practically all of your sat gone as they travel miles …..

Or could try the boarding schools in day places.

Exactly