Change schools or stay for friends

[Montypig]

Hi - I have a very newly diagnosed DS (11), Inattentive ADHD, possible autism, super high verbal and vocal, super low processing, everything else average. He's had a tough year, somewhat aggressive, very sad. He has been particularly sad at school ( which we can now see why !). We are thinking of changing to a school that focuses more on continual assessment rather than solely one big exam at the end of the year. He is somewhat keen on the idea, but that may be just the idea of change. He is however worried about losing touch with his friends, which he says are the only source of joy for him at the moment ( other than screens !)

Has anyone experience of changing schools for this reason - his existing school are lovely and care deeply, but structurally are a bit of an academic exam machine. He's going into year 7 next year, and both are independent schools.

Thank you

The problem is that GCSEs are one big exam at the end (well 18-25 big exams).
So unless you move him to a school that will offer lots of BTECs, it may not help long term.
Sorry, that's probably not much help

@Montypig My daughter (15) is autistic, also has slow processing issues, she ended up leaving her school (independent, very focused on exam results) because she experienced autistic burnout during covid. She has just started at another independent school but has gone down a year because she missed so much last year. It is much smaller, much more pastoral focused. They are teaching at a much slower pace and so much more suitable. She is very bright, but was left behind by the old school's teaching style. She also had friends she left behind, she has kept in touch with one and meets up with her every week, but has been delighted to make new friends at her new school. Best decision we ever made was to enrol at the new school. I don't think she would have been happy staying at the old school because the style of teaching was all wrong for her.

Very late back ! Thank you both - we did move him and its been wonderful. Thank you both for the feedback