Changing secondary school after year 8 for troubled teen - please help

[Kethos]

My year 8, 13 year daughter has just been diagnosed with anorexia - we are getting help but know this will be a long process/road. Part of the reason for her unhappiness is school - girls can be so cruel to each other and it is a big school and she seems to be lost in it and feels the pressure of the school exam/set competitiveness. I am scared to be knee jerk and make things worse but also scared to expect change when we are not changing anything! My question is - if I apply for a year 9 place now for a smaller less competitive school that needs applications in this week - will I have to take the place? If you apply for another school do you lose the place at the school you are at and have to take the new place? This may be a dumb question so sorry! Things are so volatile - so much could change by September and would like to keep both school options available to her.

I did this with dd1 when she was in year 8 and it was honestly the best thing I ever did.

You don’t lose the place if you apply for another school as you will have to be accepted first.

It really turned things round for dd as it was a fresh new start for her as she could ‘reinvent’ herself. She is now 24 and flying round the world for her career and I know that would have never happened if I kept her at her old school.

Go for it

Thank you so much for the taking the time to answer me - I really appreciate it xx

no you don't have to accept the place and don't lose the existing place without a positive decision to move.

what will happen though is that you can't hold on to the offered place for very long while you decide - for "in year" applications (everything except the big yR, y7 and y12 allocations) you aren't applying for a place for September, but for right now and if there is a place available right now you can take it. you can't get an offer and then say "great, she will start there after the Easter holidays" for example (a few days to organise the transition is fine, but not an extended delay)

Thank you - that makes sense x