Changing schools in year 10

[Userengage]

Has anyone done this successfully? DC is in year 10 and so miserable at school, no friends (and I mean zero friends) and at lunchtime, sits in a space inside that their teacher has provided as they have no one to hang out with so they were hiding.

Everything I’ve read online tells me that moving at this stage has a negative impact due to different curriculum/syllabus/timetable availability of the GSCE subjects they have already chosen.

This is a last resort and not a route that I really want to go down but I cannot see how they will get through the next year and a half at that school.

Yes we had a very successful move end of year 10 from a school she was desperately unhappy at to another one and she made friends at the next one, they were much more relaxed and she also got excellent GCSE grades. Now doing A levels with all A stars predicted and getting excellent university offers. She is very good at self-teaching which made a difference. I was told by old school it would not work out but it did and only regret is not moving sooner. I did a move to a school with similar GCSEs though sometimes they are taught in a different order. I would move a child that's very unhappy and wants to move schools even if GCSEs might suffer if there's no solution where she/he is now. My daughter also got a couple of jobs which helped as well.

Just move your poor DC

Why on earth are you reading nonsense online

Your DC is miserable

Needs to be moved

You're not doing that because of what you're reading online

Are you mad

Move your DC now

Contact local schools yourself to see if they have a space and explain why it needs to be asap

Also contact the council, LEA

You fill in the form online and just get on with it

Poor kid

How could you let them sit there like that day after day

It's miserable

It's a truly hideous experience you putting them through

Forget about bloody GCSEs they'll fail all of them or do badly anyway move them

I can't believe your putting their exams before they'd well being

You are the parent

Get a grip

Be a good parent

Right now you are a very bad parent

Moving schools is not the last resort

It should absolutely be the first main most important resort

Sooner the better. They may have catching up to do but better to move right now than at the end of the year

Right now you are a very bad parent

That is obviously not true, ignore this. You are clearly trying to make the right decision for your child.

Definitely change schools.

Do not ignore my comment

You need to move your child for their well-being and just get on with it

You need to be told to put your DC well-being first st all times especially in this dreadful situation you're leaving them in

It's horrific actually

Mental torture

Thanks for sharing your experience @Penguinsa, it’s pleasing to hear that it worked out for your DD.

@mitogoshi and @DdyDaisyDaresYou thanks for your replies. DC had a massive falling out with friends and, with the obvious knock to confidence, has not made any new ones. I’m concerned that this may continue into a new school but I think it’s a chance we need to take. It’s hard to be the new child at school at any point.

Yes, after February half term of year 10. We had no choice as had to move house due to a sudden disability which meant stairs were an issue for me. But was having a hard time at school so really wasn't bothered.
Had to change one subject totally as wasn't done at the school, got a grade 5 in this new subject and taught self a term and a half's work.
Was different texts for literature so had to study 2 texts independently. This was the hardest one as dyslexic. This was the one I supported most sourcing books, films, yout tube clips of teachers talking about the text, anything to assist with it sinking in.
Had to catch up in some subjects due to different syllabus/taught in different ways.
However was predicted mostly 3s, went to the new school settled well and got 4-6s. Made one friend who still sees regularly 5 years later (this is big as has asd).
Some schools wouldn't even discuss a move because they said it was too late, we ended up going to appeal but it was definitely worth it. Went from not wanting to go to university because it wasn't even an option to going to university. It wasn't an easy road, I had lots of guilt but worth it in the long run.

Please move her. The loneliness and isolation is going to be more damaging to her than any slightly knock-on effect of any changes in curriculum she will face. It's only February - she'll pick it up. Might need a bit of tutoring here and there, that's all. An indie is unlikely to want to take her though, so be aware of that if you have that in mind - they can be very strict about entering after the start of year 10.

You wouldn't stay in a job where your emotional wellbeing had deteriorated like that and you were completely socially isolated from your colleagues, so don't make your child stay in a school where this has happened.

Sorry, don’t understand years - is your child going to take higher exams this may? And you are concerned they will not catch up?
thanks

Hi there, I know this is an old thread but i wondered if you changed your child's school? At present we are going through the same thing with our 12 year old son. I am thinking moving schools might be the best option.

Just move schools it can be such a life changing and positive change for them

@Frances86 we did apply to every possible commutable school, also got counselling for DC via CAHMS and we as a family spent a lot of time talking & supporting them. As half term was approaching they made a friend to hang out with at lunchtime but still stayed in alone at break time. Things improved and their friendship group expanded on the lead up to Easter but I continued to be on first name terms with the admissions team at each school we had applied to (calling and emailing constantly) but literally no places came up at all.

After Easter, DC wanted to stay at their current school (who was also supportive) as the friendless situation had turned around but I didn’t allow their name to be removed from waiting lists until the schools did it themselves at the end of the scholastic year. DC is happily studying for mocks, making plans for A levels and in a really good place emotionally and friend-wise. It makes this time last year seem a million miles away but when I talk about it tears come to my eyes; DC had a really tough time.

As your son is having such a hard time, I would suggest you apply to other schools. Hopefully your waiting lists won’t be as long as ours. Let his school know that he is struggling and see if you can get some help from CAHMS - they were great for us. I wish you and your son the best.