Change school just before uni application?

[Teenson]

our son 16 is at a ‘good’ state school, done his exams and will apply to uni in September. Teachers think he’s naturally talented at sciences.
all good so far.
trouble is, he has no friends there, it’s a 30-40 minute bus ride, and he’s had a tough time.
so, he’d like to go to a different state school, his friends go there, it’s a 15 minute bus ride.
I think , he’s had a rough time, he’s probably not going to need to resit anything, let him have a year of fun. But we are both concerned he won’t get such good teaching. They even said he could do one subject at his old school.

DH is concerned that the uni application will come from the new school, where the teachers don’t know him, which doesn’t have many people applying to university and I’ve seen it in a list for ‘wider access scheme’.
the uni he’d like to go to is one of the best in the country for his subjects, so competitive.

his current teachers are all very pleased with his work.
help! I don’t want to disappoint son he’s told his mates he’s joining them, he does look happier.
DH says he can see them at the weekends, and he’ll buy son a car to drive to the old school.

Wwyd help!

So is he in Y12 currrently? If so, he's really got less than a year of school left? I wouldn't move for that. And what if the curriculum isn't the same in the new school? Or they haven't taught things in the same order? How will they inform his grade predictions for his UCAS form?

Agh I don’t know the year he is in, we are in Scotland. He’s done the exams needed to apply to uni. And will get the results in august. Then he will have a year where he sits his advanced highers, but he doesn’t need them to get into uni. All very confusing.

Is he currently in year 12? It’s very unlikely that the ‘new’ school will offer the same courses he currently studies - and have taught them in exactly the same order as his current school - so moving schools is unlikely to be logistically possible, let alone desirable.

If he's done his Highers and thinks he's done well enough for his chosen course what is your dh's objection to moving and doing a couple of AHs?

Presumably they'll be able to gauge his likely AH grade given his existing quals and performance in term 1? Applications don't have to be submitted till January don't forget.

It might be worth reposting this in the Scotsnet section as it’s so different in England that you’re going to get massively confused replies. S6 in Scotland is one of the best bits about our education system ime, with the social side of it being super important! However some courses do need Advanced highers and some (esp sciences) will be much easier in first year if he’s done the relevant AHs, so I’d be a bit cautious about moving him if they are unlikely to be possible at all.

I think you’d be better off editing to make clear you’re in Scotland as in England, Wales or NI moving half way through A levels would be a disaster and most of your responses are going to assume that’s what you’re talking about.

Thanks everyone, I’ll post on scotsnet. Have to say I find the Scottish set up very confusing, but I think that’s just me .

If he's done well in his highers why doesn't he just leave school and work/have gap year while he applies to Uni? He can still use his old teachers for his application.
Very few courses need advanced highers

I m in Scotland and if you are all confident that he will get the results he needs for uni in August, then what he does in sixth year won't matter too much. 6th year can be just a social year for some! It's a bit unorthodox to move for a year, but I can't see the harm.

Also I would say that the standards of state school comprehensive teaching across Scotland is reasonably consistent. They are ranked as better performing based on exam results and when you look at where the "better performing" schools are, it tends to be because they are pulling more from catchment areas where there are more families better placed or more likely to aspire to uni. It's not always a reflection on the quality of teaching.

A school that is part of widening access schemes will be looked on more favourably in uni applications because it counts as a contextual factor for considering lower entry requirements in some cases. It might look like you have moved to get this benefit!

You could also ask the teachers from his current school to provide a reference for uni on the ucas application.

I would let him change school for his sixth year. If he achieves his highers this year, then he can enjoy his sixth year with friends and do a couple of advanced highers too. His teachers at the new school will be involved in writing reports on him which are asked for by his head of house who complies them. Advanced highers are usually small group teaching and teachers get the opportunity to know their students well. They may even contact his Head of house at his current school for relevant information.

Thank you. Reading the uni website is terrifying! Seems very competitive. DH works in the same field and says he should stay at old school in case he doesn’t get the results. Then he’s better placed to get advanced highers, that it’s only a year and he can see mates at weekends. and he will buy him a car so he can drive to old school.
im just getting anxious ! Hate this. Chatting to new school tonight.

dh mentioned staying at old school to son today. Son said he was too tired to think about it. just think it’s unfair he’s supposed to start on Monday. Dh says I should have talked to son months ago. He is too stressed at work. And everything else. I want to say, don’t make this a thing then. I’m suddenly beyond depressed I don’t know why.

Thanks lady Macbeth that’s what I think too. Just more crap I could do without.