Please tell me your story/ experience if you have moved your child's secondary school

[childminder90210]

Started the process of moving my child's secondary school would just like to hear other experiences/advice, it won't change my mind but would be good TIA

[MrsPHollywood]

Don't really understand OP. Brick by brick?

[seventiesgirl]

We moved house when I was 13, i went to a new school. Worse thing my parents ever did for me, fitting in was awful, knocked my confidence enormously.

Do they want to move school?

[childminder90210]

Yes she wants to move school due to along list of reasons and obviously not brick by brick sarcasm isn't really helpful in this situation

[Sparklingbrook]

Hi childminder. DS moved schools last June at the end of Year 8. What did you want to know?

[childminder90210]

Just really how your dc coped and how you, as parents dealt with it all, I know my chi,d cannot stay at her current school and will be doing everything I can to move her

[Sparklingbrook]

Well it got to the point where DS was so stressed I knew I had to do something. I found out that a few children he played in a football team with went to a school 12 miles away.

I made an appt with the Head and he showed me round looked at DSs report and said there was a place. I really liked the school. DS had a taster day and felt the same, three weeks later he was going there.

It was the best thing we could have done for him. And surprisingly stress free to do.

[LiveItUp]

Moved our DS last year too - also at end of year 8. Best thing we did. Took a while to settle and I wouldn't have wanted to do it much older, but he is very much happier with everything.

[apatchylass]

I know two parents who moved their children in Yr7/8 due to bullying and it worked out brilliantly for them. One I know thought about it but didn't move her DC and the DC's problems were never reallys orted, giving her all sorts of problems in the longer term. If it's not working, you know it and she knows it, then it sound slike a good idea.

[Elibean]

I know someone who moved their child in Y7 due to low level disruption - from a school that claims great discipline, reform, etc to her local comp that is coming out of the doldrums. She's absolutely thrilled, and her ds is thriving

[lljkk]

Moved DS from underachieving disorganised private school to less-disorganised state where he had friends (from Scouts), between y7 & y8.

Check transfer rules in your LEA, they have own deadlines, procedures & policies.

HTPA (or someone) was disorganised in the transfer, at least we could see that was going to happen like that so I prepped DS as well as possible on first day what to do to just bumble along for first few hours & not feel totally bewildered (DS got a personal apology from HT & I got one from the HT's PA). Top Tips: Crash the yr7 induction meeting to get new school info, and ring the Student Centre about anything you can think of to ask "stupid" questions.

Big change for DS was learning to use his brain again and to be more organised (still a work in progress).

[larry5]

We moved dd at the end of yr9. She had been bullied at her previous school and as DH was taking early retirement we took the opportunity to move out of the south east to a new area. We were fortunate in being able to move any where we wanted and chose the area because of the school.

As dd was going into yr 10 there was no problem with getting her into the school as they could cope with larger numbers and she made more friends in the first few weeks than in all the time at her previous school. What I think helped was that she was desperate to leave her old school and she was able to see her new school some time in advance.

[childminder90210]

Thank you this is all very helpful in convincing me its the right choice, have applied to LEA with requested schools so just have to sit and wait now, process takes 3-4 weeks I was told on the phone

[Sparklingbrook]

I went directly to the new school and didn't involve the LEA/Council at all. Old school Headteacher then had to sign a form and return it to the Council.

[piggywigwig]

Yep, moved DD1 from an atrocious school at the tail end of the summer term of YR 9 and never looked back. We had no choice - she was desperately unhappy and the Head stated categorically that she couldn't guarantee DD1's safety on school premises She settled in to her new school within weeks and the change-over was seamless. Maybe we were lucky that the new school had strong leadership, no discipline issues and high standards/expectations all round. It was, quite frankly, brilliant
And more importantly, we got our daughter back

[piggywigwig]

Like Sparklingbrook we also went straight to the new school to ask if they had a place - they then sorted everything out on our behalf

[Sparklingbrook]

Just realised that both schools were under the same council though, so that made it easier.

[Lancelottie]

Yes, we moved ours in Yr 8 -- and like piggywig said, we got our child back.

Good luck!

[childminder90210]

Seems only way I can apply to move is by going through official mid term admission process, only moving to another school in same town, hopefully.
Piggy that's awful what the HT said at the old school, glad everything worked out ok for you

[piggywigwig]

childminder90210
I should have said it was the tail-end of YR 8, not YR 9 Thanks for your kind words. Do you have to go through the official process? We were still in the academic year but got away with it. The LEA were totally uninterested, btw - maybe because it was in the same town?
I wish you all the luck in the world and a very smooth transition all round.

[Tasmania]

childminder

I moved schools at 15. Begged my parents to do so.

If you think it's for the better (only you know the reasons), then why not?

[childminder90210]

Afaik I have to follow procedure but have decided there is no way she is staying at current school so will be doing all I can to get her moved, may contact the other schools, but with the year 6 allocations just gone out I expect most admissions depts will be pretty busy next week!!!!

[lljkk]

I would contact direct, you want her moved for start of April-July term, I imagine, don't delay if you can help it.

[zumo]

Moved both kids one 11 one 14 best thing we ever did, school was excellent and made them welcome, they did two full days and had people taking them around before they comitted to move, lots going on in and out of school, results have improved dramatically in just under two years.
Son actually enjoys going now even he thought that was impossible!
If you get the right school its well worth it but you could get it wrong so take your time and look for strong leadership and tight rules.
I really hope it works out for you all