Start middle school or do years 5 and 6 in a faith primary?

[middleschoolmuddle]

I live in a county that is moving from a 3 tier to a 2 tier school system. My DS will leave his primary at the end of this year (Y4) and can go to a middle school (OPTION 1) where he will probably spend 2 years, maybe more, before transferring to a high school.

Our other option (OPTION 2) is that he could go to a primary school that has already become part of the 2 tier system. This is a RC primary school (we are not RC) and going there would give him a slim chance of getting into the best of 3 Comps for high school.

Does anyone have any feelings on what I should do for the best. I would appreciate some advice as I'm not sure whether there is any point turning down OPTION 1 (free school transport as in catchment) for the fairly inconvenient OPTION 2.

[middleschoolmuddle]

The middle school will eventually close whereas the primary has just expanded and has a nice new building.

Staff morale low vs staff morale high.

I just don't know if these are important in the grand scheme of things.

[roundabout1]

Hi - That sounds a really difficult decision. Do you know what his friends are going to do? We have middle schools here & I'm not that keen, I suppose I'm quite old fashioned & just compare it to when I was at school - a very long time ago! I just think by moving to middle school children seem to grow up a lot quicker, ours are a big change from primary school, I know it must make the move to high school easier but I just think they are able to cope with that change easier as they are older. It depends on the child though. How do you feel about the RC side of things?

[middleschoolmuddle]

Thanks for the reply roundabout. I think the same as you about primary school keeping them young. One of the horrible things about middle school is the swearing on the bus.

The RC side of things doesn't really bother me as DS already has his own ideas about religion (too much hassle as you have to believe in loads of stuff ). Afaik about 1/4 of the kids are non RC.

The logistics will be a bit of a pain as 2 kids will need to be in 2 different schools 10 miles apart at the same time!

[mummytime]

The staff morale would be a factor for me. Especially as I would expect the better staff, who can, to leave.

[middleschoolmuddle]

To complicate things mummytime there are some middle schools that are going to maintain their status (trust schools and free schools) and these will attract a fair amount of pupils that would normally go to our catchment middle school.

[middleschoolmuddle]

Anyone else any feelings on this?

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

The staff morale would worry me too. And I wouldn't be too keen on doing two years then moving in theory but guess in practice it would be fine as the second school move would be at the age they are all moving up anyway.

Having got two children going through the three tier system and swearing a lot at the amount of applying for spaces, I have decided on balance I like Middle schools. I went through a two tier system so it was all new to. My eldest started Upper School this year and the transition has been very easy after the first 3 days as it was for pretty much all of them. I think if she'd been anywhere with 18 year olds when she was 11 she would have freaked. Her school does vertical tutor groups and the older years are very supportive of the younger ones.

Middle school children are a difficult age, hormones running riot. I think in a way though it's quite a good idea to have year 5-8 together, then they emerge at nearly 14 for the final stepping stone to being an Adult. It does make them grow up more though but our lot live in a bit of a bubble so generally are quite young for their age so probably have a skewed view.

Think in your shoes I'd either go for a Middle school that is staying a Middle school or the Faith school. Good luck, I'm waiting on a middle school application for DS. I can't imagine him staying in a primary setting any longer, whereas DD could have done with the extra 2 years in a primary setting. But then think the next transfer would have been harder, swings and roundabouts I guess and depends on the child.

[middleschoolmuddle]

Yes, I think you're right about it depending on the child Wynken it's just that I mustn't know my DS very well as I can see him in both settings.

[middleschoolmuddle]

It's a shame that our examination system favours a 2 tier system as it makes the middle schools look bad when probably there is a lot that's good about them. I hope you get the school that you want for your DS Wynken. Glad that your DD has coped well with the transition to Upper school - they really have to hit the ground running, don't they?

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

Upper school transition was quite gentle in the scheme of things. She had an induction day in the summer followed by the next two days where they did loads of fun stuff . Then they weren't given much homework the first term. Don't think they are all like DD's school though, her friends in our catchment school were drowning in homework after a few days.

Your DS is probably one of those lovely adaptable children who will do well where ever. Which makes the decision easier and harder at the same time ! What's your gut feeling ?

[middleschoolmuddle]

Gut feeling...probably the primary. It's just a pain to get to and means my youngest will have to travel on the bus whilst eldest gets a lift. We'll go and have a look next week. Things are further complicated by the fact that I am a governor at the current school and we are supposed to be 'fully committed' to School Organisation Review (i.e the move to 2 tier). Surely that is not supposed to influence my personal decisions for my own DC though?