Does anyone have any experience of moving DC at the end of year 7?

[IwishIwasRiverSong]

We have to decide whether to move back from overseas this summer for DD1 to start year 7, or we stay here for year 7, then move in the summer of 2014 for her to start year 8.

I don't really want to get into a discussion about school places (plenty of threads about that!), just the possible effect on DC completing year 7 in one school and then transferring to another school for year 8. Both positive and negative experiences appreciated.

Thanks

[IwishIwasRiverSong]

Anyone?

Even if you have moved within other year groups it would be a help to know your experience.

[Sparklingbrook]

Hi Iwish. We transferred DS1 from one High School to another two months before the end of Year 8.

Round here they don't go to High School til Year 8. But if your DD transferred for the start of year 7 when they start High school in most places, she will be with others who are new at least.

[IwishIwasRiverSong]

Thanks Sparkling. The social side shouldn't be a problem at either stage as we are returning to the same area we left and DD has kept in touch with many of her friends by email and facetime, and they will be going to the same school. However, I was wondering whether anyone felt their DC were disadvantaged academically by making that kind of move one year into high school. Did your DS have any issues?

[Sparklingbrook]

No, he was fine thankfully. But it was different because he was unhappy at his previous school so he was very keen to move. He was doing well academically at the old school and if anything is doing better at the new one.

What does your DD want to do ideally?

[newgirl]

I did it as a kid - bit of a shock at time - schoolwork was harder, some friendship groups v well established. Ok long term as better area to live in. Took at least a year to settle.

[pettyprudence]

I moved schools at end of year 7 from a welsh language school to a bilingual school. It was fine BUT it was my choice and I knew 2-3 people in the school I was moving too.
Plenty of people move school throughout all year groups. I would think so long as it was before they did their GCSE's there wouldn't be an academic issue.

I started my new school at the end of the term when everyone was winding down so the school was in a more relaxed mode - sponsored walks etc... going on which I think might have helped me settle quicker. Less time to think about it over the summer holidays too - just straight in.

[Bonsoir]

Honestly, if you have to move at secondary then the sooner the better, IMO.

[Sparklingbrook]

I agree petty. DS1 spent two months at the end of the summer term getting to grips with it, then straight in in September wasn't such a shock.

[ReallyTired]

My parents changed my school at the end of year 7. I was very lonely at the new school and badly bullied.

I have changed my mind about the secondary school I want ds to attend. I imagine that he will be on the waiting list for the new high school and may change mid year.

[IwishIwasRiverSong]

Well, DD(1) wants to move back this summer, but I have DD2 who is in year 5 and attending a fab school. It would be great for her to finish primary here (She wants to stay!). Also, we would be leaving DH here as he is now working on a great project and enjoying the work for the first time since we have been overseas. Oh decisions, decisions!!

Thanks for the reassurance about your DS.

[Sparklingbrook]

That does sound like a really tough decision, and leaving DH there too.

[lljkk]

I did, DS started y8 at a new school.
Has gone very well*, but he had loads of friends there already from Scouts. I don't know how it would have gone if he had gone in cold knowing no one.

*The school was hopelessly disorganised about his induction; I queried it on MN at the time and was told that I was wrong, that the school knew what they were doing, school must do this all the time, would be no trouble, I should not worry: bollux. DS received an in-person apology from the HT they ballsed up so badly. But at least we could see it was going to happen, and had back up plans prepared for what DS would do & how on the first day.

[IwishIwasRiverSong]

Thanks for all your responses. You have really given me food for thought.

I absolutely wouldn't even consider moving DD1 in year 8 if she didn't already have friends there. And I agree it would be sensible to let her start at the end of year 7 so she could get her bearings before the long break (doable as the summer term here finishes 2 or 3 weeks before UK ones).

[Sparklingbrook]

Good luck Iwish x

[Roisin]

It's much better to move now than later. Some schools do options now in yr8, so she'll be in place for making those important decisions.

[IwishIwasRiverSong]

Thanks Roisin for the heads up, although I am pretty sure this particular school doesn't do options early.

[hermitcrab]

In a very similar position here. Y6 and Y2 DDs. I (and girls) keen to move home from Middle East. DH keen to stay, but only for another year to two. My feeling is that it is best to get elder DD settled at the same point every one else is settling in. Have kept in touch with friends luckily. Also feeling pressured as both our local secondaries pick options by Christmas of Y8, bonkers. Would like DD to be picking with a bit more awareness of the school. Have applied and have a place at our local secondary, but need to make a firm plan after Easter.

[IwishIwasRiverSong]

Thanks Hermit, glad we're not the only ones. Do you have support at home? We have ILs about 20 mins away but they dont drive, and my DPs and DSis are 200 miles away, so wouldn't have much family support being on my own with the girls. Having said that, my girls are pretty easy now they are older.

[Ihatemytoes]

We did this. After 3 years abroad, we moved back to the Uk when DS was due to go into Year 8. He settled in really quickly, no issues whatsover. We were lucky in that we moved back to our old house in the UK, so he went to the secondary that we'd always had in mind for him, and also a lot of his friends from primary were already there.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

My dd was home educated all her life, started school at 13, y9, knew nobody. It was fine, children do come and go and by the October half term she was no longer the newest in the year. If you think you'd be ok for a place, I'd probably wait if that suits everyone else better.

[hermitcrab]

Iwish, we do have support if we go back, in-laws and my Mum within 20 mins, brother 30 mins away. In-laws aging, and would quite like to be able to offer them some back-up....not that they would say we need to worry about them.
Such a hard call to make. Good luck with your decision.

[joochiat]

Me too. We are moving back to a new area of UK after many years in Singapore. DS is going into Y7 and we have other younger kids. I am glad that he will at least have a chance to start with everyone being new at the same time. However if at the last moment we are given another year here in Singapore I will take it and move DS in Y8. He says he wants to stay in anyway. You just have to work with what life puts your way, I guess.