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Changing Primary School

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:04 pm
by MelX
Hello there

Does anyone have experience of changing primary schools. We have decided to move our daughter in September to a more local school to us(we moved house 2 yrs ago). She will be going into year 5 and we feel it will be better long term as none of her fiends are likely to go to school in our area when they leave adn it will give her the chance to make local friends. I am feeling very guilty as she is very sad to be leaving her friends and I know the last day of term will be awful(probably worse then when son left year 6 last year). I know the school we are changing to is a very good school alot smaller(only one class per year) then her current one, I really hope this is not detrimental to her. I am also worried about where she will be placed set wise when she joins. She is currently in top sets but not a very confident little girl and the head teacher of the new school said she may start off on a 'lower' table when she joins so they can assess her. I'm now worried that if this happens her confidence will be knocked. Do all schools decide on sets the same way? On top of all this I realise this is a very important year for her and will no doubt start thinking about 11+ after Xmas so want to ensure I settle her the best way I can.

Sorry I know I am waffling but I would welcome any advice.

MelX

Changing schools

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:20 pm
by Davey Hulme
Mel, we have some experience of this having changed schools for our 3 youngsters in February 06. At that time they went into years 2, 4 and 5.
Like you we were worried about all the negative aspects of the change friends, devil you know etc etc. They were also moving further away, so at least you won't have that one on your list!
As adults we tried and slide our insecurities onto our kids and worry on their behalf. But they adapt very quickly and you wouldn't know now that they had ever gone to a different school.
The eldest took her 11+ last October and was successful, No. 2 is well on the way to being ready for next year's test. the youngest is thriving and she has had to change schools twice in that time (Infant to new infant, infant to juniors).
They still see and communicate with their old friends and have made plenty of new ones too. You wouldn't believe how many birthday parties they get invited to.
I should also mention that the new school, in my opinion, is better than the previous one in many ways.
If I had to sum it up, on New Years Day we all sat round the dining table and I asked them all what had been the highs and lows of the previous 12 months. Between them they didn't mention the change of school and when I asked they all said it was because it felt like they had always been there.
Apologies for my waffle, but I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any specifics, but go for it if you think it's right.

Mel X

Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:10 am
by Road Runner
Hi Davey Hulme

Thank you so much for your reply. It has helped me put things in perspective. I know deep down my daughter will adjust and will be fine but I guess like any parent I am beating myself up about it especially when I see her in with her current school friends who are so lovely.

Actually I have just dropped her on to the new school to spend a day there and she seemed perfectly happy when I left.

Needless to say I am counting dow the time til 3.15 when I can go and get her.

Mel

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:50 am
by Kent Mum
Hi!
I hope your daughter had a good day at the school.
My son changed Primary school in Year 5 (at the end of January that year) and, although moving him was absolutely the right thing to do, I was so worried at what we were doing to him!!!! He was glad to be changing schools but he struggles with change- even positive change- and making friends has never been easy for him.
It really is us who worry the most, isn't it?
He made friends fairly quickly- and his only sad point at his recent Year 6 Leavers' Prom was that he wished he'd been with his class years ago! He was quite down to leave the school, where he's been very happy.
Good luck to your daughter- and you just wait till she's one of the Year 6 girls sobbing all over her new friends that she can't bear to leave!!!!!

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:23 pm
by Guest
hi

both my boys moved going into a new school in years 4 and 6. When my eldest left his new primary after only one year he said he wished he'd gone their earlier and he didn't want to leave. My younest (now just left year 6) was Head Boy of the new school and loved every minute.

For both of my children the move of primary school was really positive - i worried beforehand, but with hindsight, it was one of the best things i've done for them.

hope this helps
S