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Should You Move Your Child to a Different School?

By: Susan Hunt MA - Updated: 13 Feb 2020 | comments*Discuss
 
School Move Moving Child Friends School

Some children spend only a short time at a school because their parents change jobs on a regular basis and obviously the move is unavoidable. If you do have a choice about moving them, however, then you should consider the decision carefully.

The first thing to bear in mind is that younger children in particular can be extremely fickle about school – and their playmates. One day they have best friends and the next they’ve had a falling out and don’t want to go to school.

Sometimes, a child has been happy at a school but then changes classes and starts feigning sickness to avoid going. Often, this is because they’re missing the familiarity of their last teacher – and they will probably settle given a little time.

In some schools, they “mix up” classes as children progress through the school and sometimes the problem is that their close friends have now gone into a different class. Again, chances are that given a little time they will find new friends to play with so don’t take any decisions about moving to a new school until at least the end of the first term.

Bullying is one of the most common reason for parents deciding to change schools – but quite often, moving your child is not the answer. If your child is timid (or possibly a little different from others) then they could be the target of bullies at their next school too.

Contact School

The best course of action is to get in touch with your current school and explain that your child is being bullied and is unhappy. Most schools have a policy to deal with bullying and would always want to be told about the problem. If the problem is a teacher – for example if your child says she’s afraid of the teacher – then make an appointment to discuss the situation with the school. Lots of teachers shout – but some children find it frightening.

It may be that you want to move your child because they aren't making good progress and you think they'll do better at another school. This might well be the case - but you should speak to the school before making any decision.

It could be that the problem lies with your child, rather than the school in which case you will be putting them through the trauma of a new school for no good reason.

Children can be affected by all sorts of things such as tension at home, bereavement or simply laziness! Sometimes they sit next to a friend and are distracted - in which case the simple remedy is for the teacher to move them to different tables.

If a change of school is unavoidable, then do all you can to make sure your child doesn’t find the move too distressing.

Playmates

When a child is moving to another school in the same area for personal reasons, then try to find another child of the same age who already attends the school. Arrange for them to meet up or go to the park together so there’s at least one familiar face when they go there.

If your child is upset about moving to a school a long way off, then give them the opportunity to tell you about their feelings. Invariably if they have close friends at their current school, they will ask how soon it will be before they see them again.

Trips Back

If you can travel back within a few weeks or so – even if it’s quite a long journey – then reassure your child that they will be seeing their friends again. (Hopefully by then they will have already settled and made new friends – but if you tell them before the move that they can’t come back, they are likely to be very upset.)

Of course, if you are moving abroad then it’s difficult to promise a return visit in the near future – but maybe you could suggest keeping in touch by letter and postcards. If they are old enough to use the telephone or email, then make sure they swap details with their friends so they can keep in touch. You could also consider getting a webcam so they can ‘see’ their friends whenever they like.

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I would like to move my child at start of year 9
Keenos - 13-Feb-20 @ 12:45 PM
My daughter is in Yr.8 and has been experiencing various friendship issues and unfair judgement from teachers over the past few months. It has been brought to me attention that my daughter has been coming home from school every day appearing more and more miserable. At first I was convinced this was a phase and would fade within time. However, this afternoon she came back in tears after an art teacher unfairly gave her a detention individually... although the entire class was mucking around. I cannot help thinking that in this situation my daughter has been made the scapegoat of the classroom and this is clearly crushing her confidence completely. Before moving to secondary school we looked at two schools, the one she is currently in now and another one down the road. The one down the road is far bigger than our current school. One of our problems is that we have a French residential trip in July, which she is looking forward to. If I were to move her now, we would have to cancel the trip. What should I do?
anonymous - 6-Feb-20 @ 4:43 PM
My Autistic son left school on 22nd November to move house (106 miles away) on the 29th November - the house move has been delayed and won’t now be until the 11th December but his school are telling me he needs to be in school as he has exceeded the 5 days allowed already, however we are bobbing up and down from the new place constantly now and cannot have him in his old school until Thursday and Friday so they are saying he should then do a split schooling and attend his new school Monday Tuesday Wednesday and then his old school Thursday and Friday - he is autistic and won’t cope well with this - is there any law that states he has to be in school it can I spare him the upset and anxiety that this is already causing (he is worrying about it) and will cause once he is forced to go back before he has been told he will be. He is 5 years old and absolutely rigid on doing things as they have been said to him and things not changing - I don’t know what to do!!!
NattieAmelia - 1-Dec-19 @ 5:03 PM
I've just finished my primary school and I have to go to a grammar school, which is far away from the primary school which I used to go to. I feel so sad and lonely that I moved away from my friends and I wished that I went to a particular secondary school in the area where I used to live. I will go to year 7 soon and I REALLY want to go to that secondary school which I talked about earlier.
anonymous girl - 6-Aug-19 @ 1:39 AM
My son is starting pre school, he has a friend who lives next door to us who can get quite obsessed and possessive with him. Telling his new friends they're not allowed to his birthday party and they're not his friend, to the point that the poor boy didn't want to go. She also tells my son as and threatens to send him away if he doesn't do what she says, which upsets him alot and has been ongoing. Her mum I can get on with well, but she lies about stupid things and recently I saw her change a her words when I entered the room, blaming my son for spraying himself when it was her daughter, which I have no problem with, these things happen. . Another time her mum seems to think they she had not ever told him to go him when he didn't do what she said, but I have been there with her mum when it's happened lot and lots of times. So this makes me uncomfortable. Lots of other things too. When we when I bring things up tends to take offence as if I'm attacking her parenting or child's personality. So given all this, they were going into the same school, both me n her mum suggested it was best they weren't in the same class, then at their introduction the child was telling my child how to behave which made me really uncomfortable and worried about him having the space from her to make his own decisions and friends. Then she was telling his friends that they can't be his friends so I followed up with the school n made sure they're seperate classes. So now my son has noone from preschool in his class n I'm hoping I made the right decision. I realise the teachers could have managed it or my son could have overcome it or it could have just settled. But ofc I didn't want to stop them playing just create some distance. In hindsight a meeting to discuss all would have been a good idea.
Aac - 24-Jul-19 @ 11:46 AM
Hello Who do I contact regarding a traumaticdilemma created by a primary school? My granddaughter has only just been told by the school that she has not reached attainment levels in Math and English but all other subjects and effort are high! They have decided therefore to keep herdown a year! She is quiet shy but happy at school andhavegood friendships within her class. She has known her friends in class since play-school (3 years old). The ironic thing is she will join her old class for her math and English lessons ! This has caused her much anxiety as the new children are younger ( some with behavioural problems). Theyare much shorter (she is a very tall 9 year old) She stands head and shoulders above them all. She is already saying ‘I’m not good enough’ She is such a happy outgoing little girl and I believethis decision might have detrimental effects! She is so worried and upset by this decision. The school had only just informed her (just before the summer holiday starts) and adamant she is to be kept down! Why can’t they just provide the additional support in her weak areas in her original class? Is it all about league tables? This is a fairly new procedure brought in by a fairly new headmistress to the school and in my opinion the school standard has slipped since her arrival. There is also a teacher at the school who should not be teaching at all! ( but That’s a different matter andit seems nothing can be done about it despite the many complaints from parents ) I feel this being ‘kept down’ is a totally wrong decision but do not seem to have any say in the matter. Advice please? Best Regards Sent from my iPhone
Wwilk - 24-Jul-19 @ 8:24 AM
My daughter was bullied by a girl for 2 years by a girl. Teachers intervened but nothing stopped her. My daughter was moved classes and spent the last year feeling happy and confident. Now the teachers are swapping the classes for the new year and my daughter is going to be back with the girl who bullied her. I'm not happy and my daughter is worried the bullying will start again.
Kk - 3-Jul-19 @ 7:23 PM
My daughter is currently in y9 and I’d like to change her school to a better one. (For y10) she keeps complaining that the new school has too many subjects and she’d only like to focus on 7 subjects IGSCE’s only, and in her old school she’d have a total of 9 subjects next year and in the new school she’d have 10 subjects in which she doesn’t want 3 and wants a subject that isn’t available too. But the new school is one of the best schools and I’m afraid that she’s waste her intelligence at her old school who’s reputation is going down.
A Father - 3-Jul-19 @ 3:35 PM
I would like to move my child from a school to ather
Benzahra - 13-Jun-19 @ 7:31 PM
I put my fist up to a child at my daughter school I'm banned for 2 weeks now the new year round the corner I may be still banned from but thinking of another school for her coz unable to take my daughter to school relying on her dad not far really what should I do take her out of that school put her in another school so I can pick her up from
Deb - 28-Dec-18 @ 9:17 PM
Hi , I’m planning to move my 5th grader and his brother 3rd grader to a private school. The change will be in December . The reason why is that we consider private middle school would be better for our 5th grader. The problem is that to reserve this spot he needs to change right away and living all his friends right at the last year . They all have been together since KG. He is very sad , but understand the reason behind it . He knows that for middle school things will change . But he is so use to his friends and never wanted to change them. I could try to keep him until the end of the year but he won’t have the benefits of entering and catching up with the different currriculum and will start with all new kids middle school . We think if he starts early he can still make friends , because he knows someone in 4th grade and they all play together . 3rd 4th and 5th. That will also give him a chance to have his brother around . But I feel very sad that he is very sad to live his friends Please advice . Carolina
Caro - 20-Nov-18 @ 5:07 PM
My son is 7 and is an only child. He has had problems with behaviour in the past and now again in that he hit a child that has been (in his eyes) mocking him and being mean towards him. He tgen today pushed a boy which my nan dealt with but they also dealt with in school. My nan said it wasnt even a push. I dont think my child is settled there and i think the teachers have labelled him and are now disciplining him for anything at all and are being very harsh. Should i move him schools?
Maz - 8-Oct-18 @ 4:54 PM
Hi I need to your help.we stayed in Belfast for one year .we registered our son to Breda academy but it is not well .My son is sad and depress but we can change his school Please help us to change his school
Mite - 10-Sep-18 @ 8:20 AM
@Roster212 - only a 'specific issue order' through the courts would solve this argument. The only problem is that by the time the matter is heard in the courts, your kid would be at school :(
JaseN - 2-Aug-18 @ 12:52 PM
My child attends a school which is graded a below average school throughout the state by mulitple sources such as Niche and Greatschools.org. I have 50% and joint rights but mom has school zone. The school in my district has above average ratings. Since my child has a 504, her mom thinks it is best to keep her in that school since she started improving since her 504 has been enacted. I believe the improvement would be vastly larger if she were to attend a school that was graded above average. Her mom wont budge because the school is minutes from her home and that means if she moves schools, she has to travel to take her to school. She wont speak with me and we have mediation in more than 2 week. School starts in about 10 days and Mom is riding the clock in silence until school starts so she can say she already started the year so lets keep her there.... Hopefull a hearing shortly after. What can i do to show that it would benefit my child to go to a school that is an 8/10 rating so she can stop going to a school that is a 4/10 rating?
Roster212 - 1-Aug-18 @ 12:40 AM
@Kimmy - the unfortunate thing is that your son would still have to repeat the year if he moves school. You would need to speak to the head of the current school directly or your LEA.
Andrea - 30-Jul-18 @ 2:22 PM
Hi.I have a 7 year old son who is currently in grade 1,He has been bullied and he is not well most of the time health wise.The teacher is also giving him a hard time and he is failing dissimarly.I have spoken to the teacher and she told me that my son will be repeating next year in 2019. I belive my son fears her and i want to change him to another school but he is already in3rd term.Please help me i need to know what to do,is it even possible to move him to another school at this age.
Kimmy - 28-Jul-18 @ 3:22 AM
@Magnolia- do what you feel is right. But if you know the school is going to close, you know that everyone including teachers will be winding down or looking for new jobs, so the teaching isn't going to improve.
Mish - 10-Jul-18 @ 3:03 PM
My son's school is due to close in a year's time. I'm not sure which of his current teachers will stay to the end, and which will move on. Given he may be facing a year of supply teachers and general winding down, should I move him now or wait till his friends move too.
Magnolia - 8-Jul-18 @ 7:43 PM
My daughter might be moving schools and she is currently in Year 9 and next she will be in Year 10. Would it be too late to change schools? Would she fall behind?
Nicole - 21-Jun-18 @ 6:27 PM
@Juinisma - maybe keep taking your son there and do fun stuff to get him accustomed to the area. Sometimes you just have to make the move. If he makes friends easily he'll settle in fine. You just need to get over this hurdle first. He's a teenager - he's bound to treat it as a drama :(
DDD77 - 21-Jun-18 @ 12:30 PM
I’m really concerned about my 13 year old son.We are having to relocate about 100 miles away from where we live now, for business reasons.I have managed to get a place in a really good secondary school for my son.However, he is settled in the school he is in Now and gets upset whenever I approach the subject of moving.He has always found it easy to make friends and never seems to fall out with his peers.I have told him that he can still keep in touch / see his friends thanks to social media and gaming.We will also be making return trips.However this doesn’t seem to make things any easier and he says he feels really sad.I feel just awful, however we need to move in order to grow our business.I can’t expect him to understand this but I just feel helpless that I can’t make it better for him.It’s a big cloud over our heads and so any advice / help would be greatly appreciated.
Juinisma - 19-Jun-18 @ 9:32 PM
Tab - Your Question:
I need some advice here it goes I have a 15-year-old son who attended a school since kindergarten and now it’s a 10th grader we moved last year to a much better place better school that hospitals much more safe but my son is having such a hard time here he wants to go back to his old school he wants to graduate with the kids grew up with. He hasn’t made many friends here which makes me sad he’s always on his video games playing with his old friends having a great time my question is my son wants to go back to Florida next year and go to his old school and there is a way he can he could live with my mother which of course breaks my heart. I know that he would be so much happier at his old school to see familiar faces etc. please give me your opinion I need it

Our Response:
We are a UK-based site and cannot advise on US matters.
GetTheRightSchool - 1-May-18 @ 3:28 PM
I need someadvice here it goes I have a 15-year-old son who attended a school since kindergarten and now it’s a 10th grader we moved last year to a much better place better school that hospitals much more safe but my son is having such a hard time here he wants to go back to his old school he wants to graduate with the kids grew up with .He hasn’t made many friends here which makes me sad he’s always on his video games playing with his old friends having a great time my question is my son wants to goback to Florida next year and go to his old school and there is a way he can he could live with my mother which of course breaks my heart. I know that he would be so much happier at his old school to see familiar faces etc. please give me your opinion I need it
Tab - 1-May-18 @ 1:35 PM
Hey, need some advice. I’m currently in Y8 and 2 if my close mates are leaving to go to a new school far away and I wont see them again (not the problem) and my mum is practically begging me to change school. The school i attend is really really bad and I know this but In Y9 you start doing choices and If I have a horrible teacher for one of those subjects or people I’m not going to like are doing same choices as me I’ll avoid them, there’s a school that all my cousins attend and they all got good grades there, plus it’s way closer to where I live. I don’t know If I can move because I’m to scared of what’s going to be waiting for me at this other school, I know a few people like people who went to my Primary and like 3 others but apart from that I’m loss. The school is much bigger then my current school and I have issues with some of the Year 7’s there anyways. Thoughts on what I should do? Someone tell me what to do I beg because I can’t pick and if someone does it for me it makes me feel so much better
SandyShorrs - 30-Mar-18 @ 1:13 AM
I had concerns about a incident in class, followed policies, explained it effected my child, asked to move class, asked for SENCO support as my child has anxiety due to the incident. Was denied, didn’t even reply to my complaint. 3 months on I have involved outside organisations at Stage 4 complaints and work go the local authority, pulled my child out of school until she move class, support is out in place and a written response about what happened in class that day. Closed ranks made me feel uncomfortable, staff told not to help. I am disgusted Schools are getting away with this behaviour and aren’t following policies.
Ftz - 31-Jan-18 @ 10:57 PM
I asked my mum if I could move school and she said yes but I don’t know which one to go to?? I live in England!
K - 31-Jan-18 @ 5:22 PM
My child was been bullied not by children but by teachers she was going through a bad time after losing her grandad she is only 8years old. I had to remove her from the school an now she not in 1 need help how I get her in a school just not that 1
Keeley - 2-Jan-18 @ 2:47 PM
@annoynymous teen - I really feel for you. But I think you do need to address the issues you have at your own school instead of possibily moving them on to another school. The fact you can make friends is great and you shouldn't take it personally that you have fallen out with your friends, as this is part of school life and happens all the time. However, you may wish to try to ask yourself why on both occasions this has happened and whether you can see a reason why. Tackling the reason why should be your first motivation, and then trying to make other new friends in your current school again should be your new objective. You obviously have lots of friends in and out of school, but finding out what the 'same problem' is and trying to put right the 'problem' will help first.
MissT - 3-Nov-17 @ 11:45 AM
Hi! I'm from england and I'm currently in year 8 in high school. I have struggled making friends as the group of friends i was with for a year decided not to be friends with me and after that i felt really upset and hurt. However after this situation, i made another group of friends yet again the same problem occurred. I want to move to a different high school and have spoken to my parent about it however I don't want to regret any decisions as it is a big decision. I'm worried that the same problems might happen in the new school and make it harder altogether however it could also me a solution to my problems.I know some people in this new high school and am friends with quite a lot of the students. I know it is a very hard school to get in and it isn't in our area and I'm just really confused as i absolutelu hate going to my current high school. Any advice?
annoynymous teen - 2-Nov-17 @ 6:56 PM
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