Sometimes unforeseen circumstances come into play that can make it impossible for our children to remain at the same school all the way through their education.
Any number of reasons can attribute to this eventuality taking place. It may be that you as the child’s parent have been offered a job and moving to another area is necessary to facilitate that job. Or perhaps there are family issues to take into consideration – after all – it is not unheard of for the family unit to break down and one parent will move to another area taking the child or children with them.
Or perhaps it is simply a case that you feel your child is not receiving the standard of education you require for them at the school they are currently at? This can happen.We also must touch on the other reason – which a lot of parents might like to ignore – and that is perhaps your child is the unfortunate victim of bullying. Although many schools do not suffer from this most unpleasant of behaviour in the schooling system it does happen and must be taken seriously.
Whatever the reason for making the decision to remove your child from school mid term and place them at another school it is a decision that cannot be – or should not be – taken lightly.
Reasons For Moving Your Child
If your child is having difficulties you should first make contact with your child’s current head or senior teachers and discuss these difficulties with them. It may be that they are struggling to keep up with the work set or the curriculum as a whole and therefore moving them to another school may not make all that much difference and simply cause further problems with the upheaval.
Your child’s head teacher and/or senior teachers will be only too happy to meet with you and talk through any issues you have concerning their level of schooling. In instances like this it can bring to the fore a requirement for some special needs education. You can find out more on this topic in our article relating to Special Needs Education
It can sometimes be overlooked that your child may require Special Needs education and in some cases it may be the case that they are having difficulty interacting with other pupils and teachers or are suffering from a behavioural disorder. Although no parent likes to think of this as a scenario it is worth checking with their school before doing anything rash.
Moving Your Child In Year 10 and 11
Moving your child in Year 10 or 11 can be particularly problematic as it is sometimes unlikely that their GCSE course can be matched at a different school so if moving your child you must check with both the school they are at and the school you wish them to transfer to that they can offer that subject and to the same level or higher.
Of course if you are simply moving home and staying within the same catchment area your child is perfectly entitled to remain at the school they currently attend, providing suitable transport arrangements are made.
If they are currently the recipient of free travel to and from school this may be affected if the move takes them outside a particular area where free transport is either limited or indeed not available at all. This facilitates problems in getting your child to and from school and can also have a financial implication if travel has to be paid for on a daily basis.
Before Moving Your Child
If after everything has been taken into consideration and a move during mid-term is necessary the first thing you should do is contact the school or schools you have selected as suitable alternatives. This is, first and foremost, to ensure that they have a place available for your child. If they do have a place available the head teacher in conjunction with the head of year group should be able to help with the transition and make the process as stress free as possible.
Again it is worth going through the process of selecting more than one school just in case your first choice does not have a place free. Don’t forget if a school has limited places and you try to enrol your child mid-term you may be unsuccessful.
Your local education authority – or the LEA of the district you are moving to – can provide you with information of schools that do have places available.
In conclusion although it can be a difficult time it doesn’t have to be too difficult if you plan ahead.
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My daughter is in year 11 got twelve weeks left she's been bullied for three years now and she's horrible stuff is being said to her and they put food in her hair today
Donna - 15-Mar-21 @ 10:05 PM
im currently in year 10 and ive been bullied since a young age i dont know what to do im scared to tell an adult at school and its all because i wear glasses and the way me teeth am the reason im bullied is because i am apparently im a freak i dont know to do i feel like a failure all the time i have anxiety and my ex boyfriend is making my life much word what do i do?
georgia - 21-Jan-20 @ 9:06 AM
I'm currently in Year 10, and I desperately want to move schools in Y11. I'm getting bullied at my school, and my friends aren't exactly the best. There's so much drama and I can't focus in my school because it's stressing me out so badly. I don't know if I'd get accepted in another school for Year 11, would it maybe be possible to start Y10 again in a different school when I'm meant to start Y11??
cameron - 18-Jan-20 @ 7:41 AM
hi I am in year 11 right now and I am trying to move schools because at my main stream school I got bullied, cyber bullied, I got depressed and had not many friends, people talked mean about me behind my back, I didn’t really have good friends and I felt really lonely and right now I’m on my way to get an EHCP because I have mental health problems and my school didn’t meet my needs and I would always come home crying because I felt really lonely at school and I didn’t wanted to be there anymore so now my parents are trying to move me schools and we hearer from the new school that I want to go to that there’s no space In year 11 but if you have an EHCP apparently the Educational Health Care Plan people will make the school take me in because I have needs that needs to be meet and I am not in school at the moment because my school is only making me come in twice a week for 3hours and that’s not a lot to help my education so now I am at home getting tutored to catch up my education and waiting to get a space in the new school I go to because I really want to change and get better and make new friends because at my school I’m not really good at making friends so I pray to god that I move and hopefully get my life back and have a fresh start at a new school. :)
Jodeci28 - 16-Oct-19 @ 9:13 AM
hi I am in year 11 right now and I am trying to move schools because at my main stream school I got bullied, cyber bullied, I got depressed and had not many friends, people talked mean about me behind my back, I didn’t really have good friends and I felt really lonely and right now I’m on my way to get an EHCP because I have mental health problems and my school didn’t meet my needs and I would always come home crying because I felt really lonely at school and I didn’t wanted to be there anymore so now my parents are trying to move me schools and we hearer from the new school that I want to go to that there’s no space In year 11 but if you have an EHCP apparently the Educational Health Care Plan people will make the school take me in because I have needs that needs to be meet and I am not in school at the moment because my school is only making me come in twice a week for 3hours and that’s not a lot to help my education so now I am at home getting tutored to catch up my education and waiting to get a space in the new school I go to because I really want to change and get better and make new friends because at my school I’m not really good at making friends so I pray to god that I move and hopefully get my life back and have a fresh start at a new school. :)
Jodeci28 - 16-Oct-19 @ 9:09 AM
Hey, I'm currently in grade 11 and family is planning on moving to another Town mid term and I'm wondering if I'll be okay with all my exams and courses. Like Will my new school provide the same courses I take in my current school??
Thank you
PrincessIvy - 14-Jul-19 @ 5:42 AM
Hi, I want to move my child into a different school for YR 11 I have found a match of subject in a couple of schools. They say the problem us examination boards. Is there a way round this problem?? What is the difference? And can't they carry on and have private tuition to learn 'catch up areas'? Help please!!!
LR - 2-Jul-19 @ 8:09 PM
I am being bullied in year 10 and want to move schools is it possible
kik8 - 16-May-19 @ 4:42 PM
My daughter is in y7 in publiv school. We are thinking about moving her to a grammar school. Can you take a test in the middle of the year.
Sm - 28-Mar-19 @ 9:31 PM
I am a Victim of bullying in my current school. I have tried talking to many teachers about my problems but they just don’t seem to understand my problems. The whole school is against me and I have nothing to do. Talking to a teacher wouldn’t help as a teacher cannot change the mindset of all 300-400 pupils within my year group. I’m known as ‘weird’ or a name that is promoting a disease in a bad way. I am lonely and have trouble making friends in the school. This school doesn’t make me happy and it makes me go home in tears.
N/A - 23-Feb-19 @ 11:42 PM
My daughter had a few problems and massive change happened in reception age with school struggling, she did fine and advanced in playgroup. Yr 1 was fine at school. Yr2 my daughter is struggling again, the teachers are setting her back, she wants to move forward in reading. Her maths was fine in yr1, but setting back again. She has had bullying. I really want my daughter to do better in life. How can I keep her going really need to change schools! She is getting distracted in class.
JD - 22-Nov-18 @ 12:09 PM
My son is in yr5 now and we are looking to relocate next yr end of September around the time to choose for secondary school. I am not sure whether to choose secondary school arond my current location or my relocation home. Advise please
Rabi - 22-Sep-18 @ 5:53 PM
My child was born in December 2011 , this year , he was not accepted at the schools that i apply for and they said he's still young and I'm so warried now
thesh - 27-Jun-18 @ 1:15 PM
Janette - Your Question:
Hi my granddaughter is being bullied at school she is I year 8 we have phoned the school about this not doing anything about this would we be able to change schools this as been going on for 1 year she now doesnt go to school on a bus we pay for a taxi so she can get to the door
Our Response:
You can see more via the gov.uk link here . All schools should have an anti-bullying policy. If you wish to change your child's school as a result, your granddaughter's parents would have to liaise with the school in trying to tackle this issue and/or speak to the LEA about the possibility of your granddaughter changing school.
GetTheRightSchool - 16-Mar-18 @ 12:43 PM
Hi my granddaughter is being bullied at school she is iyear 8 we have phoned the school about this not doing anything about this would we be able to change schools this as been going on for 1 year she now doesnt go to school on a bus we pay for a taxi so she can get to the door
Janette - 15-Mar-18 @ 11:42 AM
Hai i am 15years old i had moved from india to uk at my midterm of 10th standard.
So i didnt complete my 10th standard.
According to my age i need to join for 11th gcse.But i am not getting admissions here as they are telling the term had alreadt started.i cannot waste my education time.
And i also appealed for a admission in a school they told there is no placement.
I have no idea what to do.
Can anyone help me?m
Ammu - 11-Dec-17 @ 11:09 AM
Hi, my son is going to reception at the moment. He is autistic. So he receive one to one support at his school. Now we are thinking of moving because my husband works in different city. We are thinking of moving in together. Is it possible to move my so to different school in a different city in midterm? If yes what the procedure will be?
Mira - 11-Oct-17 @ 2:54 PM
I'm hoping to move from Wales to England during the summer holidays this year due to difficult personal circumstances. My daughter is currently in year 8. My problem is that her school is introducing a change to the GCSE'S which will mean the children will be choosing their options in year 8 to start in year 9 rather than year 10! I don't know how this will affect her joining a new school when she'll already have chosen her options. Also when do pupils in England choose their options? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Dippy - 17-Mar-17 @ 11:15 AM
My son has been offered a place at a grammar school . But we have just found out that we might have to relocate for employment reasons.
Will I be able to apply for a transfer to a different grammar school which will be near us.
Bins - 2-Mar-17 @ 6:49 AM
Typicalstudent - Your Question:
I have been student from an all boys school for 3 years now, over time I have lost many friends and since the last 7 months I have been bullied by my former friends/classmate. I have spent one term in year 10 and have already started my gcses, I want to move school since the bullying is beginning to detriment my learning and affecting my self confidence and also that any action the school takes only worsens it. Is it in my best interest to move or stay and try to fix the (very large) bullying problem?
Our Response:
I am sorry to hear you are going through this. However, once you begin your GCSEs then moving schools becomes more difficult as schools do not like to move children mid-GCSEs as it causes academic disruption. Within secondary education, schools may not complete topics/teaching subjects in the same order, therefore what ever new school you moved to you would a) have to adjust and b) catch up. This means your school head will be reluctant to allow you make these changes. Your only option is to ask your parents/guardians to speak further to your head about it affecting your studying. Your school will have an anti-bullying policy in place and will continue to take the matter seriously and deal with the issues affecting you. I can only suggest you keep pushing ahead trying to resolve the issues by attempting to communicate with those people around you who care, as there still may be other ways to stop the bullying happening.
GetTheRightSchool - 19-Jan-17 @ 11:51 AM
I have been student from an all boys school for 3 years now, over time I have lost many friends and since the last 7 months I have been bullied by my former friends/classmate. I have spent one term in year 10 and have already started my gcses, I want to move school since the bullying is beginning to detriment my learning and affecting my self confidence and also that any action the school takes only worsens it. Is it in my best interest to move or stay and try to fix the (very large) bullying problem?
Typicalstudent - 18-Jan-17 @ 3:41 PM
Me and my daughter are moving in to a new area and she should be in reception how do I go about making an application for a place at a school I'm new to all of this and don't have a clue where to start ??
Levridgee - 14-Oct-16 @ 2:01 PM
Nic - Your Question:
My daughter is in year 10 and has been being bullied for the last 18 months. We been into school she's been seen by the school councillors but she's no better with going to school. She's now suffering for migraines, anixty and being referred to CAMHS. Do I change her schools or does she just need to ride it out? Her grades are starting to suffer too now.
Our Response:
It depends on your daughter and her personality. Moving schools is not always the answer when helping to deal with bullying. It may just transfer the problem if she is prone to being bullied or if she has a sensitive nature, as some children deal with bullying easier than others. Please see Family Lives link here for more help and information regarding your question.
GetTheRightSchool - 2-Dec-15 @ 2:49 PM
My daughter is in year 10 and has been being bullied for the last 18 months. We been into school she's been seen by the school councillors but she's no better with going to school. She's now suffering for migraines, anixty and being referred to CAMHS. Do I change her schools or does she just need to ride it out? Her grades are starting to suffer too now.
Nic - 2-Dec-15 @ 8:48 AM
My daughter has been bullied in her school. she's a very unsettled year 11 student and needs to move. Her pancreatitis conditions has settled now.
Bally - 29-Sep-15 @ 10:43 PM
hi how would i get my child into school in kent we are moveing back to the uk in august next year and would stay with my brother
she will be in grade 2 but there school year in sa finishes in december could she go to
grade 3 in september in the uk or would she have to redo year 2.
thanks
brandon
brandon - 26-Jul-15 @ 7:05 PM
hello.great site, thanks.
i am torn. we are English and tried life in Australia where our 5year old started school.we have to move back to UK next month and I am nervous our son will have to drop a year to start in Sept. overall it won't matter cos he HAS to go to school and starting at the first year won't really harm him (will it?). also I need suggestions to get him in to the school near my mother in law where we will be living at first. I have the form from the council for applying for a place outside of the normal application dates. just nervous about if he has to go to school later than the others, should I try arrange home schooling?
so much to think about..thanks for any tips
JayWeave - 17-Jul-15 @ 4:19 AM
@SaraW - sorry to hear this and I'm sure this will be something which will affect many children currently. You can of course appeal, which is also can be rather an emotional time, if your son is already upset and there of course, is no guarantee of success. Did the school give any reason?
I know the school has to follow the correct admission procedure and
you may be successful with an appeal if the decision to refuse your child a place wasn't 'reasonable'.
Cara - 6-Mar-15 @ 10:47 AM
We moved home beginning of July and my son was wait listed for a new school I really wanted him to go to. Found out yesterday they have a space for him but he really wants to finish year 2 with his current school. He is devastated and very angry. If we don't take the space now, I am afraid we the space will fill up and he won't get in for another 6 months! I hate seeing him so distress and worried that he will act out at the new school. How can I help him go through this?
SaraW - 3-Mar-15 @ 5:58 AM
@Sai - Yes, state schools in Wales are being follow the Welsh pathway, with both English state and independent schools have a different route. I think in this case you would need to seek advice from the local educational authority on how best to make the transition.