Changing Your Child's School
Information to Consider
General Information
Different Situations
General Information
Every school follows the National Curriculum. However, each school teaches different parts of it at different stages and times of the year. Some schools within Bracknell Forest teach different modern foreign languages, for example some teach French in one year and German in another. This could mean that your child might miss important work by moving schools or might not be able to complete a course that they have started.
All Bracknell Forest schools expect their pupils to wear uniform. We do not provide help for this and you need to take into consideration any extra costs for clothing and equipment.
The Local Authority does not have to provide transport assistance, free or subsidised, for your child to get to their new school.
No. All schools have a limit to the number of children they can take and it may not be possible to allocate you a place in your nearest or preferred school. If this is the case an alternative will be offered. You can appeal against this decision.
Different Situations
It is generally in your child's best interest to remain at the same secondary school. However, we understand that this is not always practical; if parents are changing jobs for example. If your child is approaching the end of their secondary education you should seriously consider whether it is possible for you to delay your move until their exams have been completed.
There may be several reasons why your child is unhappy at school. It may be they are not getting on with friends or teachers, or are being bullied. They may be struggling with homework or not being challenged enough. If this is the case, then we suggest that you talk things through with your child and the school to try to find a solution. The sooner you talk, the greater the chance of sorting out the problem. A change of school is often not the best solution nor the only option.
Moving your child in either of these years can be especially difficult. When options have been chosen in Year 9, transfer to option groups at another school can be very difficult. For example different books are followed in English, and children take their exams with different examining boards. This means that they will be following different syllabuses. Even if schools have places, they do not always have places on the courses that you child has chosen.
Getting Help - Who to talk to?
Your Child
Firstly talk to your child, and try to find out exactly what is the problem.
School
Also talk to your child's teacher, or head of year. It may be something very simple that they could resolve. If this does not work, then the Headteacher should be approached.
Education Welfare Service
If you feel you need someone to be a go-between with you, the school and your child; the Education Welfare Officer for your particular school will be able to help. They can either meet with you and your child at the school or in your home. They will be able to support you and your child in many aspects of your child's school life and suggest other people who can help.
Telephone: 01344 354045/6
or email: education.welfare@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
Educational Psychology Service
If you think that your child is having problems with learning, you should firstly talk to the school, who might wish to seek advice from the Educational Psychology Service.
School Admissions
If, after talking to all these different people and reading this information, you still feel your child should change schools, then contact the School Admissions section and they can send you an application form.
Telephone: 01344 354023
or email: school.admissions@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
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