Signs Someones Child Needs To Transfer Schools!

1. Their grades are dropping

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It can be hard to tell when a child might need to transfer school, but one sure fire sign is their grades dropping. Whilst a lot of things can cause a dip in grades- hormones, stress, worries at home- if their GPA is going steadily down, their school probably might not be the right environment for them.

2. Their grades are fine but their academic confidence is dropping

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Maybe their grades are still coming through as straight As, but there can still be issues! If their academic confidence is dropping, and a B here or a a C there send them into a tailspin, it could be a sign the school is creating an overly pressurized environment.

3. The school has bad teachers

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Teachers are some of the hardest working, most important members in the whole of society: inspiring young minds and broadening the intellectual horizons of whole generations of children. They are so important and influential, that if a school had a dud batch- lacking either skills or passion for the job- it might be time to move on.

4. The school doesn’t care about their bad grades

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If a child starts to struggle academically, it can be a stressful and worrying time for them, and for their parents too. The important thing to remember is that, with the right support, there is always a way to make things better! But that support is crucial- if a school doesn't seem to care about a significant drop in grades, they might not be the right people to get a kid back on track

5. The school doesn’t offer the subjects they want

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It takes some people half a life time (or more!) to figure out what they want to do- and that's OK! However for some people, they've known their calling since they were small. If a child is dead set on something, and their school doesn't offer the qualifications that will get them there, then it's not the best fit.

6. The school’s SAT results are bad

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There are so many factors that make up a good school: great teachers, a friendly atmosphere, fun extracurriculars, and a convenient location to name just a few. So, the grade tables aren't everything clearly. Having said that, if your child is academically driven, you might want to check the school is getting half decent SAT scores overall.

7. They don’t seem to have any friends

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Especially when a child hits adolescence, making friends can be really hard. We all remember the days- everything you did felt mortifyingly embarrassing, every little social decision felt agonising! If your child is struggling to make friends at school, occasionally it might mean they're in the wrong place- but remember, it's usually just a case of giving it time!

8. They never want to talk about their day at school

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Kids love to share details of their day: things they learnt, the friends they saw, the silly games they played at recess. It's adorable and, if we're honest, occasionally too much information. If this stops and a child is suddenly monosyllabic about their day at school, it could mean they're having a tough time there.

9. They don’t want to get out of bed in the morning to go

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Are you a night owl or a morning lark? Unless you're a true morning person, everyone struggles at time to get out of bed in the morning. Especially on a cold winter's morning, that alarm goes off and everything in your body says "five more minutes!". But, if a child is really reticent to get out of bed on school mornings, maybe point blank refusing, it could be a sign they're having a hard time at their school.

10. They’re pretending to be sick to get out of school

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Hands up, who's seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off? If your hand isn't up, what have you been doing with your life? Go and watch it immediately. Even though it's a stone-cold classic, Ferris' approach to attendance isn't something you want your own kids to be mimicking.

11. They’re ditching class

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If a teenager is making their own way to school- whether driving themselves or catching a school bus- you've got to trust when you wave them off that they're actually making it all the way through those gates. Bunking off can be a sign of rebellion, but it also might be a sign that they're really unhappy at school.

12. They’re getting into trouble with school friends

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Maybe a child has tonnes of friends at school, but not quite the ones you might like. If a young person falls in with a rebellious crowd, it can spell trouble. (For any Gilmore Girls fans out there, think Tristan Dugray). These social bonds can be so strong that actually removing them from that social context can be the best way forward.

13. They’re getting so much homework they can’t have a life

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I think we can all agree that schools should stretch young minds, challenging them so that they can achieve their absolute best. But there is a limit- getting the most out of a child can also mean giving them room to come up for air! Some hyper competitive schools set so much homework, the kids have no time to just be kids!

14. The school has rubbish resources

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Underfunded schools are a real tragedy. Some of the most important resources a school can have are priceless- passionate teachers and dedicated pastoral staff. Still, crucial things like textbooks, science labs, etc cost money- and if these aren't present at a child's school it can hold them back.

15. There are bullying issues at the school

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Schoolchildren can be so cruel. Being bullied in childhood can be a truly traumatising experience, leaving psychological wounds that can persist into adulthood. If you suspect a child is being bullied, help should always be sought from the school and their pastoral care. If problems persist, sometimes switching schools can be the best thing.

16. They can’t do their extra curricular because they’re not offered by the school

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Some kids are totally obsessed with the theatre, others are frantic for football, and some are dead-set on debating. Whatever their passion, they should be encouraged to pursue it! If a school isn't able to offer an extracurricular that a little one is dying to do, it might make more sense to send them somewhere that can.

17. They used to like school but they don’t anymore

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For some kids, school will end up being something that they just have to get through. But for Rory Gilmore-esque others, academic learning is a passion, and they're waiting for that first day of school to roll around every Fall. If a child veers from the latter to the former, you'll start to suspect something at their current school could have caused the change.

18. If they've moved home

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If a child is getting along OK in a school, but the family relocates, it can be tempting to keep their school place and just have them commute back and forth. This is an understandable instinct, but the lengthy journey times can end up being unmanageable! Sometimes it's best to throw them into a school in their new neighbourhood, they might even make new friends.

19. If their stuff is getting stolen at school

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If things start going missing from your kids schoolbag- whether it's crayons from the younger ones, or things like hair accessories or even books from teen students- it can just be a case of absent minded loss. But if they're consistently coming home lighter than when they left, things keep going missing, this can be a warning sign that someone is taking things from them.

20. If they’re not being academically challenged

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Boredom: is there a worse feeling? When you're not challenged in life, the days can feel like they drag on forever, each hour inching on at a seemingly glacial pace. The exact same goes for kids in school. If they're not feeling sufficiently challenged, they might end up not achieving as much as they could otherwise!

21. The school won’t listen to your concerns

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Schools have a responsibility to kids and to parents, to ensure the children in their care are having a fulfilling and happy experience. After all, famously, school days should be some of the best of your life! If you have concerns and the school just doesn't seem to care, this is a big problem!

22. They’ve been labelled a trouble maker

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There are plenty of reasons a kid might start acting out, and the crucial thing is how it's handled. Imagine picking up an angry house cat- do it wrong and the cat gets madder, and everyone get scratched. Behavioural issues are just as complicated to handle, they require a gentle touch and some considered strategy to pick up and tackle. If a school just labels a kid 'a troublemaker', it could be a sign they're not willing to put in that effort in helping them.

23. The school itself is unhygienic

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It sounds super basic, but you'd be surprised how often this issues comes up! Kids are messy- it's just in their nature. So a school has to be really on top of keeping clean, tidy, and hygienic. If it's not up to scratch in terms of cleanliness, it can really impact a kids capacity to learn.

24. They've got a boyfriend or girlfriend who's bad news

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This one's for slightly older kids. What's worse than a teenager falling in with a disruptive or unruly group of friends? You guessed it, them falling for a disruptive or unruly girlfriend or boyfriend. Once those hormones start pumping, rationality is off the table! If their new troublesome bae is at their school, it can be hard to control their time together.

25. If kids leaving the school aren't going on to good things

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If you're considering which school is right for a child, take a look at the alumnus (check out our Latin!) and see what they're up to in life. If it's a list of movers and shakers, doing wonderful things with their life- that's a good sign! But if it reads like a who's who of the local Sherif's department- maybe less so!

26. If there are problems with underage drinking at the school

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Underage drinking can be a real worry for parents. Whilst some are comfortable with a teenager trying a beer once every now and then, but the concern is how often those situations tend to get out of control. If a high school has a culture of underage drinking, even the most sensible kids can get sucked in.

27. The school lacks a community

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A healthy sense of community around a school can be a really special part of a school experience! If none of the parents are getting involved in school life- science fairs, school productions etc.- it can be a real shame. If this is something lacking in a child's educational environment, remember there are plenty of schools that do have this community!

28. If there are problems with drugs at the school

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Even more serious than a culture of underage drinking, is a culture of drug use in a school. It's a sad fact that some schools have ongoing issues with drug usage. If you have concerns, you should always reach out for help and access the appropriate support.

29. The school doesn't discipline them

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If a child is late, forgetting their homework, or talking back in class, it's important that the school takes the right action. If they're acting out and not getting even a detention, how is the situation going to change? This could be a sign that the school is too hands off.

30. If a child asks to move schools

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As we've seen, there are numerous pointers that suggest it might be better to transfer a child to a different school. It's a tricky question that lots of parents agonise over. Perhaps one of the clearest and simplest indicators is a child actively asking to move schools: sometimes, they know best.