Is There Ever a Good Time to Move Schools?: Educators Weigh In

The ups and downs of expat life can mean frequent changes of scenery for both parents and kids, and while we may feel equipped to deal with them, our kids may not be so flexible, especially when it comes to moving schools. If a change is unavoidable, what can parents do to prepare, and what measures do schools have in place to ease the effects of transition?

First, it is helpful to consider (and be prepared for) some of the main reasons why kids might need to move schools. The most common reasons Jonathan Augat, Head of Admissions and Marketing at Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB), comes across are parents changing jobs or leaving a posting, although he also notes that “students occasionally look to change schools if they’re looking for specific programs that their current school doesn’t offer, whether it’s sports programs or performing arts, to use two examples.”

In rare cases, insurmountable difficulties with a particular style of teaching or a social conflict may prompt a move. “Families have diverse and different reasons for switching schools,” Anthony Coles, Head of College, Dulwich College Beijing (DCB), tells jingkids. “No matter what [the reason], it’s universal that parents want the best-fit school for their children. Not every school is a good fit for every child.”

Say you have to move schools, be strategic with the time of year, aiming for the end of the school year or, at a minimum, the end of a semester. “In most Beijing schools, there is a winter break and/or Chinese New Year break, which signals the end of a semester. Students will have exams at the end of the semester, as well as receiving a report card. If your child is going to change schools, this is a good time to choose,” Augat recommends. “It allows them to provide their new school with a report from their first semester, as well as giving the students a chance to get used to their new school without joining in the middle of a semester.”

Megan Sinclair, Admissions Manager at The British School of Beijing (BSB), Shunyi, notes that age can also influence the consequences of moving schools. For example, while older students may be more cognizant of the reasons behind a school change, especially one that is out of their control, they may also be closer in age to important examinations, which all the schools we spoke to cautioned is a time to avoid moving schools. “For students who are undertaking two-year examination programs such as the GCSEs or the IB Diploma, it is crucial for the student to remain for the program’s entirety,” Sinclair emphasizes. Even if they move to a school that offers the same curriculum, “individual schools may use different exam boards, teach other content or texts, and the sequences they deliver are likely to be different across all subjects,” she adds.

Change schools at the wrong time and the sky certainly won’t fall, but there could be both short and long-term effects on your child’s education. “Research and [DCB’s] own track record have shown that the longer a student stays within a consistent environment, the more rewarding it is when it comes to the student’s learning and development,” Coles cautions.

Nevertheless, families can mitigate the impacts of switching schools in a number of ways, primarily by involving kids in the process from the start. Sinclair suggests that visiting a school before the first day, meeting teachers, and seeing classrooms and facilities can all be extremely helpful. If kids will be studying a new curriculum, parents could familiarize themselves with it in advance and start to integrate this new learning style into home studies, something that Coles encourages at DCB: “We believe that if the parents possess the same educational philosophy and methods at home like the school does, then the student will enjoy the maximum learning benefits.” Even doing a trial run of school bus routes can help alleviate first day nerves.

The short answer to the question, “is there ever a good time to move schools?” is that there is no short answer. While a lack of consistency in a child’s education can affect their progress and mental wellbeing, in the event they are struggling with a particular curriculum or having a conflict with a teacher or peer, moving schools may be the best thing for them. In Beijing, at least, we are lucky to have a school community that is used to welcoming new arrivals from all over the world and is dedicated to helping kids settle in as quickly as possible. Be sure to make use of all of the resources on offer should you need to move schools.

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