Children moving school...

Stacyluvya

Hello all,

We have just found out that my husbands ex-wife has taken his children out of school and will start a new one on Monday.

Can she do this??? Surely he has to have some sort of say? The kids stay with us half the week and he is a hands on Dad.

Thanks in advance!

jackyann

Does he have parental responsibility? I think it is most likely that he does, if they were married when the children were born.
So yes, he does have a say (up to a point) especially if he is involved in dropping off / collecting /attending school events. I would suggest discussing with CAFCASS (if the courts were involved when arrangements were being sorted out) or a solicitor.
These people can be helpful: http://www.familyandparenting.org/

cheepskate_2

What are the reasons your boyfriend doesn't want them to change schools. I assume his wife has the children more days, so really the day to day running would be up to her.

Stacyluvya

If we split the time, it would be around 60 / 40. We have them two weekday mornings and she has them three. Her reasoning to move them is that she has moved house and she can't get up early enough to take them to their old school. Our reasoning is that his eldest daughter only has a year left of school, why move her when she is so close to finishing?

We are worried about her becoming unsettled and having trouble making new friends. I am just wondering how it is fair that she can just decide this and then put into action without any form of agreement from him.

Thanks x

FBaby

She definitely should have discussed it with your husband, but she didn't. The key question is how the kids feel about it. Maybe they are happy to move?

Giraffeseeker

If the eldest daughter has only one year left then moving her will disrupt her GCSE's, and she is surely old enough to get herself to school in the morning?

minimoneysaver

Maybe OP meant the last year of primary school left. In other words, she's probably half way through year 5. Is the new school a 'good' school? Maybe it's better to get the children moved now in time for senior school, so the eldest daughter can make friends in preparation for high school.

Stacyluvya

Thanks for your advice. His eldest will start final year of school after the Summer. The school that they will now be going to is far lower down than the other one, looking at recent years reports. Which is another reason why we are not happy. xxx

Mojisola

tintingirl wrote: »

If the eldest daughter has only one year left then moving her will disrupt her GCSE's, and she is surely old enough to get herself to school in the morning?

Stacyluvya wrote: »

Thanks for your advice. His eldest will start final year of school after the Summer. The school that they will now be going to is far lower down than the other one, looking at recent years reports. Which is another reason why we are not happy. xxx

That means she's been moved half-way through her GCSEs?