I considered adding this in with my previous post, but decided it was better to put in it a separate one. We are in a somewhat unsettled period at the moment; one that I really did not expect to be in.
Until very recently (weeks, perhaps a month) K & M were always absolutely adamant that they would never want to go to school, although they have always known that it is an option and have friends who are happily schooled. In the past few weeks though, M in particular (although K a bit too) has been talking about school and wanting to know what it's really like. I suggested talking to friends (both home ed who have been in school for a period and schooly friends) and asking them any particular questions they might have. I have also been happy to answer any questions and told them as much as I could (having been to school both as pupil and teacher, albeit a couple of decades ago in one case and 12 years in the other).
Rather ironically, given that one of the reasons A & I started looking into and considering home education in the first place was the amount of testing at primary level, the year 6 SATs tests seem to have acted as a bit of a catalyst. M was rather upset and feeling very left out when at korfball quite a few of her friends were talking about and celebrating the approaching end of the tests.
More conversation has got us to the point that M has said that she is "about 7/10 likely" to want to go to school in September and K a bit less likely, but still a possibility particularly if M does. As a result I have phoned up two of our local secondary schools (M would be year 7 and K year 8 in September), to try to arrange a visit to have a look round, so that the girls can make a more informed decision. The upshot is that both schools are full, which is what I expected to hear, but that doesn't necessarily mean out of the question. One of the schools does not allow visits during the exam period (fair enough) but I am welcome to call back after half term to arrange one after the exams have finished. The other school (where I used to teach) does not allow visits at all, no exceptions, but we are welcome to come to the next open evening, which will be in September, aimed at pupils wanting to start the school in year 7 the following year, not entirely helpful if we wanted to be put on the waiting list as soon as possible with a view to starting as soon as a place became available!
So that's where we are at the moment. At the moment things are carrying on as usual and will do so until we have visited the first school. Then it's a question of having the conversation with each of the girls about whether they want us to apply for a place (aware that a September start is highly unlikely) and if so whether at that school or if they want to look at either of the other two local options. We looked at these two first as one is our catchment school and the other the local RC one, which they/we are if rather more nominally than practising (I still play the organ at Christmas though!). If one or both decides that they do want to give school a go, we'll have a conversation about expectations (theirs, ours, the school's) and have a look at the National Curriculum, to see what if anything would be a good idea to try to catch up on before they go in order to make it as smooth as transition as possible.
I have rather mixed feelings about all this, but have had some helpful conversations with various friends who have a variety of experiences of home ed, school applications and different schools. Although we (A & I) will expect them to go into it with the attitude of giving it a really good go and K & M know this, knowing that whatever the girls decide it will be their decision and that they know there are other options is reassuring.
What I will do if they both decide to go to school and it works out, is a whole other question. I do know that I will not be returning to teaching, but beyond that I have no idea.
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