Teachers & uni staff, should I move schools?

Hi everyone,

I'm in my last week of Year 12, and I'm considering moving schools for Year 13.

I've had a very difficult experience this year, starting with covert homophobia (people saying they hate gay people, then speculating over my sexuality and making offensive remarks behind my back) and a false rumour about me having a crush on someone I was friendly with.

Then, I was the victim of a hate crime (threatened with physical violence and called a homophobic remark) at school by a Year 13, before experiencing months of harassment with my brother when I used the toilet, being called the F-slur and general intimidation in and around school by him and his friends. I reported it to the teachers, and he was restricted from certain areas of the school so that I didn't have to see him, but the bullying didn't stop fully until he left in May.

As soon as he left, I then was accused by one of his friends in my year of instigating the bullying by being racist to the Year 13. He said this came from other people, but after reporting this, I later found out that he made up this claim just to victim blame me, and I was ridiculed and laughed at for blowing it out of proportion because "no one would believe I would do that anyway".

After I reported him for how he treated me, he made up the rumour that my brother was staring at him and that we told the teachers a false story because we hated him, then we apparently laughed afterwards. This has led to people closing doors on us, mocking my brother with his friends in every lesson he has, and me losing my friends.

Another incident is after an assembly, when a group of Year 10s harassed me with comments like 'slay, queen' and 'hey sister' and asked me to rate one of them, before one said he wanted to spit on me.

I've tried to report these situations to the teachers, but any involvement from them makes things worse. Even when I posted evidence on social media against the false claims outlined above, people still don't respect me, and it is at the point where my brother and I are alone at school.

However, I am hesitant to move schools because of UCAS references and the fact that my new teachers wouldn't know much about me. Exam boards are also a problem because I would have mocks in September at most schools, and they might be different depending on where I go.

Is it a viable option to move? This is mainly directed at teachers and uni admissions staff.

Reply 1

Anonymous #2

That sounds like a really rough time for you I'm sorry to hear that :frown:

Ultimately, you are there for your A levels, but I know a big part of year 12 and 13 for me was the overall experience and I'm glad I have fun times with friends etc to look back on. There would be a lot to consider when moving schools (whether they offer the same subjects with the same modules mainly) as I don't think you could change subjects or learn different modules a year in as ,one that's a lot of work, and two I don't know if schools allow that. I wouldn't worry about your new teachers not knowing you because they definitely will get to know you very quickly! My first year English teacher left but my second year teacher still provided me with a great reference, not to mention the classes are usually smaller at A level so its easier for your teacher to get to know you and vice versa! If you think the situation is making you unhappy or decreasing your performance, maybe moving is a good option for you if its possible and not too much hassle, at the end of the day you have to do whatever you feel you need to and I don't think this would affect your Uni application/references.