change schools — move to a different school
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to stop attending one school and start going to another, usually because of moving house, family reasons, or wanting a better education.
Say it like a native
Textbook She transferred to an alternative educational institution.
Native She changed schools last year.
'Transferred to an alternative educational institution' is officialese; 'changed schools' is normal.
Pattern: change schools
In use
- After her family moved to another city, she had to change schools.education
- If I had to change schools, I think it would be difficult at first because I’d have to make new friends and get used to a new environment.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She changed her school.
✓ She changed schools.
'Change schools' (plural, no possessive).
Common collocations
change schools— change, switch, have to, after moving
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'change the school', which means to make changes to the school itself.