One current problem in middle vocational education is the growing number of pupils moving between schools. Th e study aims to ascertain the reasons behind reactive non-normative moves by pupils to another middle school, and also to identify the strategies of pupils and their eff ects on inter-school mobility. A qualitative approach was chosen using the methods of focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Th e collection of the data took place in October 2016 and the respondents were 31 pupils who had changed schools at least once in the course of their middleschool education for a reason other than moving house. In the study inter-school mobility is identifi ed and explored as a developmental process with roots that in the case of some students may go back to career decisions made at basic school. Two categories of possible reasons for inter school mobility are described and there is discussion of identifi ed ineff ective pupil strategies that can lead to reactive non-normative moves to another middle schools. Recommendations for teacher practise are outlined in the conclusion.