Guildford - secondary education Yr 7

Where did you go in the end?

thank you mummytime, I live in Marlow. I am thinking of either moving near a perfect school for all my children (I have 4; 2boys & 2 girls) or different schools with boarding facilities. Have you got someone in Leighton Park?

I like Leighton Park and would certainly consider it. Where do you live, and what kind of school do you want? Do you need boarding?
Other schools I might/would consider include Bearwood college in Wokingham, maybe Gordons (a state boarding school). Most schools in Surrey are single sex (well private ones). For a very alternative school there is Frensham Heights. I believe there is an Independent schools fair in Battersea Park at half-term, which might give you more options.

King Edwards Witley is getting rid of Saturday school from September 2012 and they have an open day this Thursday, 13th October if you are interested in looking around.

Sorry RGS is a boys school only as well. I don't know that area very well :(

I have checked RGS but it's only a day school (St George's as well) I am looking for a school with a boarding facility as well. i have 4 children 2 girls and 2 boys and I would prefer a co-ed school for my boys. However I am checking the girls schools for my girls. any help ?

Thank you dizzylonde. great to hear that RGS suits quiete boys as well. My sons don't have any SN they are just quite as you have guessed. I will certainly look at RGS.

One of my DS' friends was on the ASD. He was at RGS with my son, initially very quiet and barely spoke but absolutely thrived and while he is never going to be loud boy he is now at uni, doing very well and certainly has gained a lot of confidence from RGS. The school is suprisingly very caring in many ways and can deal with ASD boys, they recognise this at interview and see the best in the child and their strengths.

If they are very academically able then RGS in Guildford is very good. DS1 has just left there for uni and had a great time. I presume the Leighton Park you are talking about is in Reading and I've seen lots of RGS boys on the train from Reading to Guildford.

I am considering Leighton Park for my 2 sons, any advice? I love the school, the new head and the feel of the school but I am not sure. My sons are both highly able. I am looking at st george's college as well. any ideas?

Apologies for my kneejerk reaction, it was unfair, I know how difficult these decisions are. I blame it on too much wine and on getting my middle son ready for uni. He went to RGS so have experience of both sides and of parents who find ASD diagnosis difficult to swallow. My FIL pays fees for More House as well.
I think that ASD children can be very clever but can also find external exams very diffiult. Where More House scores highly in my opinion is that it fights for the children in getting them extra time etc in exams which saves parents the additional stress.
My son's self esteem has been boosted no end by More House and he is a different child who looks forward to going back to school.
I hope you find the right school for your son, it is really important that they feel happy and secure in their enviroment so that they can achieve their potential.

More House has been very good for boys of differing academic abilities I have had the pleasure of meeting through a voluntary youth activity I used to run. They were also good at providing support to a student I knew whose goal in life was to be able to go to the same private secondary as his brothers, and successfully taught him skills in the time he was there that he took to his next school.

Frensham Heights - would your son's autism have an impact on his academic ability if he found the setup there difficult in any way? I ask because a family I know sent their disabled daughter there and were asked to remove her when she couldn't acheive the grades they expected of their pupils.

Well done to your son dizzyblonde I have known others do well though too.

They are good at getting the best out pupils but it is not a special school anyway.

My son has just scored A's in his first GCSE modules at More House. They're aren't all thick.

You could try for St Peter's and be prepared to appeal (either use the Guru's here or "How to win your school appeal"). Kings is improving, but could be hard for your DS.
Have you considered Prep school for a couple of years? A few go there after HT (mainly Cranmore, but also St Edmunds in Haselmere, I know FeltonFleet would consider it, and Belmont (but might not be right for ASD), or Hoe Bridge or Barfield).
Salesian, St George's, City of London Freeman or Reigate Grammar, St Edwards or if you were really brave the Croydon ones?

BTW quite a few parents secretly send their kids private, not even telling close friends they are sitting the tests until quite a bit later.
Talk to your son and find out what he does and doesn't like about schools. Do make sure he knows that what his friends say about where they are going may not be true.

Nope, I don't think so. I only know a few kids in that year, and for once don't know the ASD ones.

It is improving, as there are more boys school places opening, and King Edwards getting rid of Saturdays.

But I have been known to feel quite sorry for St John's boys heading home at 6pm etc.

Saturday school is abolished, but King Edwards is very convenient on the train, and lots of Guildford kids go there.
Salesian is Catholic over in Farnborough, a friend looked at it and was very impressed.
I have one child at HT.
There is far more choice for girls, but it is still hard. I still wonder if I have made all the right choices.

I'd recommend the Frensham Heights Open days, great fun! I also love the school, just its not as inclusive as some others. (I have probably contributed to at least 2 families sending their kids there.)
Is he bright enough for RGS? Or Salesian? (RGS definitely has past experience of ASD boys.) Reeds or King Edwards Witley? (I loved St George's Weybridge but I know others aren't so keen.)