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Secondary education

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Original poster

Guildford - secondary education Yr 7

39 replies

moid · 09/09/2011 14:26

The time has come finally that I have to get my head around secondary education for DS1.

DS1 has struggled throughout his school years, he has just been diagnosed as on the autistic spectrum. The school and I are finally talking on the same page and Yr 6 is so far going well. He is emotionally immature and years of tough time at school have blighted his self esteem. He suffers from high degrees of anxiety and strange sensitivities. Smart boy and doing fine but not working to the top of his capabilities. Highly dramatic and outgoing.

Schools in my radar:

  1. County school - probably the state school we would get into.
  2. Duke of Kent, Ewhurst - saw it last year and was impressed but is it to small?
  3. Frensham Heights

Have rejected King Edwards (sat schooling !), Reeds (likes conformist), George Abbott (too big and probably wouldn't get in)

Any thoughts? Any experiences? Before I hit the merry go round of school open days again!

OP posts:
Original poster
moid · 20/09/2011 14:04

Aaagh - More house has a great reputation. But my boy is pretty smart and my mum and dad who would be paying would not countenance a 'special school'. Not really buying into the whole autistic thing - my dad's comment was looking at the criteria "I am probably autistic too". Yes dad!!!

OP posts:
Theas18 · 20/09/2011 11:03

Just looked at the prospectus for Moore House (nosy sod I am) and it sounds absolutely lovely for a child with some difficulties and low self esteem- such a caring individualised ethos- wow!

Original poster
moid · 20/09/2011 09:01

Thanks mummytime - not sure about Frensham Heights to be honest. Open day this Saturday but in two minds about going along. Haven't spoken to SENCO etc..

Sent all my bumph off to Duke of Kent but they have not responded yet!! Maybe I have scared them off.

OP posts:
mummytime · 20/09/2011 07:55

My views on Frensham Heights are after talking to the Head, the SENCo and the haed of admissions, who all strongly advised never having met the boy or any knowledge of his abilities that he consider More House (this is when St George's Weybridge for example were very keen on interviewing him etc.).

St Peters is very very difficult to get into now if you are not a Catholic/or from one of your feeder schools. I know a very committed Christian whose house adjoins the grounds, who could't get their child in.

Original poster
moid · 20/09/2011 07:49

No statement and no faith (Catholic or otherwise). Again I have heard there pastoral care is very good.

OP posts:
Silverstreet · 19/09/2011 20:30

Have you also thought about St Peter's? Still Guildford area, has a similar intake to Guildford County (180) and is a science and technology school which might appeal. It is catholic, but approx 1/3rd of children are not catholic. You would get in if your SEN statement named the school. I only know the school by reputation as being very good, I don't have direct feedback.

Original poster
moid · 19/09/2011 17:41

Dilemma continues - spoke to SENCO of George Abbott and Guildford County. The SENCO at County was more flexible, George Abbott seemed to have a set way of doing special needs provision which my son would find it difficult to fit into. More impressed with the County to be honest, why mummytime do they not do SEN well enough??

OP posts:
thekidsmom · 13/09/2011 08:51

I'm surprised about your thoughts on Frensham Heights mummytime - I know parents who choose there specifically because they are so good with provision for dyslexic children

mummytime · 12/09/2011 10:47

I know one teacher at More House, and know vaguely a few parents. It seems lovely and caring, but does approach the curriculum quite differently. I would suggest going to look and talk to them. My reservation would be if your son is going to achieve highly at GCSE it might not be the right place. There is also a ASD special school (private) near Godalming, which might be worth looking at, but it depends on your sons abilities etc.

Original poster
moid · 11/09/2011 10:44

Thanks mummytime - will look at George Abbott again.
Do you have experience of More House?

OP posts:
mummytime · 11/09/2011 09:37

I'd look again at GA, has an amazing SENCO. ASD kids I knwo do really well there, and is big enough to enable him to make friends. (Personally I would reject the state school on your list as I don't think they do SEN well enough.)
Otherwise if you can afford it More House, Frensham Heights might well not accept your son, weren't keen on a dyslexic boy I know.

Original poster
moid · 11/09/2011 03:09

I have a friends son who goes to More House and who is very pleased with it, not sure that DH or my parents (who would be paying) would really contemplate that. I think they live in a fantasy world about how difficult the change to Year 7 will be. I should really go and look and More House.

I always end up believing that all his issues are down to our parenting! Anyway that is another story.

OP posts:
redglow · 09/09/2011 18:53

I used to nanny achild with special needs he went to more house and he came on a in leaps and bounds. This school has a fantastic atmosphere.

dizzyblonde · 09/09/2011 18:29

Have you looked at More House near Frensham. My DS goes there (he is on the austistic spectrum) and has been a different child since he started. He is also emotionally immature and had low self esteem due to bullying and general unhappiness at his primary school.

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