Private secondary schools in Wokingham area

Hi, A very interesting thread on Reddam House as planning to book a visit for my 2 daughters. I am keen to know though whether they are still supportive of children with learning needs. My number 1 daughter who is in year 2 is dyslexic and I knew that the old Bearwood College was good with additional needs. Any thoughts welcome.

I agree with the latest posts. Reddam House is half a term into a brand new school and it's going very well. I get lots of information as a parent, see my child's classroom every day/say hello to the teachers and my child skips into school happily every morning. The biggest change is the teaching. It's phenomenal. I see my child's books every week and can see how they are progressing and the level of preparation that goes into a lesson.

@Meatycankles
I would highly recommend Reddam House due to my past experience. I loved my time at Bearwood and when I was at the school I was indeed a boarder. I loved every minute of my time there. The school has always been incredibly supportive to its students. Bearwood has always encouraged strong morals in young girls also which I know is something Reddam House intends on keeping. I have heard from students who have seen the school go from Bearwood to Reddam House that the school has kept the strong points that Bearwood had to offer and added so many more strengths of its own. All in all it does look as if it is a wonderful place for your child to have a very well rounded education. I would not considered luckley as an option only due to the reputation the girls give themselves whilst I was attending Bearwood. It always seemed as if the bearwood girls were prudish stood next to the luckley girls, however as an adult I can see that we were just behaving as young girls should.

My DD is at Reddam House Bearwood and there is a definite buzz about the place at the moment. All her favourite teachers (and ours) are staying next year and there are some really fantastic new teachers joining which is what really matters to me. Obviously you need to look around at lots of schools and choose what you think suits your individual child. Good luck.

None of the above negative posts declare that they have been to the school themselves, instead basing their views on here say, but having a child there I feel that I can talk with some authority of both the 'past Bearwood College' and the first stages of the coming Reddam House. I'm really happy, as is my child, who is doing very well. I wouldn't pay the fees if I wasn't as there are lots of other choices around here. Tell me a school in launch phase that doesn't offer scholarships! I'm frustrated by the negativity above because those posts appear to be judging the school before it has even opened its doors with the new staff, new facilities and new drive that will make it Reddam House! As for the newspaper comments - was interesting to see that they were made by a reader, not by the newspaper themselves and were taken down by the paper when they saw them! Papers tend to want to protect themselves from slander ( or is it libel) by allowing such things to be posted.

Bearwood College soon to be Reddam House Bearwood is gong to be a fantastic school, I am convinced. The buildings are amazing already but the plans in action will bring it up to date. My daughter just had some lessons there and is full of inspiration. We have signed her up for September 2015 and very confident that she is going to get an all round education. Academically and extra curricular activities also. So far,I am well impressed.!

I would be cautious about HG until better established. Unless the numbers are high enough it will be very difficult to offer a wide enough range of GCSE courses to suit everyone.

I know two pupils who were taken out of Bearwood in the last couple of years. Both were very unhappy there and I think discipline wasn't great either. I think they are being big on promises, scholarships, in a drive to boost numbers which have been falling.
Luckley has a good reputation - their numbers are increasing and I heard a recent open evening was v popular with lots of visitors.
Hope that helps

I've heard good things from people who haven't been awarded scholarships at Reddam House Bearwood but did apply for them. I suspect it is at the start of a journey but a google of Reddam House elsewhere seems to suggest it will get there. On the website it says that it's their European Headquarters. Old and beautiful buildings are expensive - Again a Google search links to a Guardian article that said that the new owners are going to spend £20 million on it. Doesn't sound like a short term venture.
Holme Grange has a great reputation but is a bit unproven above 14. Not sure how full their classes will be - they seem to be handing out lots of scholarships to fill them up so might be worth trying for one of those too? The latest Inspection report looks good.
I've heard Luckley are offering very large scholarships to boys in particular. Not every body would thrive in a predominantly female school and I suspect it will take a time for them to understand and truly embrace boys into a school with such a ' girls only' culture. Worth keeping an eye on though. Again, lovely grounds.

If you have a girl, Luckley Oakley seems really nice. I have heard very good feedback from some local families

HG is fabulous for primary age children, but not sure it can compete with the well established secondaries in the area. Having said that, a lot of the children do leave after year 6, so the classes are definitely small. Hardly any girl stays.

Definitely look at Reddam House Bearwood. Hear a lot of good stuff about Reddam and they are certainly shaking up old Bearwood College.

HG is fabulous ( had a few go through) and Reddam House Bearwood is going to be (1 current DS there) and sure classes will stay small for a few years yet until it fills up slowly