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Original poster

Indie/grammar schools for bright very dyspraxic ds south London

31 replies

Ateallthechoccies · 25/01/2017 14:29

Hi all,

So we have twins (year 5), this is a question for ds. He is doing well academically - top of the top sets in Maths and English, winning prizes in various inter-school comps etc and doing well in most things. However, he is really, really bad at sport. I mean, probably the worst in his school year at every sport there is. Outside of school he horse rides and swims and has physio every Thursday night. He is active and healthy and happy and we're just glad he enjoys sport. We are looking for an academic school where ds can continue to be stretched but where his being not in the least bit sporty won't cause him too many problems socially. We are easygoing re co-ed or boys, but think single sex may be better for ds just because he won't have girls witnessing his inability to catch/kick a ball (I am also dyspraxic and remember being so embarrassed when boys watched me struggle at sport). Any advice very gratefully received!

OP posts:
Mary21 · 25/01/2017 15:45

Have you looked at the Sutton Grammars. And Tiffin boys. All hard to get into but he won't be the only non sporty boy.. The Whitgift foundation schools are generous with scholarships/ bursaries might be worth a look.

keely79 · 25/01/2017 15:22

Where in South London? Would somewhere like Ibstock Place work - has a more liberal arts background I think.

Or if he's very very bright, somewhere like Westminster?

AnotherNewt · 25/01/2017 15:14

You might be best off looking at the big boys schools.

For example, at Dulwich College, all 11+ joiners have to do the major sports in their first year to see if they are any good at them. If they're not, they can choose a minor sport. And because it's such a big school, the programme of minor sports is extensive.

And they have some link to the stables in Dulwich, so he might even be able to ride.

I expect the other bigger schools are similar.

But if you're after co-ed, one to scratch from your list is Emanuel, as the boys have to play rugby at least once a week all through. Alleyns doesn't do rugby at all, if a footie school might be preferable.

LIZS · 25/01/2017 15:09

South London is pretty broad, can you narrow the area down a bit.

MrsPatmore · 25/01/2017 15:03

City good for swimmers and easy to reach from South London. It doesn't attract the really sporty boys as there are no on-site fields but there is a pool. The boys we know who go there are very clever so that might be a good fit?

MrsPatmore · 25/01/2017 14:59

I am getting the impression from school visits, particularly at the independent schools, that although children have to participate in sport, there is a level for everyone ie; E teams might only have one fixture a month and after Year 9, sport becomes optional in some schools. Sport' can also include activities such as chess. Eltham College springs to mind.

The grammars don't tend to have the sporting choices the independents have but again, there seems to be a level for everyone. Most schools, bar Alleyns, seem to do rugby unfortunately.