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Secondary education

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Considering a move from SEN school to mainstream secondary

27 replies

Mattters291 · 16/05/2026 13:46

Have you ever done this ?
daughter is autistic and has dyspraxia. Academically able but behind due to missed primary school education due to bad health. She is well behaved, stickler for the rules. Works hard and has caught up really well.
the LA maintained Sen schools for children with disabilities / health wouldn’t take her because they couldn’t meet her academic needs as only offered functional skills.
we ended up in a well known sort of well regarded London Indeoendent Sen schools for SPld. At the time it seemed the perfect choice as their admission requirements seemed to highlight they don’t take those with ASD where behaviour was a primary need. This is not me saying that schools shouldn’t but in terms of diff schools with diff needs that’s why we chose it. It’s been pretty much a disaster since starting nearly a year ago.
it’s chaos, lack of routine, lack of discipline too many asd children including mine with very little training of asd. She is struggling in class because she can’t do her work. Struggling with the lack of organisation of classes / teachers and lessons. Some days their subjects have no teachers. Other days their lessons are cut by half due to teachers arriving late.
lots of bad behavior/ bullying with no discipline.
There is some positives like the therapy teams and English department.
there is a lack of updating parents on behaviours / academic progress.
i have come to the conclusion there is just to many different needs in the school which may work if they could accommodate them but they can’t so it’s becoming too chaotic for her.
the issue I don’t think I will get her in to another Sen school.
so looking at smaller mainstream secondary schools but has anyone done this switch and found it okay ? She is good with rules so maybe thinking a mainstream may have more structure for her if I could find one with a good Sen department.
she was in mainstream up until year 6 - very minimal issues. I know there will be bad behaviour but I’m wondering if because mainstreams have more students even if she didn’t belong with one group of kids etc she would find her “ people “
that they will be more structured and routined.
in really lost as I never thought I would consider a mainstream secondary school ! X
we live in the areas of secondary schools like hurlingham academy, Chelsea academy, lady Margerets, Fulham girls
if anyone has any recommendations?

OP posts:
Tellmetomorrow57 · 16/05/2026 13:56

I was going to say absolutely not just reading your title, but having read your post I'd definitely say it would be something to investigate - mainstream with good rules could absolutely be worth it!

VividDeer · 16/05/2026 13:53

My daughter sounds similar. Doing well in a supportive mainstream. What bothers her the most is disrespectful and bad behaviour, especially in lower sets. Luckily she's v bright and in top sets for science, maths etc. Lower set for English (dyslexia) is where she finds it worst.
Helpful adjustments have been sitting out of PE as she finds it hard to change on time. Also remembering kit bag (no lockers).
She needed a lot of support in year 7 and lost a lot of her stuff.