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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

A London Secondary School for High Functioning Autism - help!

35 replies

Hackney23 · 04/10/2023 07:39

Hi!

We're urgently trying to find the right secondary school for our DS, for Y7 entry in 2024. He has a diagnosis of autism, is currently in mainstream primary here in Hackney, with an EHCP with a high level of 1:1 support. He's done really well these past 6 years, support is being tapered off and he is now around the expected level academically.

Going into secondary, he could probably cope without 1:1 so long as there was specialist ASD support. But, he is likely to have a rough time making friends in a big academy like Mossbourne (even though it does have more specialist ASD support), while all the specialist schools seem to be for children with a much higher level of need. His brother is at Emanuel in Clapham, which doesn't really cater for this sort of SEN.

So far, the only schools anywhere we have been able to identify as a good fit are The Holmewood School up in Finchley/Muswell Hill (or More House out in Farnham, which would mean a complete life change moving out of London, taking his brother out of school in Clapham etc.)

The difficulty with schools like Abingdon House, The Courtyard, Roehampton Gate, Storemont House is that they are really geared up for kids who need a lot more support and A-levels are not an option.

So right now, The Holmewood School seems to be the only viable option... but we can't rely on that and have to put down at least one other choice by the deadline on Friday. Eek.

Any thoughts, intel, tips etc would be very very welcome!

OP posts:
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Irina1234 · 02/01/2026 17:22

Hello, did you get council to cover the cost of Holmewood school?

Irina1234 · 02/01/2026 17:22

Hello, did you get council to cover cost of the school?

Vivasun · 06/02/2025 18:21

Hackney23 · 07/05/2024 14:26

@TheZingyPinkExpert hey there. yes, went went for The Holmewood School, got in, Hackney agreed, transport sorted, so crossing fingers it all works out when he actually starts in Sept. We did also do the assessment for Canbury in Kingston, but they felt he needed a smaller staff / pupil ratio... so basically it seems that Holmewood is the only school in London that is actually suitable, so feeling very lucky so far we managed to get in and that Hackney agree...

Hi, how do you find it? Is it suitable for academically able kids?

AmMomInLdn · 04/02/2025 17:49

Those of you with an EHCP that names Holmewood (especially where the LA funds it), what needs did you have listed? Did the EP specify class size (or anything else)? Thanks!

Pheath · 04/02/2025 14:17

That's very true, infinitely preferable to MS where my son would fall apart within days. Guess you can't have it all and there's always out of school activities to try and widen social circles.

mumintheeast · 04/02/2025 13:52

A bit... I think it requires parents to be quite involved in sussing out potential connections and orchestrating things... but the alternative in mainstream may be worse in terms of a much tougher environment day to day... Holmewood is very friendly all round

Pheath · 04/02/2025 13:38

@mumintheeast interesting as I was worried about the friendship situation at Holmewood too. Are there any out of school friendships formed from what you can tell, even between years as making friends is so important to my son and wouldn't like to think all his teen years go by with any/ many.

mumintheeast · 04/02/2025 10:35

Generally great - lovely school with great expertise. Only downsides are commute is hardcore and small classes mean limited scope to make friends.

AmMomInLdn · 04/02/2025 10:29

@Hackney23 Hi there, how is your son getting on at Holmewood? Looking for a similar profile school for my son. Thanks!

YellowRosesWithRedTips · 24/09/2024 19:35

In that case, it will be up to the individual sixth forms whether they admit DS and what course they are willing to offer him. Especially now we are a few weeks into term. DS will probably have to study maths and English too. You might be better looking for a 1 year GCSE course whilst requesting an EHCNA. This will also give DS time to settle in England.

kscb · 24/09/2024 16:18

@YellowRosesWithRedTips Thanks. Yes, I'll do that. He turned 16 before August 31st this year.

YellowRosesWithRedTips · 24/09/2024 14:55

@kscb you would be better starting your own thread. Did DS turn 16 on or before 31st August or since?

kscb · 24/09/2024 14:24

Hello all, we've just moved back from the US to Hackney and have a 16 year old ASD, ADHD, dygraphia and anxiety. He had an IEP in the US but we are at very beginning process of EHCP here. We are trying to find schools for this year, and believe he is ready for 'A' levels, though difficult to prove he has GCSE equivalent given he hadn't completed high school in US (we are working with equivalence agency on this). Any updated thoughts on the thread above would be extremely appreciated. I have PM'd you Hackney23 also. Thanks all!

TheZingyPinkExpert · 07/05/2024 14:31

@Hackney23 i just sent you a PM

Original poster
Hackney23 · 07/05/2024 14:26

@TheZingyPinkExpert hey there. yes, went went for The Holmewood School, got in, Hackney agreed, transport sorted, so crossing fingers it all works out when he actually starts in Sept. We did also do the assessment for Canbury in Kingston, but they felt he needed a smaller staff / pupil ratio... so basically it seems that Holmewood is the only school in London that is actually suitable, so feeling very lucky so far we managed to get in and that Hackney agree...

OP posts:
TheZingyPinkExpert · 07/05/2024 14:20

@Hackney23 did you end up sending your son to Holmewood and if so- what do you think? Looking for similar - also live in Hackney

Fabian1967 · 01/02/2024 19:22

Can anyone recommend a good mainstream Secondary state school in South West London (Wandsworth area) with a good SEN provision ? My son is 10 and has Tourette’s (ticks but no swearing). He is ’high functioning autistic’. He is a sweet boy and able to manage academically, but me and my wife fear that he will be ripped apart at a large secondary state school. Ideally he needs a smaller school with a caring ethos, but we cannot afford a private school. We would like a mainstream school environment as he does not have high support needs. He just needs a caring environment. Any advice you can give will be gratefully received. Thanks. Fabian

Tw1mum · 14/12/2023 13:10

A friend with a son who has autism moved him from Kew college to Hampton court house and he’s now thriving.

Original poster
Hackney23 · 08/12/2023 12:43

I think Kew House looks great, but is really more for kids with only very moderate SEN

OP posts:
Keeponmovin123 · 08/12/2023 09:04

I have also heard good things about Halliford although not looked at it myself. Could Kew House be an option?

I think we will be in a similar situation but relatively new diagnosis and not too sure what the future holds - for school (& life in general).

YellowRosesWithRedTips · 26/11/2023 09:36

A top independent MS without any other DC with EHCPs is unlikely to be suitable for a child whose parents are looking at SS and it is unlikely they would offer a place to a child whose parents think they need an SS either.

Chupperchup · 25/11/2023 21:33

Have you considered city of london boys school? If your son is very academic their sen department has an excellent reputation.

Original poster
Hackney23 · 11/10/2023 07:23

Thanks for the tip about Odyssey. Yeah, we did research that and location is amazing, but I think felt it seemed more focused towards kids with behaviourial problems, getting that sorted and getting them back into mainstream, rather than a focus on ASD.

And with Canbury I think yes nurturing, they do 5 or 6 GCSEs, so they have enough to make A levels / college an option. There are about 2 pupils in 6th form and they only offer two A levels, maths and history, so almost all pupils go elsewhere for 6th form....

OP posts:
Pheath · 10/10/2023 18:54

Hi Hackney
Just to follow on about Canbury as I'd not heard of it. Did you find it very nurturing and are the pupils doing GCSE and A levels? We sound in a similar position to yourself, searching for a secondary for my 9yr old autistic son whose got good potential with the right support and a tailored curriculum. And can you book an informal tour during school hours? Thanks

Pheath · 10/10/2023 18:41

There's Odyssey House School in Russell Sq also. I visited a few weeks ago and liked it but it's still very low on numbers so (I didn't see more than 20 pupils) as they've only just acquired their new building. Great location and very tailored curriculum. The Head was very confident numbers would rise soon.