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

Original poster

Potential school considering for YR7 with EHCP

28 replies

Aksanti · 14/09/2025 08:26

Hi everyone,

we need to apply for secondary school by end of this month with our LA these are the schools we are considering although can only pick 3.
Any feedback on this would be appreciated son has EHCP plan in place.

Wimbledon College
Saint Cecilia
Richard Challoner
Coombe Boys school

all of his friends are applying for cardinal vaugn,Oratry etc but I have to be real with the school that he would fit into and meet his needs took him a while to understand why we wouldn’t be applying there.
Any feedback would be amazing!

OP posts:
flawlessflipper · 14/09/2025 16:59

The law around EHCPs is the same in all LAs. Despite what some LAs claim. Some LAs say parents need to state 3 preferences. That isn’t the law, though. Just like some LAs tell parents they need to state a mainstream school even if their preference is a special school and some LAs tell parents they have to complete their separate admission form before the phase transfer review meeting has even happened. They LA can consult with other school even if you state 3 preferences.

I would try to contact/speak to the SENCOs outside of the normal visits.

I would start by thinking carefully about if co-ed or single sex would work best for DS. I would also think about what DS enjoys. For example, CB is seen as quite arty, at SC music is well regarded... The feel is difficult to describe. Visiting and speaking to the SENCO will help. I know parents who have found communication with WC difficult and feel the school isn’t as communicative or inclusive as first impressions give. CB pastoral care is mostly good, but I know some parents feel their DS has flown under the radar and been missed. I don’t know if it is a wider view, but I know 2 families who thought CB was a noisier school, if that is something which would be an issue for you. RC has more boys with EHCPs. This has pros and cons.

Original poster
Aksanti · 14/09/2025 10:51

Thank-you!I wasn’t aware can only apply for 1.Was mindful if I only name 1 they can consult with other schools.As in my borough we are entitled to 3 preferences when applying.Yes,we visited one school Richard challoner have days set to visit the others.

would love to know the difference feels each one of them have ? Thankyou.

OP posts:
flawlessflipper · 14/09/2025 10:08

With an EHCP, you only have to state 1 school. You do not have to state 3. The schools you mention can have quite different feels to them, so I would think about what DS needs and go to visit them/speak with them.