Searching for an independent boarding school

[SBilgrami]

Hi mums, I’m currently furiously searching for a good independent boarding school for my 9 year old going into year 5 that is NOT necessarily academically selective, and has good pastoral care/learning support as my wonderful son happens to fall on the autism spectrum. He is behind in maths and english but far exceeds in many other domains. I want to find him the best fit, money is not my primary concern, but finding a wonderful school for him is. Does the Oxfordshire area have any that you could recommend? Open to other areas too as he will be a boarder. Please please help!

Bruern Abbey fits your description perfectly.

Yes, it's been a long time since we had to look, but I believe that's exactly what Bruern seeks to cater for.

I always wanted to go to Summerhill, or rather, wished I had gone, as soon as I heard of it. I would have loved to send dd there but any sort of private ed was so way beyond our means...

Does it still exist! The last time I heard of it was years ago. It was as academic as each child wanted it to be.

What does he love, is he sporty at all? Would Shiplake appeal (they have about 50% on the roll with SEND support) or Pangbourne (about 40% of pupils with identified SEND). Bruern yes, maybe also worth looking at Bryanson, Canford, Sherborne? There is also Swalcliffe Park that I don't know myself but is Autism Educational Trust accredited: swalcliffepark.co.uk/

It's really hard to say what would be a perfect fit without knowing his particular needs and strengths though - what does his current school say? (Including his head of SEN as they will probably have insight as well).

Not Sherborne! Bryanston possibly

Oh sorry I thought you were looking for 13+ entry for your son (so you'd be looking around at senior schools now to consider where to register).

Bruern should be top of your list for sure in that case. The Holmewood School starts from 7 as well.

There's a list here: absolutely-education.co.uk/top-sen-schools-uk/

@Tirednest interesting, I know a parent at another prep school whose son has ASD and whose head has recommended they look at Sherborne. Maybe there are particular circumstances there though.

My DGD is very dyslexic , very happy at Bradfield.

Out of curiosity, how parent decide on boarding school? Can you explain your thoughts on this please. I always wondered but never asked

A bit out of your area but Lockers Park in Hemel Hempstead might be right up your street, they go up to age 13 and offer full boarding and flexi-boarding.

God there's always one on every thread about boarding schools. 🧐

Agree with PP not Sherborne for a kind, creative, alternatively wonderful child.

I don’t know about the SEN angle but if we were doing boarding for our sensitive DC we’d do Bedales, have a look in case it siits you.

@IsItBedtimeYetNope I must have missed those. I mean what are the benefits of boarding school?

@speciall you're coming across as goady on a thread that's not talking about the merits of boarding school but asking for very specific recommendations. That's why @IsItBedtimeYetNope is mentioning it.. But I presume you know that.

Sibford sounds a perfect fit but it would not be possible to board until DS is older. I believe they can sometimes find host families in the village until the child is 11 though.

@Dogs4Ever i am just asking OP's opinion on that. I want to know. I have asked the question. whether I get a reply or not, that's another thing. You don't ask , you don't get.

MN set up the Boarding school section so that posters can talk about boarding without having to justify their actions.

St Christopher's in Letchworth

Bruern Abbey would be a good choice. Someone suggested Lockers Park above - our experience was poor with SEN - suggest to avoid

I have a 9 year old son and the thought of sending him away to school breaks my heart. Would it not be more beneficial for him to go to an independent day school? We have had to recently move our son to an independent school and he is thriving.

Because structure and routine are incredibly important strategies to support people with ASD. There are many special schools that offer boarding for precisely this reason. And you can never offer the same rigidity of routine at home, no matter how much you plan.

But it doesn't really matter why. The OP is asking for school recommendations, not uninformed opinions.

A young relative of mine in a similar situation has done really well at Stonar. Used to be a posh horsey non-academic girls school. Now takes boys and has re/shaped itself as a school for slightly quirky kids - still fairly non selective, but the bright do really well. Tiny classes, good pastoral care, still got the horse. Bit crap for sport though.

What’s wrong with you that you’d ask such a question to a parent trying to do their best for their child? There are lots of situations when boarding can be helpful. And a fair few (not enough) state special schools that still offer boarding to kids with ASD because it is helpful to some. If it’s not for you that’s fine, but don’t spout made up nonsense about studies.