Sibford V Bloxham

[jeaux90]

I posted another thread about looking for a move for my DD14 who is currently at a school in Oxford which is merging with another school I'm not keen on for her.

I plan really to keep her there until she finishes her GCSEs, so predominantly looking for 6th form.

However this really depends on what the next few weeks brings in terms of minimum disruption to her and the merger plans. As she has ADHD and ASD she needs a small nurturing environment and she has flourished where she is.

It's a bit of a double edged question.
Firstly any shared experiences of either school would be great in the context of SEN and ethos.

Secondly, would you pull the trigger now on a move or wait with potentially more disruptions nearing her GCSEs?

Hi.

Im so sorry this is happening to you and your DD. Is your DD already in year 10?

If so and you switch her before GCSEs, would you look to switch her literally in the next few weeks so she is doing as much of her GCSE work as possible at the new school (just thinking in case the new school follows a different syllabus for any of her subjects).

If you did leave now, would the school you’re leaving be understanding that they’d pushed you into this and not hold you to a full term’s notice, which would take you through to paying until Easter?

What a difficulty, it’s really tough knowing which way to jump.

If she’s by chance in year nine, then I’d leave at the end of year nine.

Thanks for your post. Yes year 10.

I am waiting to see what their proposal is to minimise disruption during the next two academic years.

Predominantly looking for sixth form but I'd take the hit on moving schools now if it's the right answer.

The merger will fundamentally change the reasons why I picked the school she is in.

I'm trying to build a short list of schools to approach for either scenario.

Could you go and see both schools now (ie literally this coming week if possible), as my fear would be that other parents will be doing exactly this as well, and you want to be on the front foot / first in the queue if you do decide to jump now.

I feel for you. Presume she is at Rye given they just announced merging with Headington. It is a shame for those at rye who deliberately chose it to be smaller and more gentle. I would move asap if you can as waiting another 2 years is quite a long time.
we have looked at all the schools in the area in detail for ds who is also ASD but has managed in a small, nurturing but intense academic prep.
Depends how academic/sporty your dd is but I would say Bloxham is likely to be more suitable unless she is less strong on the academic side. Bloxham is taking a relatively wide range of ability but is not unselective. We certainly felt sibford was very gentle but much less robust on academics and extracurricular offerings than Bloxham. Sibford is smaller and offers a levels and btecs at sixth form, I think Bloxham mainly a levels.

I would visit, discuss with both asap and see what the situation is regarding spaces and subject options.

good luck

@RedPanda2022 yes at Rye. And totally agree for all those reasons we picked it.

Thanks for the pragmatic advice I think I'll start conversations now because it's not like it's wasted research either way!

Our son moved to Bloxham in year 9 (now in year 11). He didn’t know anyone when he arrived, so I was quite concerned as to whether he would be isolated in terms of friendships. I really can’t recommend it highly enough. He has ADHD and needs a nurturing environment.
The pastoral care he has received has been incredible. He looks forward to going to school each day and has a lot of friends. There is a strong ethos of kindness.
it’s a sporty school, with a strong emphasis in taking part, but it doesn’t matter if you’re in the A team or the C team. It’s more about the comraderie.

I have heard excellent things about Sibford for SEN.

Update I have booked into the open day at Sibford. Feels like the sixth form has a wider curriculum etc But also if I don't get the assurance on the Rye merger being non disruptive I can pull her back a year and start year 10 again.

I'll also see Bloxham but continue the research. If there are any other recommendations I'd be grateful!

My DD has just started at a new school. She's retaking Y10. I would advise you to stay where you are until end of GCSEs honestly. It's a massive upheaval in the middle of GCSEs and she is already familiar with the teachers there. They will be super careful with this merger as your DDs year groups results will have a massive impact on whether they carry on getting bums on seats.

I really feel for you.

Have you spoken to DD’s current school and seen what they have to say for themselves, specifically as regards your DD and what she needs to thrive and how they’re going to manage to continue to support her as well as they have done up to now?

We have friends with children at Sibford and went and had a look round last academic year. We loved the greenery and open space, however from discussion with our friends were put off by the high staff turnover at the school.

@stoneangel, that's interesting - apart from new Head starting in September, I didn't know there was a high turn over of staff recently so i would be interested to know more. I did attend the Sibford open day and it's one on my list to potentially shortlist. Any inside thoughts from your friends of the school would be useful, thank you.

We moved our son to Sibford at Easter of year 9, best thing we’ve done. They have done wonders for his confidence and he has grown so much as a person. He is year 11 now, I feel they could be pushier academically but that’s not why we chose them, our DS needed the smaller, supportive environment and as a result will almost certainly do better in his exams than he would have. I find it a really lovely atmosphere & not in the least bit pretentious. There have been some staff issues recently, not sure why. I know one of the teachers personally and they are v happy there

@beepbeep going to the open day this week! Looking at sixth form options

Have you looked at D’Overbroecks for 6th form? It’s full of girls from Rye.
DD had wonderful support at Rye up to yr 11 and she (and the other 20 or so Rye girls who went with her) are thriving there. My dd has ADHD and autism and it has been fantastic.
From your DD’s point of view, yr 11 at Headington is going to feel like very much like joining a new school any way so I can understand you considering repeating yr 10 elsewhere. For a neurodivergent child, spending yr 11 in an unsuitable environment can have a massively detrimental long-term effect. Retaking yr 10 in a supportive environment is certainly worth some thought. I don’t know what I would have done in your circumstances. My dd was keen to try a larger environment for 6th form and wanted to study subjects not offered by Rye but she adored her time there and would have found relocating for yr 11 very difficult.
I don’t know anything much about Wychwood except that it is very small so might also be worth a look?

@SandrenaIsMyBloodType thanks so much for that feedback. I will look at them too!

Have you considered Tudor Hall? I have a friend who is a HM there and many girls from DD's primary school went on to Tudor Hall for secondary. They are really supportive, and offer great pastoral care.