Recommendations for progressive school that might still have soave in year 10?

[SoloDadd]

Hi all

I have a separate thread running here, speaking to the unique, slightly pressured situation I find myself in:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/4929918-not-sure-where-to-go-next

In essence, I’m looking for a school for my 16-year-old daughter (year 11). She’s been out of the UK schooling system for the last year and a bit, so she will need to go back a year into year 10.

She was at Steiner school until age 11.

I’ve looked at school such as Bedales etc…

She’s behind on maths and science. Potentially has dyslexic and dyscalculia (currently being assessed).

She’s gifted at art, music (incredible singing voice), and acting.

She wants to study psychology/forensics at university. That could change though….

Looking for recommendations for private boarding schools, ideally slightly progressive, that might have space in year 10.

Any suggestions welcomed.

Thanks!

Dan

Try https://www.stchris.co.uk/

I don't know if they'd have space but is there a reason why Bedales isn't an option? It is a good school and ticks many of your boxes (progressive, arty, inclusive)

Have a look at Lincoln Minster School. I think they have places. Really strong on art, drama and music (it's a choir school so there will be plenty of singing!). Excellent support for Dyslexia and other SEN. Pastoral care by the bucket load. Cosy boarding house.

Lincoln is a really safe, friendly and compact town so she can easily explore and build her independence. Reasonable train service. Outstanding local drama school a short walk from the baording house - Curious Theatre School - if she wants to pursue that outside of the classroom.

I have friends who studied Criminology and Psychology at the University of Lincoln and they all speak highly of it, so if she gets settled in the city she could consider staying for Uni.

Im in you touch with them so hopefully this might be an option. Thanks for your reply 🙏🏼

Have a look at Lancing College for full boarding. They often have children from abroad (from all over the world - Europe, Africa and Asia) so have experience of dealing with differing incoming education systems. I don’t know if they (a) would have space or (b) would take on someone who is behind / struggling as their results last year were excellent and bucked the national trend, but it is a lovely school which really does accommodate ‘individuals’ so worth considering / calling them up.

Have a look at Stonar - used to be a school for non academic horsey girls. It’s still non selective, but has become a good place for quirky kids, many do very well. They are now co- Ed.

Frensham Heights - bills itself as progressive. Quite good I think

Go and talk to Wells Cathedral School

I came on to say exactly this - it is a half music specialist school so it has a lot of experience with DC who are arty but not necessarily academic and it isn't an issue for them for a child to be out of their year group. You don't have to be a music specialist to do the extra curricular music and they do music theatre/art and drama well too. They offer psychology at A level.

I can say from experience that their SEN team is good.

Have you looked at Bredon School. It is particularly suited for children with dyslexia.

Local colleges may do 'early entry' for 14-16 year olds which are often suited to children who have not been in school.

Bryanston? good for music and theatre. Not massively selective. Known for being progressive although more structured than it was. However, this is where I would suggest caution about the progressive preference. The kids I know who have done well at Bryanston are pretty self- motivated kids. I would not send a child there who wasn’t intrinsically self- motivated. From what you say about your dd on the other thread, that’s not currently the case. Given her recent education and family history- not sure where she was for years 7-9- it may actually be that she’d benefit from being somewhere relatively structured where they will stay on her case to catch up and get the work done, especially if she’s not studied uk curriculum before, as there will be assumed knowledge from years 7-9 on science etc. Also, while you’re open to boarding be aware that with few exceptions ( eg marlborough) there is little full boarding now so proximity is really important as they come home a lot and if it’s a short weekend you don’t want to be driving more than a couple of hours each way.

Would agree on Wells. Fab music and (I have a girl just started in Year 10) very understanding of the different starting points people come in on, as many join at different times.

Crucially, very kind - whatever your starting point and however you are academically.

@CathedralHugger LMS still has connectiins with the cathedral but is no longer a choir school officially. There are very few boarders and it's weekly or flexi only - they get kicked out at weekends. High staff turnover including in Drama and Music. The school is part of a large academy chain and nothing like Bedales or Steiner schools. Lincoln Uni is fine but with entry tariffs of BBC for criminology, it wouldn't be my first choice.

OP I would definitely second Wells Cathedral School if not Bedales.

Ideas to look at but not personal recommendations
https://brockwood.org.uk/ starts at age 14 and I don’t think does GCSE,s just Alevels
https://wychwoodschool.org/ very small and individual

https://stmichaelsteiner.hounslow.sch.uk/ not boarding but goes to 18 and if Steiner worked before may be worth a look if you are close to Feltham

lastly Rochester independent https://rochester-college.org/next-steps/admissions/first-steps

I clicked on this thread because I quite like Soave: it has a fruity acidity and is very refreshing on a hot day.

Unfortunately I'm less of an expert on progressive schools.

It would have to be a very progressive school indeed to give Soave to year 10s 😝

As soon as I read this thread I thought of Bryanston. It's a great, progressive school and I suggest you take a look. It's a bit forward thinking for our taste, but we have a number of friends with kids there and they all love it.

A third vote for Bryanston, it sounds like it ticks your boxes. Although not sure that they’ll have space.

I hear there's very little they don't get away with at Stowe!!! 🍾🍸🍺🍷😂

my first port of call would be ‘ the good school guide’ , it was invaluable when we were researching boarding schools for our children . Have you looked at Claysmore school and Milton Abbey ? Both in Dorset , both offer good additional support for those that need it . I don’t have direct knowledge, but know a few children that have been / are at these schools , all needing additional help which they received , as far as I know . If she wants to get in in a selective Boarding school , she will need 9 GCSC’s , speak to the schools directly about wether they think it’s possible for her to do GCSCs in 1 year , although if she is really behind it’s probably impossible and would be too stressful for her . If she wants to go to a Russel Group university she will need very good A levels indeed ; I would sit her down and spell it all out for her so that she is completely involved with the plan and knows exactly what she needs to do to get to her chosen course at Uni . Good luck

No idea if they will have space, but Sidcot might be a good fit?

Bootham School in York. A very kind and nurturing place.

I don't know whether it ticks all your boxes, but I have also heard great things about the learning support at Millfield.

It's typically viewed as a school for the super sporty (future internationals or headed to the Olympics) or the super wealthy (like, kids of Russian oligarchs wealthy), but the support for pupils with additional needs is supposed to be top notch. Just what I've heard.

Rugby school has amazing music provision, like out of the world. Not a lot of people know about it, but as an insider I can vouch. They have a choir that performs on BBC. They are also still full week boarding school with food served within houses rather than in a dining hall. Beautiful as well. Bryanston is great, but as mentioned above, kids who succeed are very self driven and know what they want. The school designs individual curriculums and there's a lot of individual work required. Bedales provides an alternative in how they access GCSEs: I like it, kids are not forced to mindlessly revise the material, but are more grounded in practical work. They have a woking farm w horses and sheep, green house and vegetable patch so kids can have a break and relax doing something else. Relatively non selective. They do non verbal reasoning test and interviews in several subjects. Hurtwood House is Sixth Form only, but huge drama cohort (120 students), 10 performances per year, music, media studies, film, but delivering good academic results as well. They have a system where tutors check progress every Monday and if the student falls behind, they have to cut their extra curricular. Non selective, they award places based on an interview with a head.

This is Rugby's Winter Concert. I was 😮 Some kids didn't even sing a year ago. Lke 1:08