Senior Girls Ideas for Dyslexic Child

[OlafLovesAnna]

My dd is currently at a lovely prep in the SW and the time has come to make serious plans for senior school but I'm feeling a bit lost.

She is in bottom set for pretty much everything 'academic' but is very sporty/arty/drama-y. Most of her friends are going to Sherborne Girls but I think it's probably a bit academic for her so we're looking at alternatives.

We loved Queen Anne's Cavisham, and would probably prefer a girls school but are open to all suggestions for school with good dyslexia support and full boarding available.

Thanks so much,

Bryanston? Co-Ed but would meet the arty/ drama side and is “academically flexible”. Sport- I hear grumbling that since they expanded choice they’re now mediocre at a lot of sports rather than good at a few but there is still a lot of sport.

Millfield has very strong support for dyslexia and would suit a sporty girl. King's Bruton has a reputation for being a very caring and supportive non-selective school. Bryanston is great for creative types, but is one for self-starters (not sure if that suits your DD). Milton Abbey is also a good school for DCs that would benefit from a smaller school and more personal attention. Slightly further west, Queen's College Taunton is often thought of as one of "the other schools" in the region, but I know a couple of families who moved there from other schools because of similar learning difficulties and they are very happy. Both of the other Taunton schools (Taunton School and King's College Taunton) are very sporty and also non-selective, so may be worth looking at, but I don't know about their specific provision for learning support.

I would also question if Sherborne Girls was too academic if your DD is sporty/artsy/drama-y. I know Sherborne School better and that has a pretty broad entry and from friends who sent DCs to both I thought the Girls school was similar. Have you spoken to your prep school headmaster? He/She should have a good idea of where your DD would fit in.

Sorry none of my suggestions are girls schools! Good luck.

I’m presuming 13+ entry? If yes, you could look at Shiplake, which has gone Co-Ed. Known for dyslexic provision and very sporty.

Millfield was the other one that sprung to mind.

A friend has a daughter at Heathfield in Ascot. She has dyslexia and dyscalculia and is thriving.

Thanks, she’s enthusiastic rather than elite level so she’s happy to just be involved and play.

We looked round the prep when she started in yr 5 and the head was a tiny bit disparaging about full boarding which is what put us off but I understand the prep school is a new addition so that may not reflect the senior school attitude.

A few people have mentioned it so it’s worth a phone call!

Thanks @tachetastic the head is lovely and v helpful and suggested she could try for Sherborne but I’m conscious of not setting her up for failure iyswim, I’ll maybe give them a call though and be frank.

Milton Abbey came up in my googling yesterday and I love the fact they offer BTECs etc as well as A Levels so I’m
definitely going to get in touch with them.

Kings Bruton is a hop and a skip from where she is but I hear that it clears out at the weekends which would be an issue as we’re likely to be posted abroad when she’s in Yr 7, and would still be away when she starts Yr 9. I do hear good things about it though.

@BountySunshine I haven’t come across Shiplake before so I’ll have a look. Heathfield looks good too 😊

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, I’ve been going round in circles because although she’s in bottom sets academically she’s hugely confident and sociable in general so doesn’t necessarily need extra support in other ways!

Truro High School for Girls is great - a little further SW but wonderfully supportive. My friend has two girls there, both totally different (one Dance/Art/Textiles, one Science/ Maths focused) and both are thriving - one is dyslexic.

Have you looked at Sr George’s in Ascot? I think it sounds like it would be a good fit.