Shiplake, anyone?

[CloudyBayDrainageSystem]

Bright, but dyslexic, dyspaxic and very sensitive (and slightly immature) son. Son is currently headed for academic senior school but we are not sure, and this school seems to tick the boxes. Son is very keen on sailing and rugby and would probably be a shoo-in for rowing, so that side looks like a fit, too.
We may have to move house (even if he boards) so it needs to be that good. Is there anyone around with kids there, or other info? We are down for the open day next month, wondering if there are any specifics I should look out for or ask about?

Is it the area or the school itself? If it's the area I would look at Bradfield and Pangbourne as well TBH.

Bradfield is really lovely, the downside is that they don't play rugby.

If it's the school I think you could do better in that category of schools. Have you looked at St Edward's (Teddy's) in Oxford? I think that would probably be more worth moving for and ticks your sports boxes.

I live in the area and have very good friends with kids at Shiplake. It seems like an absolutely wonderful school to me. They put huge emphasis on enjoying learning and really seem to care about the boys. If you PM me, I might be able to put you in touch with one of the Shiplake mums.

I know two teachers at Teddy's who say they would never send their kids there. It has a reputation of rich and thick, and I know one boy who was miserable there because of being bullied in the evening (non boarders stay very late). Having said that, I KNOW that the reputation a school builds up is often undeserved.

Clara as you said reputations can be unfair.... all the DCs that I know who have recently/or are still at St Edwards from 6 families are neither rich nor thick! They have all gone onto RG universities. Plus the pastoral care for them has been excellent. Good rowing school too.
We considered Bradfield for our DS. We really liked it but sadly we felt that it was predominantly weekly boarding and that is not what we required.

Thank you both for your replies. Reason for shiplake is that 40% of children at the school are dyslexic, but its not a 'dyslexic' school. If it wasn't for that we'd stay in our own area. From what I can tell this is one of the few schools that caters for dyslexia without the kids having to miss other classes for extra support. All the other schools either have special units for SEN or withdraw kids from e.g Art or lunch break for extra help. Have been looking all over country for somewhere my son can feel normal but still be stretched and supported. But not sure how it works in practice, hence wanting to find out more. clara will PM you.

"Rolling my eyes" at Claraschu describing pupils from St Edward's as "rich and thick".

Do your children go to Magdalen/Oxford High by any chance? ;-)

Shiplake has been recommended for my dd2 for 6th Form for the same reasons as you are considering it, Cloudy. Also thinking of Abbotsholme.

If it wasn't for the fact that Shiplake has Saturday attendance , I would have sent ds1 there in a heartbeat instead of the school he's in now. Ds has dyspraxia & HFA. The head was wonderful to us .

This stuff all seems to tie in with the impression I'd got from researching the place. DS already does school on Saturday so that wouldn't put us off.

Thanks for posting