Private School for below average child

[swanlady2000]

My DS (11) had a lot of health problems in his early years, he had to undergo a lot of speech therapy and other interventions till around the end of year 2. He attended mainstream state primary school but missed a lot of time and has been playing catch up ever since. He has no SEN or learning needs as such, and is now a confident, happy and articulate boy, but due to his early needs and lockdown, he is still behind his peers academically and failed to reach expected standards in all his SATs.

He is due to start his local state senior school in September, but he has also has been offered a place at a nearby independent school should we decide to send him there.

The school offers an outstanding selection of extra curriculum activities, which I know DS will love, but I am still worried about the academic side and if all the other children will be super bright and he will be left behind even more.

Has anyone put an underachiever in private education, especially in year 7 and they have done well and caught up to their peers?

I know a few parents who put their children in private schools because they were underachievers so he'll be fine

The selective schools you're thinking of have exams you have to pass to get in

The are loads of non selective independent schools. He's lucky to have what sounds like a decent one nearby which seems to suit his requirements

If they offered a place to your child that means there will be students like him. So I think you shouldn’t worry about. My older daughter was in state school when she took her 7+ exams and she was in waiting list for selective prestigious independent school and then we received a offer but we didnt accept it as I felt like she will be less academic kid in the classroom. But your situation is different so go for it

Totally depends on the school.

Somewhere like the Stowe Group - Stowe plus two non selective feeder prep schools - would be no problem. Around half the children are average or below but tend to reach much higher attainment levels rhan expected through class size, individual tuition and access arrangements.

Somewhere like the Day School Trusts in London - almost certainly not, a lower achieving child would be insecure and miserable there, even if they got in.

You don't necessarily send kids to private school because they are bright (we sent ours die to small class sizes and extra curricular activities) so there is a huge range of abilities in each year.

The private school near us is notorious for being full of the ‘crème de la crème’/rich and thick (not my words, I hasten to add). The more academic ones go to the grammars.

Have you talked to the school? My friend was in a very similar situation and was upfront with the headmaster. She moved her son over in yr5. School put in lots of helpful measures immediately and now that the boys are entering senior school there is no difference at all. In fact, he is flying!

The only reason I'd privately educate any of my children is if they had SEN or were academically behind (I teach in a state school). In your position, I would 100% privately educate.

If you have the money then I would send your dc to private school. They will have a lot more attention given to them. However, be aware that most private schools charge extra for any kind of 1:1 support, so if your dc needs catch up lessons, it will be expensive.