Independent schools with good drama departments and understanding about SEN (ideally Hampshire)

[BlackSwanEvent]

Very bright Y5 DS, adores drama, but has ADHD (not disruptive). Needs a kind, nurturing school from Y7 onwards that is very strict on phone use/screen time (the less he has the better). Another prep? Or a kind independent secondary? Ideally a commutable distance from Winchester, though we would move for the holy grail. Thank you

I can recommend some schools with really strong drama departments who are also good with SEN - but none of them will tick the box at all on the phones/screen front.

Which is the more important for you?

Also are you open to boarding? Or being day at a boarding school?

Friends who've taught in both state and independents say that the kids generally have more access to their phones in the independents, and are expected to be responsible with them. They may be allowed to use their phones for research or to listen to music during some lessons, but they are closely monitored and if they misuse their phones they will be confiscated. If a school can teach moderate, responsible use, then might that be better than just an outright ban? This is on my mind at the moment as I also have a ND child who would be totally addicted to screens if given the chance!

Dauntsey's. They do control phones but the easiest is to just 'lose' the phone just when you drop them off for the term.

The 3 Winchester state secondary school s are all strick on screens and phone use in school. Have you considered the state options if you are in Winchester?
They all have drama departments that put out pretty big productions.

Rookwood in Andover has lots of sen children. I know a few families that picked it for that reason. No idea how good the drama department is but it's a small nurturing school.

If you would consider weekly or flexible boarding look at Hurstpierpoint College ( or move house).
Amazing drama department with a fab new theatre.

I (naively) found your op about phones in schools really strange as I'd never knew phones were allowed in schools, so it's interesting to read the replies that independent schools use them in school. I had no idea! My dc are at state grammar and aren't allowed phones at school.

Bedales? No idea on phone policy though.

It's not necessarily being allowed phones at school itself (DD is at a state school that doesn't officially allow them to be used at breaks, lunch, in class etc), but if the OP wants to avoid screens in general then that is an issue as many schools set all homework via an app, they have class WhatsApp groups, use Teams etc. I know a number of indies where everyone uses a laptop as default as well.

OP, Bedes in Eastbourne might be worth a look. Very strong drama and dance (have a dance school onsite) and they are good with SEN.

Have you looked at Embley (previous HCS)?

Some schools ban any sight of phones in the day, others are more flexible. DD was down the road from Winchester and her school actively embraced use in some lessons, either to look up information, or to take photos of diagrams or homework.

St Joseph's College in Reading meets all those criteria and is a lovely school. It's Catholic, if that bothers you

A school near us has a bring your own device policy and has gone mostly digital. How we are supposed to limit screen time then, I don't know. Hopefully as pp suggested, it's teaching responsible use....

Thanks everyone! Yes very tricky re phones. I know some are stricter than others....

A prep that goes to year 8 likely to be stricter on phone use because the policies for Year 7&8 seem to mirror a primary school rather than a secondary school. DS in Year 7 at a prep and no phones allowed and not an issue - the kids don’t mind. That said, fewer drama opportunities than at a secondary.

This is a good point re phones etc

Frensham Heights. Not sure about phone policy though.

Frensham Heights is a fab school and one we seriously considered for DD (into music, drama and v dyslexic), but they are much more liberal than most schools. They publish their behaviour guide on the website which is quite entertaining (even outlines what happens if you are caught climbing on the roof!)

This is their phone policy:

avoid Kings' School like the plague!!!! DM me if you'd like to talk more about this

holy grail = wychwood school in Oxford.

The progress 8 score for Kings' is 0.28, for Henry Beauford it's 0.31 and for Westgate it is 0.59. Kings' will lose its outstanding rating when Ofsted comes. Unfortunately, parents don't know how to find the data that shows that Kings' is the worst performing secondary school in Winchester. It hasn't had an Ofsted Inspection for 9 years.

https://www.find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk/

Perhaps this is naive (my kids are younger) but can you not get him to leave his phone at home? Or is there some sort of timer you can set on it so it can’t be used in school hours?

Have a look at Wells Cathedral school- performing arts (of all descriptions and not just music) are very much valued. Also SEN is understood and supported

He doesn't have a phone - my concern is him seeing inappropriate content on other people's phones