Prepared to move for the "perfect fit" all-through independent. Please help us choose!

[TwoVeryDifferentOnes]

DH and I are looking for a nurturing, creative independent for our two kids, within striking distance of London (1.5hr commute).

The catch is, the kids have very different needs...

Eldest is Year 4, verbally and spacially very bright but not getting far above baseline with anything at the moment (currently in state primary). In particular, non-verbal reasoning has been flagged as low. This one needs very good pastoral care, a less-competitive atmosphere, and possibly project-based, creative learning environment. There's no ASD, but ADD is possible (on waitlist).

Child 2 is currently in Reception. Very bright and sparky, above expectations in all areas. Sensitive in nature, but with good resilience. Has a strong interest in performing arts (spec. ballet).

We prefer a more rural setting, but otherwise open to moving anywhere...

In brief, the shopping list is; commutable from London, 4-18 yrs, co-ed, day pupils, nurturing, good creative provision, small classes, project-based learning, not too sporty, supports lower ability/SEN but allows bright kids to fulfill potential.

Moon-on-stick, or any ideas? Thanks!

Have a look at Gads Hill at Higham ( Kent ) , the only thing about it is it only goes to 16 but you could then transfer out to Kings / Rochester independent or a local Grammar .

Thanks, this is helpful, I'll have a look. I can see that King's go through from Prep - would you not recommend them before 6th form?

St Christopher’s in Letchworth has everything you have asked for. Quite an alternative school (no uniform etc) and not everyone’s cup of tea, but has excellent creative stuff as well as the brightest getting strings of 9s at GCSE.

www.stchris.co.uk/?utm_source=gsn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=fandt_2022-23_open_days_ongoing_search_aug_22-apr_23&utm_content=brand&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhZeN6Kv7_AIViQatBh2P0QIjEAAYASAAEgLb1fD_BwE

St Columba’s College in St Albans is also worth a look. It has recently gone coed and is going from strength to strength as a result. Pastoral care is fabulous.

www.stcolumbascollege.org

Aldenham is another good call, although my knowledge is restricted to the secondary and not the prep.

www.aldenham.com

To add that St Christopher’s has the project based learning you are after. The other two follow a more traditional style.

I was coming on to say St Chris in Letchworth. DS is so happy there. I think it could be everything you’re looking for and many kids commute from London. I think people assume it’s a wacky school because there’s no uniform, teachers first names etc, but once you get over that you realise it’s just a great school!

Thanks all of you, this is really useful. St Chris had been on our original schedule, and I love the ethos, personally. However I have to sadly admit that Child 1 is in need of a more rigid, guided schedule - I think he would "coast" far too easily in a place like that.

One extra thing - do these places allow direct transfer from Junior to Senior? It would be really not ok if we had relocated, and done a year or two in Juniors only to find that they didn't pass the exams for entry to Y7/Y9...

Cranford House near Wallingford?
Cranford House

Good for commuting and in a lovely area.

School is small, all-through 3-18, mixed (former girls school) and worth a look re nurturing but with some discipline!

Kings School Rochester. A lovely all through school. Amazing in the creative arts, good but not excessive sport. Supports all abilities to achieve. Really caring and nurturing school.

Caterham, Downsend (Ashtead)

Caterham would fit the bill.

King's Ely ?

Worth a look and direct trains to KX

Rendcomb college, near Cirencester

You will probably get more choice of private day schools if you are not too far from London. Aldenham as mentioned above is relatively easy to get into (and for girls Rickmansworth Masonic - again easy to get into compared with others locally as far as I know ) and you could have the child who at 11+ might be more academic at a different school by the way. We had children at different schools, even the girls - Habs and North London Collegiate right through, sons at another school etc.

Fosse Bank in Hildenborough...mine is in reception atm, she is bright, sparky but needs the emotional support and she has that in spades here plus an almost personalised curriculum to stretch and challenge her.
Eldest (year 11) is next door at Sackville, has similar needs to your eldest and is thoroughly supported there as well.

Lewes Old Grammar School. Lovely creative school and parent body, pushes the most able but room for all abilities.

Do they absolutely have to attend the same school? My DC all have very different needs and I chose the schools which suited them best (so they all went to different schools). Would that be feasible?

Bedes in Eastbourne might fit the bill.

Caters for everyone from the super bright to the quirky. Has the Legat Dance School on site.

And its own zoo complete with meerkats...

I think there is a feeder prep school for the school.

Thanks everyone, this has given us lots of googling fodder!

Next step, I guess, is to get Y4 child to some specialist tuition, to give a fighting chance of getting through admissions at the place of choice...

Am I the only person who tends to feel a bit sorry for children who spend almost their whole school life at a single school? (Obviously the children of interested, well-off parents will have perfectly lovely lives!)

OP wouldn’t it be better to choose the best school(s) for each child, for now - and then see how they develop? In my experience moving school is wonderfully character forming for children - and they learn that different communities require different skills from them. Your year 2 in particular may require a very different school at 16 to the one they attend at 7.

Op, I have to say that I agree with Gruelle re the same school and set of classmates until age 18 not being necesssarily the best option, nor a school to suit two widely differing DC.
If DC One has been professionally assessed, then surely the Ed Pysch or whoever has some recomendations for the right prep for him/her? DC one sounds awfully like a lot of very clever dyslexic kids of my acquaintance, particularly the high verbal IQ, But i'm just a parent, not an assessor, If DC one is a DS, look up Bruern Abbey - he could either do Year four to year 8 there or stay til year 12, but rest assured that he would be enabled to reach his full academic potential there.

Dd went to an all through school. She left after year 6 and flew at a different school
I think there was one original girl left by the end of sixth form
Ask 6th form parents if their dcs started at the school

If you could stretch commute to 2hrs, Blundell's in Devon is an option. There is automatic transfer between prep and senior school, but prep has distinct character and facilities, incl state of the art dance studio. It's very inclusive, proudly non selective while stretching its many (50%) very able pupils ( who average Astar/A at A levels).

I hope you find a school to fit your 2 dc. I, too, have 2 dc with different needs, and different gender, and after having them for several years at different single sex preps, having found a co-ed school that fits them both, and takes stress of 11/13plus away, was a godsend! No more having to choose which sports day or nativity to attend as they always clashed.

If you choose an all-through school that has a large intake at 11 and/or 13, and ideally different sides/campuses, it should stay new enough for longer. Boarding schools will generally change quite a bit at 11 and 13, as the local kids get new friends from across the country/world.

Not a straight through but linked St Neots followed by Lord Wandsworth.

But something to bear in mind, there might not be 1 school that suits both for all ages. You could end up with the wrong fit by trying to force it.