Good non-selective schools in Surrey for creative, autistic daughter

[AllGonePeteTong1]

My DD is in year 5 and is struggling at her (outstanding) state primary school. Despite it being a very nurturing school, she finds the demands of a busy, noisy classroom really hard. She also hates wearing uniform (a daily trigger for meltdowns). She's also a bit behind academically due to SEN (Adhd and autism), although she's on the low support needs end of the spectrum and has no EHCP.

I'm already dreading secondary school. The ones nearest us are super strict and very large. Kids treated like inmates, detentions dished out for every minor infraction. I think that environment is going to crush her.

We're considering an independent school for secondary. It would have to be non-selective, nurturing and offer lots in terms of creative arts (she loves art, drama and music). Good SEN support. Commutable from London/Surrey borders. Ideally with no uniform, or at least a more relaxed approach to it.

Does such a school exist? Suggestions very gratefully received!

@AllGonePeteTong1 I know several people whose kids have gone to Ewell Castle and they have absolutely thrived. I’ve never heard a bad word about it (other than usual niggles people always have with whatever school their kids are at)

I’m not sure what part of Surrey/London you are but Dunotar would be a good option if you are in the Reigate area.

Box Hill is slightly alternative and less academic.

It was awful. Horrendous actually. I’m not going to go into details here, to preserve confidentiality. However, as well as our experience, I know several people who also removed their DC. Leadership is weak, safeguarding poor (google the previous deputy head & safeguarding lead!). They failed my DC in so many ways.

I'm sorry to hear that @ClarabelleRose That sounds really stressful

There is a new school opening at Leith Hill which might be of interest. https://www.leithhillschool.com/

Have you thought about Canbury School near Kingston?

@Dilysthemilki hadn’t considered Canbury. I thought that was just a prep school tbh. Is it good for SEN?

It’s from Year 7 and they specialise in children who are that tricky cohort who can access GCSE’s but neurodiversity means they really struggle in mainstream. My son attends there through his EHCP. It’s just behind the Kingston Gate of Richmond Park. He’s done so well there, he’s in Yr11 now.

Thank you that’s really good to know, I’ll check it out

Hi,
I know this is an old post but would really interested to find out about the mix of boys/girls at Kingswood House as we are considering it for our DD next year? She has lost her confidence as she is trailing academically due to dyslexia and is also likely on the spectrum (assessment pending). Friendships has also been an issue and

The boys definitely do outnumber the girls by quite a lot (I'd estimate that the ratio of boys to girls is probably around 3:1 over the school as a whole) but it doesn't seem to matter. The girls tend to hang out with girls in the year above and the year below at break time. Also, in my experience the small class sizes seem to lead to many of the girls and boys having almost a sibling or cousin type of relationship and everyone seems to get on quite well.