Which of these 4 options (state/private) for dyslexic DD

[Bearlionfalcon]

We have another year to mull this dilemma and of course we don’t know for sure where we will get places but these are the likely options, and I’d like to know how you’d rank them in order of preference, for an artistic, bright, creative but pretty dyslexic DD who can hide away in a class of 30 and benefits a lot from 1:1 attention

Option 1:
Big, local mixed comp.

Pluses: because it’s big, it’s pretty well resourced, including a good and well-resourced art department. Lots of creative GCSE options. Local, so she will have local friends. Free.

Minuses: reports of poor behaviour. Very uninspiring head. Doesn’t have great SEND support, and what it does have is in demand from some seriously challenging pupils. I fear she and her needs will get lost in such a big school; one of the school’s subject teachers told me she has no time to even look at which of her pupils she teaches have additional needs like dyslexia. Pupils giving the tour were pretty monosyllabic.

Option 2:

Small local all-girls’ comp.

Pluses: good academic reputation, good progress 8 score, ofsted outstanding. Reports of behaviour are very good - it seems calm and studious. Small, which means DD more likely to be known. Single sex, which I think will suit her. Local, so she will have local friends. Free. Pupils giving the tour were lovely if quite shy.

Minuses: Small, cramped and quite uninspiring site. Art department was tiny and not all that well resourced, and this is the one thing DD really excels in - though enthusiastic new head of department has just joined and is keen to make it more of a priority. Fewer creative GCSE options than the big comp. Curriculum seems very light on creative subjects, they just don’t seem to be. Huge priority. SEND team were a bit unenthusiastic and noncommittal about support when I met them.

Option 3:
Local mixed non-selective private school.

Pluses: Small class sizes, so more 1:1 attention. Good dyslexia support. Pretty good art department. Good academic results without pressure. Pupils giving the tour seemed lovely, happy and confident. Local, so she would have local friends.

Minuses: fees of over £30k a year, which would be a stretch for us/ ok for one DC on the basis of her dyslexia but not all our 3 DC and I fear this is a can of worms. Small site. Will it be a small pool of friends/ a bit of a weird bubble? Boy-heavy intake due to it being a rare non selective private school that’s mixed.

option 4:
Well-regarded all girls private school

Pluses: VV good reputation for pastoral care, academics and enrichment. Small class sizes, so more 1:1 attention. Excellent dyslexia support. Lovely art department. Strong pastoral care. Broad curriculum y7-9 with lots of enrichment / artsy opportunities. Good academic results without pressure. Single sex, which I feel would suit DD. Pupils giving the tour seemed lovely, happy and confident.

Minuses: 35-45 mins commute into central london which might be a bit grim at first. Fees of over £30k a year, which would be a stretch for us/ ok for one DC on the basis of her dyslexia but not all our 3 DC and I fear this is a can of worms. Small (though very beautiful) site. Girls seem lovely but is it a privileged bubble? Slightly disappointing range of creative GCSE options.

It feels like so much to weigh up, and I keep debating how much weight to give each consideration (being local vs all girls vs good dyslexia support vs good art dept vs GCSE options vs not having the pressure on the family of paying £35k a year) etc etc! Would really appreciate advice on which factors to prioritise, from those who have done all this and come out of the other side. TIA!

“I think she benefits from being taught in a truly comprehensive environment, where there are children more able and children less able than her and also there are many children with various special educational needs. In our experience the teachers in state schools are well practised and able to teach children of all sorts of abililties and needs.”

these are two really good points which I hadn’t properly considered @saywh4tnow - and my daughter is definitely the same in the sense that she compares herself a lot to other kids around her and would hate to feel like the slowest kid in the class, so maybe that’s an advantage to a truly comprehensive environment. And yes I do think there is something to be said for teachers who have worked in state schools who are used to adapting their teaching to all levels. I do think the two private schools I’ve looked at are very set up for dyslexia though, it’s sort of part of their USP, they appeal to parents who don’t want their kids in a pushy and overly academic environment. I actually think the most academic school is option two - the private schools both have a broad and creative curriculum whereas I think option 2 is on a real mission to create an atmosphere of seriousness and studiousness and their academic results would suggest they’ve achieved that - but reading between the lines it does feel like that’s slightly come at the cost of creativity. They don’t even study art all year round - it’s on a ‘carousel’ with food tech and drama so they only get a term of each. We would definitely need to supplement that with out of school art opportunities for the first few years at least. But I’m finding its not all that straightforward to do this with art, compared to, say, sport or music - there isn’t as much of a culture of clubs and activities etc. and it’s complicated by the need for spaces and materials - which is why I do feel a well equipped area dept at school is really beneficial. Maybe I just need to do better at seeking things out!