Are independent secondary schools biased against home ed kids?

[sanserif]

Hi,

My DS is 18m. I'm trying to keep my options open at the moment by registering him with a couple independent schools. We may end up going the state school route and we're also toying with the idea of home ed, so that's something I'm starting to look into.

If we did go the home ed route, we'd only do it for primary school and the plan would be to send him to an independent secondary school. I have full confidence that I could educate him better than the school system, so I'm not worried about what his exam results would be. But are independent schools biased against home ed kids? I'm worried they might just rule them him out as too weird/hippy/unsocialised. Anyone have any experiences they could share with moving from home-ed to an ind. secondary school?

ds is in year 8 at a prep and one child has joined this year specifically to take 13+. I think from the point of view of understanding routines and expectations going straight into a senior school may be a shock. You'd also have to look at ways of supplementing the academics with sport, music etc especially in team/group settings as exposure to that is also taken for granted.

Rule them out of what? Do you mean like not letting them join stuff? Or not selecting them to even come to the school?

I think she means in the application process. Bear in mind the whole systems of schools may well have changed by the time your ds is at an age to apply for secondary with more options - academies, opted out etc.

paisleyleaf & LIZS: I do mean the application process, so not selecting them in the first place.

I'm not really talking about whether or not he'll be prepared -- let's just say for the sake of argument, he is. But what I'm wondering is, will the schools consider a home ed kid, or would they be inclined, regardless of test results, to dismiss him b/c they think he or we will be too weird to bother with. I'm not from here, he's my first DS, so don't have much experience w/the UK school system but the overriding impression I get from all the independent school websites is a certain degree of conformity. So I'm worried these schools might just dismiss him out of hand, even if he actually did really well in his exams.

I think at the moment each school wants the best chidlren for their particular school, to enhance its results and profile in some way, and fill places whatever the background. I don't think they'd dismiss a HE child but they would expect some demonstration of his social skills etc at interview. I suspect it will vary widely from one school to another too. for many you have ot know the system and the criteria of each, to regoister well in advance of admission to even sit the test, or need to take Common Entrance. Bear in mind he'd be up against candidates with letters of endorsement from head teachers with whom the admitting school may have a relationship too. ds is currently being prepped for admissions tests and interviews and it is like a formal job interview, complete with cv. But who knows how the economy will sit in 10 years or so and how choosy (or not) independent schools will be able to afford to be.

I think if he does well in the entrance tests and comes across as bright, articulate and engaged in the interview he'd not be marked down for being HE.

Hi,
We are home educating DS1 aged 9. Two weeks ago we went to look at a selective secondary school. We spoke to head of dept for maths and English. The head of maths is home educating his own daughter. He was really impressed when he spoke to Ds about his maths. We have been told to ensure we can provide one ref from an independant person regarding his social skills/co-operation with peers. They suggested the scouts/cubs/boys brigade or similar.

There are huge benefits to had from home education, the local authourity Home ed officer came out to visit us recently, he will be educating his grandson at home. He also said that it is widely known that quite a high percentage would be identified as gifted if they were in school. I'm not sure if this is because parents take their children out when the school doesn't meet their needs or whether Home Ed has that effect I would think if that was common knowledge, then many private schools would also be aware and be very pleased to accept your application.

DD2 is Year 7 (ie just started secondary age) and last year we looked at schools to keep our options open. The local state school she dismissed because the HT was very disparaging about home education and inferred to my DD that she would lack social skills (which didn't inspire her with confidence, as you might imagine!).

There was a private school she was quite keen on and they were falling over themselves to have her. In the end we decided not to go because she is happy to continue home ed, but we certainly didn't meet any worries. This school said they routinely took home ed children because they always found them so bright and motivated.

So I think, as others have said, depends on the school really.

I'm a big believer in meeting a child's current needs, as you see them. Lots of things could happen in the future. You don't know where you'll be living or what your financial and personal situation will be. You don't know how your child will turn out. You might discover that your child's personality isn't suited to the type of school which prefers conformity, or that he has the type of special needs which would not be welcomed by independent schools, or...

Your concerns will only be relevant if you decide that home education will provide the best education for your child in his early years. If that is what you believe, then would you really be prepared to subject your child to an education which you are sure is inferior, for seven years, just in case he might meet prejudice from a headteacher one day? That seems a high price to pay, just to avoid a situation which may not even materialise.

OK, thanks guys for your responses. It's good to hear that quite a few people have had a positive experience transitioning from HE to an independent school. Will keep this in mind when it actually comes time to make our decision about HE vs state vs independent.

Right now I think I'm leaning towards a really cosy school with very small classes and lots of individual attention since maybe that strikes the right balance for us. Lots of time to mull it all over though!

From my experience, I would advise introducing your child to school at Junior age. Transition from Junior school to secondary is difficult enough, but to go from Home to secondary may be a giant step too far.

For what it's worth, my home ed DS was offered scholarships to 2 independent schools, though one called us in to grill us about what he'd been doing and seemed amazed to find we weren't as expected. :o

Oh, and despite what people with no experience might say , I don't think you will need to worry about the transition from home to secondary. My 14 year old DD has just started a course at college for able 14 year olds - so from home to something even bigger and more scary than secondary school, especially as they are 14 year olds in a place full of 16-19 year olds. All the others are on day release from school.

She takes herself there on the train, is very motivated and independent over it all, and is absolutely loving every minute of it. She made friends straight away with no problems at all.

Home ed children are very different to how those with no experience of them think they are .

Are you suggesting that I have NO experience?

Well said, posy.:)

The transition from Junior school to secondary IS a massive hurdle to cross.

Independent schools set their own admissions criteria, and so are free to choose their pupils any way they want to. Finding out their attitude to HE children could be an interesting part of finding schools that will suit you and DCs. We're doing the rounds of visiting secondary schools at the moment, and have already been struck at how some are far more open minded than others in how they assess children. Happy hunting!