Any advice on Manor, York High, Millthorpe, Bootham?

[Surrealistrhinoceros]

Hi

I already have kids in York primaries and as the eldest has a statement we are looking around at secondary schools although he's only in Y4. You get asked to suggest schools when they're in Y5 - scary!

Anyway, he is academically high average but has ASD type social and emotional difficulties, a statement for 20 hours TA support, and doesn't find life easy at a small friendly primary, so we are after somewhere with excellent SEN support and a really understanding approach. We are Acomb way so are looking at Manor, York High and Millthorpe. I know various things about each school from various people but would love a perspective from any current users!

We are not C of E but would qualify for a community place at Manor, and I will take my hat off to any religion that is willing and able to educate DS :)

We are also if we mortgage DS to pay for it considering Bootham. It's just within our financial range at a huge push. Again any perspectives welcome.

Thanks!

I have some experience of Manor. My oldest DD left in June and my younger DD is still there.

DD1 left to go to another school as Manor doesn't have a sixth form. A boy with ASD who had been in some of her lessons before has gone to the same school for sixth form and DD is shocked by how badly he is treated in the new school compared to Manor - people laughing at him etc. My impression as a parent of children without any special needs is that children with special needs are well cared for at Manor. That said, the Christian ethos is very prevalent at Manor, which might be off-putting for some - you say you are not C of E.

My friend has children at Bootham. It sounds great and they are doing well there. The only negative I have heard from her is that the year groups are small, so there is not a great choice of friends for her DC. At least, it's fine until it goes wrong, but when they fall out there's nowhere else to go, if that makes sense.

I know a couple of children at Manor who have social/emotional difficulties and they get on well, are accepted by peers and well supported by staff. I would not have the same level of confidence in york high, milthorpe possibly. I'd be choosing manor out of your state options. Bootham is an excellent school.

Thank you all. Hadn't realised this wouldn't show up in my threads I'm on, so apologies for delayed thanks.

Really useful perspective on Manor. We are not C of E but would be happy for them anyone to educate DS. If they can do a good job of that, then good luck to them and I'm happy to support their ethos. Reservation is that DS is a terribly black and white thinker and currently a convinced atheist. Does anyone know how the Manor experience pans out for children who don't have faith - presumably there are quite a few given the community places?

I agree Bootham is a lovely school, but will be a massive financial stretch for us. Also need to be sure DS will hit level 4s in SATs, he is bright but with some funny blips in maths. Don't suppose anyone has recent experience of the entrance procedures?

Cheers and thanks all!

I don't think lack of faith is particularly an issue at Manor - as you say, half the places are community, and faith places tend to measure parents' faith rather than the pupil's! I think it would be difficult if you were very opposed to faith in education because the Christian ethos is prevalent - the Lord's Prayer is on the wall etc - but I know from my DDs that debates in RE can be heated with strong opinions on both sides.

At the moment RE is compulsory to GCSE (at least, it has been for my DDs) but they follow the Philosophy and Ethics syllabus rather than one which looks at particular religions, so it has been very interesting and not at all prescriptive.

Sorry, had another thought about Manor!

When DD1 applied the faith places were allocated regardless of distance - the more evidence of "very regular worship", the higher up the priority. Thus there were children admitted from as far away as Selby and Easingwold on this basis, and the available places could have been filled by "very regular worshippers". This has changed now and there is a geographical slant to the faith places, which could well have led to a more mixed intake.