Help! Worcs Private Schools - is entry competitive??

[Indyschoolq]

This is in reference to schools like King’s (Worcester), RGS (Worcester), Bromsgrove School, or any others you may suggest around these areas.

My DH and I have been worried about our eldest (ADD and very sensitive) being allocated a state secondary school that is notoriously poor and historically often rated inadequate/special measures. In our minds we always thought ‘Well, worst case scenario, we can save and scrimp to get him in a private school’. However, we’re now reading on their websites that for entry from Year 7 and above, you have entrance exams (CEM and whatnot)…. Were we naive to think it was as simple as a matter of paying a huge bill after signing them up? Could he actually just be rejected by the private schools due to poor entrance exam performance?

Help! Any advice/tips/experiences welcome!

I’m not sure but I know that a local primary school teacher was quite surprised that some of their ‘mid level’ year 6’s got into RGS. I suspect with the VAT rise you’ll be able to get a place at one of them - my dc are in state but I think they both quite aggressively market themselves for a reason - they’re not full!

Also, could you move to an area with better state options? What year is your DC in?

How old is he? If possible get him into prep now

Thank you for this info. Bit worrying as I’d say he’s around the middle too. Fair point about the marketing! Just makes me nervous that he’s not be a shoe in as we wouldn’t want him at that secondary school.

Were we naive to think it was as simple as a matter of paying a huge bill after signing them up? Could he actually just be rejected by the private schools due to poor entrance exam performance?
Part of the reason that they get good results is that they select good intake!
Is he officially diagnosed? - ask about 'reasonable adjustments' for the entrance exam.

Have you used this search page?

Private schools are definitely very selective when it comes to any SEN. They will only accept mild SEN, anything more severe will be bounced back to state. They don’t want any negative effect on their results.

In theory yes but would be gutted as we do like this general area….

We were hoping to start setting aside more money this year. He’s in Year 4 and I was looking at 11+ or 13+ entry. Hasn’t even occurred to us to consider prep school and not prepared for such a huge expense yet 😩

The SEN hub at his school suggested to us he is but atm say he’s doing well enough that it’s manageable (so not diagnosed). Anyone who meets him can tell very quickly he has issues with attention though (will need to shout his name).

Thanks for the link!

That’s a broad and inaccurate generalisation you’re making there! Selective schools are selective (clue in name) but there are many non selective nurturing Indy schools with an abundance of kids with SEN.

So general consensus seems to be that yes he can be rejected?

Are there any non-selective private schools with a sixth form?

Bowbrook House School is Pershore way but no idea about 6th form.

What about Bredon school, or is it too far? They are very good for dyslexia I've heard. I don't know anything more than that though!

Bredon near Tewkesbury has a 6th form and very SEN focused (dyslexia specialists)

Great minds!

Thank you - it’s in the far side but appreciate the suggestion!

A friends SEN child went to this school and heard nothing but good things.

Thank you! Bowbrook does look so lovely. May need to consider this one as somewhere to go. Would need to find a sixth form after it though and ideally wouldn’t want so much changing of schools 😓

Tbh I wouldn’t worry too much about 6th form yet - the sixth form college is excellent and would be well equipped for Sen.

Sorry I don’t think Bowbrook has a sixth form - it says it goes up to age 16!

I know of 3 children in year 5 with SEN who have moved from The Grange to Bowbrook.

The parents knew they were not going to be successful at the seniors so moved them before they had to take the entrance exam.

That’s interesting. When you say ‘not successful’ - what do you mean?

EDIT: As in, can you clarify a bit as I didn’t realise they need to take an entrance exam if the already attend the school?

can you clarify a bit as I didn’t realise they need to take an entrance exam if the already attend the school?
I think this is a fairly newish thing in education (i.e. last 20 years or so). It is no longer a given that attending the Prep means that you are "ours for life" and will get into Senior school. They don't like to publicise this, so it can come as a shock.

Slightly on a tangent, but can you help me out by telling me which state schools in South Worcestershire are considered decent? I am south of the county border so don't know the Worcestershire schools! @Indyschoolq

Bowbrook is v nuturing , but for a v sensitive child with ADD I would absolutely go for Bredon and would expect to be not accepted to the RGS/Kings/Bromsgrove. Bredon has quite a big minibus network so more accessible than you might think