Ideas for in year transfer (year 8)

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DD13 is currently at a good, all girls' state school, but isn't particularly happy there. She is very shy and anxious (has ASD), but bright. She just gets... lost. I managed to get CAT scores from the school which were Verbal 141 and Non-Verbal 120.

With this profile, can anyone think of a school that might suit her better? She hates sport, is very creative (art, poetry, obsessed with anime!). Looking for somewhere that will nurture her.

We are on the South London, Kent border!

If you are looking for all girls in that area, there are a couple.
Benenden - very competitive and will need to pass their entrance exam. Think I am right in saying CATs need to be 130+ before you can sit the exam. Very impressive alumni and facilities.
Woldingham - not as competitive but broad intake and gets appx 50% A/A* GCSE, better with SEN than Benenden I suspect as broader intake. Lovely grounds direct train link to Clapham.
Also poss worth looking to Guildford area - GHS always in top tier and only 30min from Waterloo. Ditto St Catherine's - not much detail on those but hopefully someone else will fill you in.
A bit further into Sussex you also have Mayfield - horsey, very slightly less academic than Woldingham and not as expensive.

Thank you, that’s helpful. We are actually Catholic, so may well be worth a look at Woldingham…

I have heard good things, particularly sciences but across the board it seems strong. It isn't cheap but it does get the results.

Mayfield is also Catholic but you may need to board I suppose, depending on how far/train links www.mayfieldgirls.org/

Thank you. Mayfield would be too far (and she’d never board!).

I don’t suppose you know whether Waldingham are supportive of ASD/anxious/very introverted girls?

I suspect they would be, but the person I know with DC there hasn't got any ND children. I think you can have a look on the govt site and find out what % have SEN and make a judgement from that. Most grammar schools have very low levels >3% usually so anything above that, or what your current school is, would be supported more (privates do tend to be better with support and have higher % but worth comparing!).

Yes, that’s a good idea. I have wondered about an in-year application to a grammar, but I’m not sure if that’s even a thing?!

I can't help you there I am afraid!
I just looked it up and yes they have a 27.15% SEN cohort, which is large!
I don't really use the govt site as they don't put the full results in for most private schools, better to go to their own website and see the breakdown of results by subject IMO. It is however helpful for general population details like SEN which might help you https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/125369/woldingham-school/absence-and-pupil-population

@IBorAlevelsyouve been hugely helpful anyway! Thanks so much. I think I’m going to do a bit of phoning around, see where we get to

I'm very happy to help! Benenden is not super selective (CAT scores quoted above are not quite accurate) - but she'd need to board as it would just be too far from you as a day girl (plus there are only a few day girls, so trickier to be in the minority). Woldingham is a good option to consider. Grammar schools very rarely have in-year occasional places come up and they can be big and impersonal, so probably not right for your DD from what you've said. Do message me and I can help in more detail.

If you want in year transfer then you will need to ring up the schools and see where has a vacancy. Lots of movements for year 9 but exams are happening now.

Why is she unhappy? Big question for a child to answer. However, last thing you want to do is jump ship into private and then be billed and still unhappy. Does she want to move schools? has she got any pals in her class? Is the current school helping her?

(Equally my boy was in a boys school and so unhappy then moved to Co ed and loves it so it does have to be the right school)

Would she fancy co ed? Are you close to a train station as that will open some options ….

Also, if your getting into the through schools what you have to bear in mind is that some of these children have been together since nursery so there is some strong friendship circles that are hard to break into. So if ASD might be better in a senior school….

We moved my dd at a similar age (but between two private schools). She has ASD, also. I think where I went wrong first time was mainly thinking about suiting her academically. The first school was fine academically but the size and busyness triggered her sensory issues to the point that she wasn’t really able to engage. We moved her to a very small school, that I hadn’t even heard of, and it’s working really well. Which is a convoluted way of getting to the point of… just moving to private won’t necessarily solve whatever problems she’s having. It’s maybe worth contacting an education consultant who can give you a wider view, with her specific traits in mind. If it’s “just” social side, maybe you’ll have a wider range of choices, we had to think about size and sensory overwhelm and had a shortlist of three, the one we went for was absolutely the right place. We’re the other side of London from you so specifics are less useful.