Experiences of Blundell's and other South West private schools for SEN children

[Privateschoolrecommendations]

Hi everyone

Im looking at a number of private schools in the SW for my 8 and 9 year old children who both have SEN. Neither very academic or sporty but sociable and curious. We have visited Blundells, Stover, Mount Kelly and Plymouth College and they all offered something unique. However, we were most impressed with the Head, the children and the facilities at Blundell's. Taster days will be next step but we would like to narrow this down to 2 schools.

One of our main concerns, is the emphasis private schools place on sport. Whilst this is a huge attraction for many kids, my kids, find sport very challenging, due to diagnoses of dyspraxia.

Essentially, we are looking for a school where the children can continue into year 7, with strong ethos around kindness, SEN provision and pastoral support and helping each child achieve their best potential. Not essential, but would be a bonus, if the parents are also welcoming. Looking for advice or recommendations from those with children in a SW private school, especially Blundells.

Thanks for reading

I don't know Blundells prep but know the senior school. I agree, it is absolutely fabulous. Especially if academic or sporty or both. I understand their SEN is good if child clever, however, aware of others who have struggled especially if they are then not sporty either. Sports is still a big part of the school.

Depending on your children/child and locations I think there are other schools you should visit to see how theyd fit. Shebber, Kingsley Bideford, Maynard etc some schools will have negative views from others, however, you need to see for yourself obviously as schools suit different children.

Have a look at the threads regarding Our Lady's Abbingdon and the link between the new CFO at MK and Guy Ayling. Very dodgy.

You honestly need to look at Kingsley in Bideford. It is incredible. I looked at Plymouth College and Mount Kelly and for SEN Kingsley whipped the floor with them. Absolutely excellent provision.

I will take a look. Thank you 😊

I feel as though im also having to be even more vigilant about their financial stability as well in the current climate. Its been a mind bending exercise

Is this for day or boarding, @Privateschoolrecommendations? Devon’s a big county and so much will depend in logistics if travelling daily.
Fwiw I believe MK is fine for prep but not great as a senior school. Blundells is a very good all rounder and Shebbear is certainly well-liked as a friendly and supportive environment. Stover is often used for children who don’t pass the admissions for the grammars- I’d want to test out whether it’s fully co-ed or still a girls’ school at heart with some boys added. That might be an attraction of course, if your DC are DD.
If it’s boarding you are after, I should think only Blundells has sufficient numbers to recommend it. If you are in E Devon you might also look at Hazlegrove and the Taunton schools, which have quite a lot going for them.

Thanks @Toyesrus for your reply.

Its for day initially with the option to board from year 9. We have a DS and a DD and have decided against Blundells as concerned that non sporty and SEN DS will struggle in the Senior School. We have also discounted Stover.

We are now considering relocating and exploring Wellington School and Sherborne. I'm aware they are very different propositions but we have polar opposite children!

Thanks to everyone so far with their valuable replies.

We are now considering a move to the Sherborne area and are currently looking seriously at both Sherborne (Prep initially, then potentially Sherborne Boys/Girls) and Leweston. We have visited both and liked them for quite different reasons, so I would really appreciate views from current/recent parents, particularly anyone who has experience of both schools.

We were very impressed by Sherborne's small classes, pastoral feel and the breadth of opportunities. We also liked the possibility of the children eventually going into the separate Boys' and Girls' schools while remaining part of the same wider school community. We came away feeling it was a genuinely kind place.

Leweston setting and outdoor life are fantastic, the equestrian and art provision in particular really impressed us, and we liked its apparent willingness to find an academic/vocational route that suits the individual child. Recent GCSE results also seem strong. We could see Dd here especially.

The obvious difference later is cost. If both children eventually went through Sherborne, boarding from around Year 9 appears to make it vastly more expensive than keeping them as day pupils at Leweston. We can afford either, but don't particularly want to spend the additional money simply for the name if the children's actual experience and outcomes aren't materially better. Also we would be living locally and there would be no need unless the children really wanted to board.

I'd particularly love to hear about:

Learning support/SEND in practice rather than what is written in the prospectus – especially in-class support and assistive technology.

Pastoral care and friendship groups. How kind are the children actually?

Whether Leweston genuinely provides the breadth of sport/outdoor/art/equestrian opportunities it appears to.

I'm not really looking for league-table comparisons as I've gone fairly cross-eyed looking at the results already! I'm much more interested in what the schools are actually like to live with as a family and what happens when a child doesn't fit neatly into the standard academic or sporty mould.

Thank you if you have read this far🙏