Guildford - secondary education Yr 7

[moid]

The time has come finally that I have to get my head around secondary education for DS1.

DS1 has struggled throughout his school years, he has just been diagnosed as on the autistic spectrum. The school and I are finally talking on the same page and Yr 6 is so far going well. He is emotionally immature and years of tough time at school have blighted his self esteem. He suffers from high degrees of anxiety and strange sensitivities. Smart boy and doing fine but not working to the top of his capabilities. Highly dramatic and outgoing.

Schools in my radar:

1. County school - probably the state school we would get into.
2. Duke of Kent, Ewhurst - saw it last year and was impressed but is it to small?
3. Frensham Heights

Have rejected King Edwards (sat schooling !), Reeds (likes conformist), George Abbott (too big and probably wouldn't get in)

Any thoughts? Any experiences? Before I hit the merry go round of school open days again!

More House has been very good for boys of differing academic abilities I have had the pleasure of meeting through a voluntary youth activity I used to run. They were also good at providing support to a student I knew whose goal in life was to be able to go to the same private secondary as his brothers, and successfully taught him skills in the time he was there that he took to his next school.

Frensham Heights - would your son's autism have an impact on his academic ability if he found the setup there difficult in any way? I ask because a family I know sent their disabled daughter there and were asked to remove her when she couldn't acheive the grades they expected of their pupils.

Hi littone - think his academic ability would be fine. Anyway we are going to look tommorow, if he likes it, them will probably will talk to them further.

Spoke to my dad this afternoon so feeling a lot better

Apologies for my kneejerk reaction, it was unfair, I know how difficult these decisions are. I blame it on too much wine and on getting my middle son ready for uni. He went to RGS so have experience of both sides and of parents who find ASD diagnosis difficult to swallow. My FIL pays fees for More House as well.
I think that ASD children can be very clever but can also find external exams very diffiult. Where More House scores highly in my opinion is that it fights for the children in getting them extra time etc in exams which saves parents the additional stress.
My son's self esteem has been boosted no end by More House and he is a different child who looks forward to going back to school.
I hope you find the right school for your son, it is really important that they feel happy and secure in their enviroment so that they can achieve their potential.

Thanks dizzyblonde - no apology needed. I am becoming extremely neurotic about this and therefore have lost all sense of proportion.

Frensham Heights was lovely but DS1 spent the whole time walking round telling me that he was not going there. God, I would have loved all those opportunities as opposed to just surviving school as I did. We are out of options now.

Think we are County bound and I will do my best to support him and if it all goes pear shaped then will revisit.

I am considering Leighton Park for my 2 sons, any advice? I love the school, the new head and the feel of the school but I am not sure. My sons are both highly able. I am looking at st george's college as well. any ideas?

If they are very academically able then RGS in Guildford is very good. DS1 has just left there for uni and had a great time. I presume the Leighton Park you are talking about is in Reading and I've seen lots of RGS boys on the train from Reading to Guildford.

One of my DS' friends was on the ASD. He was at RGS with my son, initially very quiet and barely spoke but absolutely thrived and while he is never going to be loud boy he is now at uni, doing very well and certainly has gained a lot of confidence from RGS. The school is suprisingly very caring in many ways and can deal with ASD boys, they recognise this at interview and see the best in the child and their strengths.

Thank you dizzylonde. great to hear that RGS suits quiete boys as well. My sons don't have any SN they are just quite as you have guessed. I will certainly look at RGS.

I have checked RGS but it's only a day school (St George's as well) I am looking for a school with a boarding facility as well. i have 4 children 2 girls and 2 boys and I would prefer a co-ed school for my boys. However I am checking the girls schools for my girls. any help ?

Sorry RGS is a boys school only as well. I don't know that area very well :(

King Edwards Witley is getting rid of Saturday school from September 2012 and they have an open day this Thursday, 13th October if you are interested in looking around.

I like Leighton Park and would certainly consider it. Where do you live, and what kind of school do you want? Do you need boarding?
Other schools I might/would consider include Bearwood college in Wokingham, maybe Gordons (a state boarding school). Most schools in Surrey are single sex (well private ones). For a very alternative school there is Frensham Heights. I believe there is an Independent schools fair in Battersea Park at half-term, which might give you more options.

thank you mummytime, I live in Marlow. I am thinking of either moving near a perfect school for all my children (I have 4; 2boys & 2 girls) or different schools with boarding facilities. Have you got someone in Leighton Park?

Where did you go in the end?