Is there any such thing as a small secondary school in/around London?

[razumov]

I'm just planning ahead for DS who needs a fair amount of individual attention and could not survive an academy-style regime due to SNs.

Isn't a larger school more likely to have a range of staff capable of dealing with SNs than a smaller one?

The only school I can think of near me that really makes a virtue of having "Small Schools" and lots of individually tailored attention is an academy school with quite a full-on regime, possibly the kind you are trying to avoid.

But some large schools seem much better than others, at breaking down into manageable units (tutor groups, houses, "schools within schools", vertical tutor groups etc.) though they will still essentially be large schools if that's a make or break issue.

There are secondaries with 3 or 4 form entry in and around London. The downside is often limited subject choices.

Thanks - I don't mind about limited choices. I just want the high level of pastoral care and nurturing. He is at a large school at the moment and they never seem to satisfactorily sort out playground problems or implement IEPs. Could you give me names of schools - I would consider moving anywhere.

So far, I have been recommended a few big coeds in SW London and Fortismere(?). I would consider a very cheap alternative school and ask GPS to chip in if it turned out to be a perfect match. I just want strong SEN support and good integration into mainstream school life

hampton and twickenham academies both have quite different approach. In many ways its not the size of the school that's the issue but how they organize themselves. alot of secodaries are better at sorting things like IEPs because the have to be more organized Privately Halliford and St james ashford have a good reputation for pastoral care but aren't cheap. so does st christopher in Letchworth.

Fortismere isnt that small, bt quite good with SN.

Friern Barnet (not far from there) is small.

What sort of SN? There are a fair few state schools near me with resourced provision - a 'base' for students with SN, although they are integrated into the main school for as many lessons as they can cope with. There is a new one in Haringey (cant recall name), Hendon school has one, I think JCoSS in East Barnet has one, too.

King's School in Harpenden is small. It isn't an SEN school but it has an excellent reputation for doing brilliant things for children with SENs.

And second St Christopher's Letchworth.

Thames Christian College is quite small, and I have heard good on individual attention (& on encouraging individual strengths whether that be academic or creative). They are upfront about not catering for children with more than "mild Asperger Syndrome" though. And also private, not the most expensive, but still not cheap in real terms.

Thames Christian College

Evelyn Grace Academy was the other school btw - the one I thought wouldn't suit.
And despite their reputation for being like a boot camp, AFAIK they have always prioritised pastoral care & SEN provison. They even have a lovely fluffy therapy dog who visits classes now, so I think they might be trying to lose the boot camp reputation a bit .
It is still basically a big comprehensive in a urban area though.

Canbury School next to Richmond Park (Kingston side) very small and lots of SN provision. Not sure about cost but might be worth looking at.

The level of pastoral care is NOT affected by school size - its affected by the ethos of the SMT
chances are a really big school with a good house system and tutor groups will have better resources to help your child as an individual

DDs secondary has 1400+ pupils, but the SN department have been great offering her pastoral support. She doesn't make friends easily and is always the one who, at best is left out, and at worst bullied quite nastily.

We have had no serious trouble at secondary at all. There has always been some one she can talk to when it got a bit much. They have plenty of extra staff and reception, finance and matron are really patient. Forgotten kit, lost locker keys and various minor ailments have all passed with no fuss.

Their support has been invaluable, my very easily flustered dizzy DD is at 14 turning into a very sensible young lady

Also being a big school they have plenty of clubs for somewhere to go at lunch time, so being on her own is much less of an issue.

There are a couple of secondary schools in the Clapham area which cater well for children with ASD, but you need to put aside your prejudice, playground gossip, etc. Stockwell Park High School has an autistic unit and Lambeth Academy has very strong pastoral care and many children on the spectrum. Lilian Baylis in Vauxhall also seems to cater well for children with SEN and is probably smaller than most inner city secondary schools. The main thing is to visit the schools and don't kid yourself that your child will be better off in a super competitive middle class school where all the children are 'nice'. Talk to the SENCOs. Your son might do very well in a large school with lots of learning mentors and kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, where they won't stand out because everyone is so different.

My kids are at a 2000 pupil school but I think it is the best I have seen for helping and caring for pupils with SEN. It has a special unit, with their own base for one type of SEN. It separates year 7 quite a bit, and has a special group for pupils who find settling more difficult than others eg. ASD. It has an amazing SeENCo, and a lot of well trained TAs and special needs teachers. It also buys in extra support as needed.
It is an academy btw.