Frewen College, East Sussex

[Iamaworrywart]

Does anyone have any experience good or bad regarding this school and it's success with mildly dyslexic children?

DS2 has just done an evaluation at Frewen and been offered a place (yeah!). Now we just need to get LEA funding ...

How mild is mild? Boarding or day? Age/sex (of DC)? Co-morbidities? Private funding or LEA?

carat DS has just been offered a place in year 7 to board. Few wobbles at first but he thoroughly enjoyed the evaluation. From a parent's perspective it was nothing short of miraculous. The staff are fantastic - they listen and take immediate action if something is not quite right for the child. DS could work without any adult 1:1 for the first time ever and the effect on his self-esteem in just a short time was amazing. DS was worried that he was 'not dyslexic enough' but that it just the effect of fighting for resources in the mainstream whereas Frewen do not care what percentile the child is on.

KOKO1 - DS has mild dyslexia. He has just started Year 8 at a private CRestEd school in south London, where he has made friends but isn't thriving academically especially in literacy. Talks with the Head and SENco have yielded many promises but little action and I feel as though options not previously considered need to be looked at. We would be financing the fees ourselves.

Caretschairs - what type of stigma were your friends referring to? DS would have to board as we are located in South London and this would be the main consideration.

How much of a change have you noticed in your DS's self confidence? I'm assuming yourvDS is dyslexic also, if so how severe?

Iamaworrywart - what do you hope would be different about Frewen - are the classes smaller, different teaching methods? What have the Head and SENCO promised? Do you know what his rate of progress is at the moment?

My son did a trial there and it wasnt right for him. The boarding side was pretty poor from what he told me.

Have you looked at stanbridge earls school in hampshire. I thought it was brilliant. Too sporty for my son but very good.

Have you looked at Bethany in Kent? They do boarding and locally it has a brilliant reputation for dyslexia. Its not a specialist school but round here if you can afford the fees its usually the first place most parents with a dyslexic child consider. To quote from the website "Bethany?s Learning Support Department enjoys an international reputation for its success in giving specialist help to dyslexic pupils within our mainstream school, and the school has been CReSTeD registered since 1994"

Hi
I have a DD who has SpLD ( dyslexia , dyscalculia and dyspraxia). She is currently in a prep school in Sussex with an excellent LS department. However, the support does not continue into the Senior School and we have been advised that an alternative school should be sought. Grrrr!
We have on our short list Frewen College. But because of the distance DD would have to weekly board. I'm concerned that specialist schools do have so many boys. And considering what happened at Stanbridge Earls in Hampshire with the rape allegations, I am very scared.
I am also looking at Bethany in Kent and Lavant House in Sussex. Both have Crested dyslexic units. We are waiting for them to respond to the Educational Psychology reports.
Has anyone for any experience of Bethany and Lavant House for their dyslexic children?

Unfortunately our experience of Frewen College is terrible.
Whilst the teachers are caring and kind enough many have now left which is hardly surprising given the lack of proper management which appears to create discord and stress amongst staff. This is a very disorganised, uncommunicative and poorly run facility and the management have become weak, complacent and disengaged. The governor's need to get to grips with this before it gets to a point of no return.
The school only survives financially by encouraging parents to apply and fight for EHCP funding and they have a member of staff (the vice principle) dedicated to helping parents with this. However, they are so focussed and distracted on the fight for EHCP funding that they have unfortunately forgotten the key principles of the advertised 'Frewen-Way' which has been diluted and lost.
This really is a failing school and anyone considering it should talk to as many past parents of recent years as possible and consider all other options before signing up.
We are not happy to write such a review but really want to warn others as education for our children is just so crucial and there is only one chance.