Independent, liberal, creative, not-pushy secondary independent education SE or SW London

[mmoob]

I'm looking for it all...

I am considering moving to either Greenwich/Blackheath OR Richmond/Kingston area. I am looking at (independent) secondary schools to see if the move is remotely feasible.

Both children are dyslexic but bright, creative and full of beans. They will need some extra help getting through some of the GCSEs but I want to find a school that can give this but also help them to really excel in the areas they are good at - i.e. the less academic areas - arts, after-school activities etc. A school that genuinely celebrates all-round achievement, not only exam results. A relaxed atmosphere with lots on offer/going on, particularly in creative subjects (art, DT, textiles, pottery, drama, music etc etc.). Co-ed or girls only both fine (daughters).

Some of the more nurturing schools I have considered in the past seem very small and slightly claustrophobic - and their size can often limit the extra opportunities available (for children who often depend more on those out-of-class opportunities).

Only looking at Independent schools at the moment as they will need the smaller classes for focus and support - and that is their experience to date.

Any schools leap out at anyone?

They will have to GET IN to these schools too - i.e. those with tough entrance exams will be a struggle.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

[elittleb]

mmoob - if you can get down to see Prior's Field, you'll fall in love with it. Non stressy and non hot housing (but still happy to administer a royal ass kicking to my underperforming DD upon request :-) )

Clever girls perform well, less clever / SEN girls are encouraged and supported to achieve the best they can. A competent, approachable teaching staff, good leadership, lots of workshops to support learning.

More value added activities than you can shake a stick at. All qualities and talents in the girls are valued and celebrated. One thing my DD said is that she'll try anything at PF because no one ever takes the mickey out of you.

From a parental point of view, our year group is as jolly and sociable as you will find at secondary level. It's all rather pleasant. Just move a few miles further out of Kingston area!

[ConfusedMummy1]

Have you considered Colfe's school in Lee. It's not far from Greenwich/Blackheath. It's good all round school, strong in sports, art and music. Lots of out door space, which sports field and swimming pool on site. Class size 20 max. Goes from pre prep up to sixth form. My child is very happy there. I met a mum recently that moved her DS who is bright but has SEN to year 5 from Blackheath Prep and she's very happy she did. I'm not convinced Blackheath High School supports SEN that much.

[tigerellatomato]

Kew House may not be a good choice if your daughters are sporty as it's based in an old office block with no sports grounds, and little outdoor space.

[harrassedswlondonmum]

The new school mentioned in Chiswick is called Kew House. It is just over Kew Bridge, on the Chiswick side, next to Brentford Leisure centre.

It opens for business in September 2013.

[snowsjoke]

have heard that Blackheath High School is very supportive of girls with special needs and the results are good too. Quite arty and the pastoral care is great.

[snowsjoke]

have heard that Blackheath High School is very supportive of girls with special needs and the results are good too. Quite arty and the pastoral care is great.

[Elibean]

Good luck deciding, mmoob

Yes, it is tricky. But everyone says the hardest part is before, and once they start seondary one wonders what all the fuss was about - oh I hope that is so!!

Great shame about Ibstock. Friedrich Froebel would turn in his grave

[mmoob]

Thank you everyone. All very sound advice and much appreciated... I'll let you know if we ever get any closer to a decision! Thank you all for your time and thoughts, really fantastic. So glad I asked...

[mrsshackleton]

Oh sorry, needmoresleep did mention Harrodian!

[mrsshackleton]

Harrodian is supposed to be great for dyslexic kids, surprised no one has mentioned it.

The cleverest person I know, also extremely successful, went to St Dunstan's.

[Happymum22]

mmoob-

Guildford/Godalming/Woking/Worplesdon/Haslemere have a very fast commuter line into London. It takes me 30 mins direct to London Waterloo from Guildford with trains running about every 10-15 mins.
East Horsley/Bookham/Effingham//Cobham/Oxshott are also commuter towns- the train is a tiny bit slower from these but not as busy once on the train.

This is the options to be a reachable distance from Priors Field to be a day girl. In terms of generally I'd agree looking at the rail links is the best way. I'm sorry I only know this surrey direction well, not the other home counties.

[Needmoresleep]

A further thought.
Some children do much better at the top of their year group, others enjoy having clever peers and a more challenging academic environment even if it means being in the lower half of the year group.

Even less selective schools will have some clever kids. Confidence is a big issue for dyslexic kids. They may be as good as the others in understanding concepts, but may be much slower in class, struggling with copying down from the board, or getting class work written. This can be demoralising.

Also depending on how effectively they develop coping strategies and whether the dyslexia is picked up early enough, they can move up or down their cohort during their secondary years. I suspect more damage can be done by placing a child in a very academic environment and have them feel they are not good enough, than to be top of the year and switch at sixth form.

My, non scientific, suggestion is to look at the sort of kids they are most comfortable with socially. If they hang out with quite a "swotty" group, then look for a school where they will be with like minded kids. Ditto with sporty kids, arty kids (which I think is where you started), quiet kids who need nurturing, or "the popular girls". Schools which allow self esteem to be built through things other than academic ability are important.

[mmoob]

Thank you Needmoresleep - I'll check it out.

Happymum22, I wouldn't consider boarding but where to the daily London commuters travel from do you know by any chance? I suppose the rail links will be the obvious way of finding out...

Thanks for your help!

[Happymum22]

mmoob- priors field isn't far from london! can flexi board or weekly board too if that helps- they do mini buses up to london on fridays/sundays.

Can get a 40 minute train direct waterloo to godalming and then there are school minibuses which do station runs each morning and evening. It is do able if you think it is a really good fit for your DDs.
Loads of cobham/esher/putney/london girls.

[Needmoresleep]

Also on schools I would second the suggestion of Radnor House. There is a real shortage of school places for boys, and as a new school have inevitably picked up more boys than girls and will probably want to balance their numbers.

Also, though I know nothing about it other than my daughter has had matches against them, St Augustine's Priory in Ealing. I also heard something about plans for a new private secondary in Chiswick to be developed by two good local preps schools, but have no idea of timescale.

Also the Harrodian?

[mmoob]

Copthall OH NO re GCSEs, what a nightmare... so demoralising when you don't even know where the goalposts are...

I am sure that selective schools know that most have strengths/weaknesses but I guess it depends how much they are willing to overlook the weaknesses for the benefit of the strengths?

Trippingthlightfantastic very interesting what you say about St D's. I do worry about the games independent schools play to get overall grades up etc. It's so hard to get the straight facts. Schools can SAY they are not results-driven but then it's a results-driven market and they need to get the numbers in from a business point of view. Similarly parents SAY or even FEEL they are not results-driven but they want the school to bring the best out of their children if they are paying £... and the only quantifiable way of knowing that is via results. There should be a 'happiness' and 'confidence' scoring system (or similar!) with publicly published results to add to all the exam grades.

Thanks for all your thoughts everyone.

[Copthallresident]

mmoob Actually I am not sure the most selective schools do expect them to be good at everything. My DDs are very different, one a Science geek, the other's strengths are in emotional intelligence and empathy, humanities (4 essay subject ASs Agh!) and drama/singing. Neither is at all sporty (typically uncoordinated dyslexics). I think what they are looking for is strengths and talents but not necessarily all round.

Well the GCSEs would have been bad enough, except that Gove decided to make it worse, I suspect from the English Lit results at DD's school that all 17 who had SpLDs must have been marked down more than in previous years for spelling etc. all did significantly worse, as in dropped two grades, than predicted and it is going to get worse, but that is another thread

[Trippingthelightfantastic]

My best fiend sends her DC's to St Dunstans they are generally very pleased with it they've been there since yr 3. But when she recently looked at the popular local 6th form comp she was more impressed enthusiastic young teachers both her and her DD thought it was better than St Dunstans the only reason why they didn't do it was because she could not do her choice of A levels.
A word of warning they've brought in very bright children from China who live with UK families to improve their exam results.

[mmoob]

Needsmoresleep this is very helpful sound advice, thank you. Again another positive take on the situation - i.e. that they can't all have children who are good at everything.

Your message really focuses my mind. You are right, the schools view the children with an eye to their future potential. Knowing what the children will be capable of at this stage is tricky - I would say that one is borderline and the other would be OK - but that's also based on their current work ethic and not necessarily on potential.

Your selection of the less academic schools we should consider is helpful too - hadn't come across St Benedicts...

Thanks for your thoughts and time.

Copthallresident - it's really interesting to hear your experiences re entrance exams etc. Again very heartening. Dreading the GSCE thing already!

[Needmoresleep]

I think Copthall is right (as always...)

The very very academic schools may demand girls who are good at everything, but the rest can't. Whatever you read on Mumsnet, there are not enough of these kids, who can also pay fees, to go around.

The test probably is:

1. Are your girls strong enough in their better subjects to get good A Level results and into a RG University?
   
2. Are they able to get "over the bar" in their weaker subjects.
   

Getting through GCSE at an academic school requires quite a lot of processing text and numbers. They need to be able to do this otherwise they will struggle, which no one wants.

If however, with support, extra time in exams, and their own commitment, they can keep up in their weaker subjects till GCSE and if there are A levels they can choose which they will find relatively easy, they should be sound candidates. Worth talking to schools and being open.

If they are unlikely to be strong RG candidates, then you need to be looking at less academic schools. St Dunstans, St Benedicts? Streatham High? Surbiton High? I agree with what others have said about Ibstock. They treated a friend's SN child very badly.

[mmoob]

Priors Field - looks brilliant, need it to be closer to London!!

[mmoob]

Ooh prior field sounds really good.... Will check it out, never heard of it.
Will check it out. The Hall seems good but perhaps a little too geared for SEN than I feel my children need, but not certain. I do think it looks too small. For us... A very good thing for some kids. But thank you for the suggestion!

[Wobblypig]

Have you considered Hall school Wimbledon?

[Happymum22]

Sent that before I meant to..
Was going to add they are great at getting the girls to get the best results possible. It is not as selective as previous schools mentioned like LEH so very different atmosphere. They are great at balancing getting the best results and finding each girls niche, what she does succeed at, and providing so many opportunities that it is a real rounded education.

[Happymum22]

Priors Field in Godalming, near Guildford is great for dyslexics - fab SN support. Very much the view results aren't what drives the school (but results are good and excellent value added). They run extra tuition 1-1s and workshops during and after school to help those who need support getting their grades up. My close friend's DD is there and she did a maths breakfast club for the weeks before her GCSE and some sort of science support sessions too. The creative side is outstanding and loads of opportunities to get involved with a huge range of activities. Lots of clubs and a non-pushy attitude. Approachable staff.