Sensitive Boy - Non Macho School Required

[PowerPantsRule]

I am looking for a day school for my Year 6 boy, currently in a small prep school. He is 'different', in that he doesn't like sport, lives for board games and time on his computer and IPad and has zero interest in football or rugby.

He is clever but dyspraxic so finds it hard to get stuff down on paper and is slow to get changed after sports. Because he is in a lovely family school he is not bullied, but I can see if we sent him to a high achieving macho school, this may not remain the case.

He is chatty, sociable and outgoing, likes music and dancing, but a little immature and very sensitive. He is absolutely not a boarder and has said he wants to go to a co-ed day school. We live on the south coast, between Dorset and Hampshire but have rejected Canford for sportiness and Bryanston is mainly boarding. We would be happy to move for the right 'caring' school - please help if you can think of any we should look at....for example, is there anything like this in London/Home Counties? Thank you all.

What about Brighton College. There is good dancing which is taken up by some boys so it is n't just for traditional sporty types.

Wonderful - thank you both so much. These are names I don't know. I came across somewhere called Bradfield last night so I will look there too.

Claremont in Esher

Quaker schools may be what you are looking for. Sidcote (just south of Bristol) or Leighton Park (Reading). Both co-ed. We have a very gentle, kind, sensitive child with a good mind and high functioning autism, so we are also looking. They are high on our own list, and other MNers with kids there speak very highly of them.

Rochester independent college , I have a friend with quiet ,non sporty boys and they've got on very well there .

Wonderful ideas, thanks all...I never thought of Quaker schools.

I just wish he could stay put at his school, he does not like change! They have made the effort to understand him and that is what I am looking for.

Would second the idea of looking at Brighton College. No personal experience, but a friend's DS has done very well there on the back of excellent academics and drama. (Academics where in sciences)

*were

Thank you leeds!

Really really like the look of Brighton College.

I've been in message contact with parents with kids who are bright, but atypical neurologically (dyspraxia, dyslexia, some forms of high functioning autism) and that led me to narrow down to Sidcote, with Leighton Park as a second option if DH's transfer is to London. Real focus on individuality, and finding value in every child's unique strengths.

I'm slightly wary of Brighton college after reading some threads on here. They seem very marketing-focused, but there were reservations voiced. But I have no personal experience, so perhaps that is not fair.

Parents on MN, I mean. It's a huge amount of money to us, and we are scared of choosing badly, so I have messaged people with children at the various schools who've posted on here, and had a lot of kind and helpful responses. Perhaps you might get some really useful replies, if you do the same? I suspect there is a lot more honesty on secret PMs than on the threads, for obvious reasons.

On the basis of your description, I would second Leighton Park. Not sure that I would encourage you to go down the Bradfield route though. If you go to see Leighton Park, maybe also make an appointment for Shiplake College too as it is close by. Another one to consider is Bedales - that one may also offer the advantage of being closer to you

These are all great ideas and schools I have never heard of. The joy of mumsnet.

I like the look of Bedales but there are so few day pupils! He is adamant he won't board and I am confident that won't change.

Off to google Leighton Park etc!

If he doesn't like Bedales, then Frensham Heights. Not many boarders but the advantages of a boarding school.

Thanks namehanger..

If looking at Sidcot, may be worth looking at Clifton High too? I know a couple of teachers at Sidcot, they're lovely. We're looking at CHS as think it may suit our Y4 gentle borderline Aspie (am also wondering about dyspraxia too), They came across as really kind with great pastoral care (pretty much fully day too).