Alternative Schools

[Pixiedust1976]

Has anyone got any experience of sending their children to an 'alternative school'? Am interested in Brockwood Park School, a boarding school in Hampshire, main attraction for us being they opt out of GCSEs (but still do AS/A Levels). What's the general opinion?

No experience, feel free to ignore.

There was a thread recently discussing how job applications are often filtered on the applicant having passed English and maths at GCSE level, and how people could be filtered out automatically even if they had a degree.
So I would be wary of missing out GCSEs myself.
What if child turns out to be non academic or goes through a 'can't be bothered' time when 16/17. They could end up with no qualifications at all?

However if no GCSEs is needed due to anxiety issues then it makes more sense.

Opt out of GCSEs Why on earth would you think this would be a good idea? And you're expected to pay for this 'experience'? Fuck me.

I know nothing about this school, but I work on a couple of principles with my kids.

1. The school should fit the child, this may mean an academic school, or a much gentler school or an engineering college, whatever, it isn't about ofsted it is about a good place for this particular child and their needs.
2. That I want to keep my kids options open as long as possible. If they decide at 17 to be a doctor, is that still possible, or have we/they closed too many doors? If they then decide at 18 to go and be a drummer in a rock band, fine. The point is keeping choices open as long as possible, as in my experience most kids haven't a clue want they want to do later.
3. If one of mine had SEN, including mental health issues eg anxiety, despite what I have said in point 2, the priority would be that my child could function healthily and happily in the world as an adult, and that may mean putting the academic to one side and focussing on something else, whether that is social skills, or well being. It is always possible to go back and do academic later.
4. Most teens don't naturally want to do school work, so there must be a balance between pushing and encouraging and allowing them to develop freely. If I allowed ds to develop freely, he would get very good at x box!

Hope that helps i some way.