Private school for anxious HFA students near Ascot.

[PigWhisperer]

My daughter is a very anxious Aspie. After a disastrous start to secondary school education, we moved her to a small, local private school where she thrived, down to the slightly wacky "child first" ethos and her counsellor.

Sadly that school has merged with another and lots its identity. She is neither happy nor unhappy, but certainly not thriving and excelling. Her anxiety levels are slowly rising. As her friends are all leaving we have started to look at other schools.

My main aim is not that she get good results, or be pushed etc, but that her mental health remains good. Kindness, flexibility towards homework, an ability to take away pressure and a relaxed attitude towards life and schooling are what I hope to find.

Any recommendations? Thank you

Any religious affiliation? There’s the Marist school in Sunninghill which is a Catholic School, don’t know the senior part of it well but very familiar with the prep. There’s Heathfield, used to know the head there but she’s moved on. Always had reputation of being for very posh girls AFAIK. There’s St George’s - don’t really know anything about that one although I know some kids who went there and then St Mary’s-very Catholic-very academic. LVS is co-Ed non selective, all the kids I’ve known go there have enjoyed it. How old is your daughter?

There’s also Hurst Lodge, which is quite quirky and small. Brigidine in Windsor, but have heard lots of rumours that they’re not secure financially (very small class sizes etc) so maybe wouldn’t want to risk that after your recent experience of an unsuccessful School merger.

Leighton Park School, its a co-ed Quaker school. Focussed on inclusion, generally relaxed and positive, first name terms and its Quaker roots make for an egalitarian environment
Its a bit of a distance, but there is a school bus www.leightonpark.com
www.leightonpark.com/parents/key-information/transport

Ooh Leighton park a good shout-have taught lovely kids from there and very creative curriculum.

Thank you for the replies! My daughter is year 8 and we are keen for her to be really spelled before she starts the GCSE run-in. We are CofE but prefer schools that understand those of all and no religion;-)

I haven't heard of Leighton Park and the website seems very encouraging!

Unicorndiscoball - Hurst is no more.

Spelled? Settled!

I just googled Hurst Lodge-gosh I hadn’t realised that had happened as I’m not in that area much any more. I’m not surprised though as there has been talk of it not being financially very viable for a long time. There is a real glut of girls schools in Ascot-many more than boys schools oddly enough! I know that St Mary’s is much more strictly Catholic than the Marist, but if you’re looking for non-denominational then Leighton Park is a really good shout.