I have a child diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive type) who is now on medication for it. We have been open with his current school in discussing it and they helped with the diagnosis. He is not labelled as a trouble-maker, his main problem has been disorganisation, missing instructions through losing concentration etc as well as struggling with poor handwriting. Since being on meds his concentration has improved and he appears to be making good progress academically. Hence, I am now interested in entering him for some of the more competitive private London Day Schools but I wondered if having been diagnosed with ADHD will be a big black mark against him and hence rule him out for the more competitive schools. I wondered if anyone has had experience of being offered a place at one or more of the competitive London/surrounds private schools for an ADHD child? I am not expecting him to get special treatment in the application process, just to be treated on an equal footing with the non-ADHD children but wondered if just disclosing his ADHD diagnosis will ruin his chances? Or, if the interview process will highlight it and hence he will be ruled out at that stage.
Also, if anyone has an ADHD child in one of those schools I would be interested to hear whether they struggle or thrive in the school?
Schools we are particularly interested in (subject to staking stock of his academic ability in the coming months) are Dulwich, Alleyns, KCS, Hampton, Emmanuel, Epsom, Whitgift, Trinity, Ibstock Place, St Paul's and Latymer Upper. I appreciate that's a wide-ranging list so we'll need to narrow it down! He is currently in Year 5 so we need to decide quite soon what we are doing. He is currently in a private school that proactively supports departure at end of year 6 or year 8. We have had feedback from the school on which schools might suit him and they haven't made an issue of his ADHD in these discussions but I am keen to hear what other parents' experiences have been.
It would be great to get some feedback from those with ADHD children who have been through this process and what you have learned from it! Please feel free to PM me if you prefer. Thanks!