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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Independent schools with good SEN support sw London and Surrey

47 replies

LolaDolly · 12/07/2018 10:52

Hi,

My son is at the end of year 5 and really struggling at school. No where near expected level for numeracy and slightly below for literacy. He has recently been diagnosed with mild dyslexia, dyscalculia, poor working memory and slow processing. I have been warned he probably wont pass his SATs. Despite our local bits secondary being outstanding I have lost faith in the state school system as its been such a fight to get this far so am thinking of independent for secondary. Are there any schools in the sw London or Surrey area that might be good with him? It would have to be non selective.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
LolaDolly · 12/07/2018 11:02

I meant boys school, not bits Smile

OP posts:
surreysunday · 12/07/2018 11:03

Where in Surrey are you?

Original poster
LolaDolly · 12/07/2018 11:05

We are in Wimbledon but I mentioned Surrey as its on our train line.

OP posts:
KaliforniaDreamz · 12/07/2018 11:10

Hi Lola - i would try Box Hill.
A friend of mine has a child with dyslexia and expected St John's to take him but they didn't. He is now thriving at Box hill.

Claremont Fan Court may also be worth loking at, and if you can stomach it - the Hall.

Good luck.

Poobarb · 12/07/2018 11:17

www.thedominie.co.uk/index.php

My DS attended the sister school out in Wiltshire. I don't know much about this school, but thought it worth a mention as Calder House has helped my DS enormously.

surreysunday · 12/07/2018 11:40

I would try to find a prep school for him now to do Years 6,7 and 8 and then he will stand a much better chance in getting a place at 13 to one of these schools: St John's Leatherhead, Emmanuels, Claremont Fan Court.

You could also approach Halliford who have a super reputation for boys who are clever and also those who might need more support. They take boys from Year 7 but may be able to recommend a local prep for now.

surreysunday · 12/07/2018 11:40

Halliford is in Shepperton.

surreysunday · 12/07/2018 11:41

There is also Salesian near Farnborough but that might be too far? (There is a Salesian in Chertsey which is a different school)

surreysunday · 12/07/2018 11:42

Also look at LVS in Ascot which has a prep school and a senior school. They take children with lots of different abilities and do well with them.

Original poster
LolaDolly · 12/07/2018 11:42

Thank you.

I will take a look at all your suggestions. The hall would be great as we live very close by but I didn't think SEN was specifically their thing? I have friends who use it and rave about it but am aware of some rather dubious recent news articles so was giving it a wide berth Hmm

OP posts:
VioletFlamingo · 12/07/2018 13:14

Moon Hall Prep and College in Surrey is a specialist dyslexic school with an amazing reputation. It is a specialist school for kids with learning difficulties like you describe with your DS (not major disabilities). Sometimes kids go there for a few years and then learn the strategies to go back into full on mainstream schools and then thrive. My DS' friend went there for two years during prep school and then back to an academic boys school. He eventually went on to Cambridge Uni.

Otherwise, Box Hill, King Edward's Witley, Halliford, Ibstock Place, Kew College, The Harrodian, Radnor House, Hampton Court House.

Poobarb · 12/07/2018 13:15

The Dominie is a specialist dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia school. The sister school won a TES award for their program CogMed which works specifically on working memory. The children don't leave the lessons for additional support, so they don't miss out other learning.

Most of the children at the sister school seem to be normal, articulate kids who have a real gap between their oral and written ability.

Poobarb · 12/07/2018 13:16

I meant to say, that normally children go to the school for a couple of years and can then re-enter mainstream schooling.

SixSquared · 12/07/2018 13:24

Bruern Abbey

coffeeteamememe · 12/07/2018 13:59

I have name changed for this reply as it could be outing.
Firstly your son like mine is in a heavy year for independent and state secondaries in Surrey and places are limited.
Going to a prep for years 6-8 might be an option, but actually putting him into a prep school in the first term of year 6 when all the children are pushing forwards for 11+ and school entrance pre-tests/ exams may not be the wisest choice if what he needs is to catch up, which is why I would suggest if you are going to move him in year 6 go for a school that runs up to 18 from from Reception or Year 3 with seamless entry into the seniors.
I have heard good things about Claremont Fan Court which would be reasonable for you
In some ways it depends what you want, a prep to effectively cram and develop him to catch up for an academic school or go for a school that is less academic?
In Surrey I would say Box Hill or Duke of Kent have amazing added value to pupils going out from when they come in, DOK is probably not doable for you and full for that year anyway. BH is worth a look. It's a secondary but recognizes the potential in it's applicants beyond the entry is exam which is lighter than most schools.
The Royal School Hindhead would involve a train and bus/coach from the station.
How far are you willing to travel and would you consider weekly or flexi boarding? Seaford and Milton Abbey are not close by but do offer something amazing to children who struggle in certain areas.

cakeisalwaystheanswer · 12/07/2018 14:06

Forget Harrodian and Ibstock, they are among the top performing schools in the country nowadays and quite selective.

OP - you need your DS in a school that will give him the best support to achieve his best. Try Canbury School, Ewell Castle and Halliford (Shepperton is end of the Kingston train loop and commutable). St James is Ashford could also be a good option but I can't work out the journey.

I understand your comments about The Hall and have heard the same myself BUT if it was my DS I would still go and look just in case it's perfect for him.

cakeisalwaystheanswer · 12/07/2018 14:09

I would also be sceptical about Claremont, there has been a lot of change there in recent years and a lot of criticism about prep school kids not being allowed to go on to the senior school. There is a new head going in from Kings College and I think they are looking to take the school in the opposite direction to what you need.

cakeisalwaystheanswer · 12/07/2018 14:12

And sorry to keep posting, but I've heard very good things about Box Hill for DCs removed from other schools because of lack of support for dyslexia but didn't name it because unsurprisingly it's in Box Hill - quite a journey.

Original poster
LolaDolly · 12/07/2018 14:22

Thank you all. I was feeling optimistic about Ewell castle until I emailed them with an outline of DS and what we are looking for and they didn't respond! I took that as meaning the 'computer says no' I like the look of The Dominie but it's very small and very ££££. The size might be an issue for my very sociable boy.

OP posts:
KaliforniaDreamz · 12/07/2018 14:38

They're probably on holiday now Lola.
You need to ring. There is time in september. You can do your research onver the holidays and then register him as soon as term starts.
(If ur worried about journey - Most will have a school coach option.)

KaliforniaDreamz · 12/07/2018 14:38

Bruern Abbey is amazing but ££££

cakeisalwaystheanswer · 12/07/2018 15:36

Lola - call them. You shouldn't miss out on a school just because someone misplaced an e-mail or it got spammed.

Mary19 · 12/07/2018 15:59

There is quite a contingent from SW London who go down to More House in Frensham. I believe they are from year 5 and have good reviews www.morehouseschool.co.uk
There is also the Moat in Fulham moatschool.org.uk
Centre Academy in Clapham www.centreacademy.net
Canbury in Kingston but that is from age 11 canburyschool.co.uk
And also from 11 Thames Christian school in Clapham www.thameschristianschool.org.uk

Original poster
LolaDolly · 12/07/2018 16:30

Wow. Thank you all. That's quite a list to work on. I am not after an academic environment. It wouldn't suit my son. He's bright in his own way but I can't see beyond his struggles at the moment. His confidence is pretty damaged after six years in a supposedly desirable state school where I have had to fight to get him seen by professionals. Hmm I has assumed he would move at secondary and frankly I am dreading year 6 as he will most likely fail the SATs. The school starts drilling for SATs from September which I don't think would serve my son well. So the option of moving in year 6 is definitley worth considering.

OP posts:
Polista · 13/07/2018 11:16

IME, year 5 seems to be a common point of no return In mainstream ed, for dyslexics - it was for my DS. As a result, I was dreading him changing prep schools at the end of year 5, but a large cohort also made the move to a specialist dyslexic prep for years 6-8...
Am so sad to hear of yet another dyslexic DC whose confidence has been trashed by the mainstream but the schools mentioned by PPs WILL help him. Try to.look ahead to when the 'Dyslexia advantage' (Google it) kicks in and you are the mum of the next Da Vinci or Churchill or Branson! And pls.pm me if u like?

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