Senior school options - bright DS mild sen

[Bonelesschuck]

DS1 is in Y7 at a London prep and we were advised that me might struggle to get into the competitive day schools due to his mild sen (dysgraphia) and spiky CAT scores. He is in some of the top sets, but finds maths hard. He's not super sporty but does well in school and is a general knowledge/debating nerd. We came up with a plan to move out of London when the time comes and he currently has offers from Kings Canterbury and Bedes in Sussex to enrol as a day student. DS2 is younger and average to bright academically and non-sporty, probably either school would suit him.

We are leaning towards Bedes at the moment - partly because there is a larger proportion of day students and also Kings does not seem to have many kids who need learning support. I worry that this means the school as a whole will not be as accommodating of students who have some extra needs. DS is bright, and gets along ok with a keyboard and extra time and I would expect to keep supporting him at home in terms of study skills etc, but it is more about the attitude of the school towards SEN. But maybe I am wrong? I have spoken to some parents who really rave about the school (same for Bedes).

I would be really grateful for any views on our choice - I realise we haven't made it easy, picking two very different schools!

Speak directly to the SEN lead at the school and go and visit. This will give you the true picture. All schools will say they support those that need some additional learning support. Many independent schools 'get' that you can be really bright, but with dysgraphia, and dyslexia (our experience), the child cannot always reflect their true ability in their schoolwork. We were very lucky that our nearest Indy really gets this, and our son is thriving. He sounds like your son, general knowledge whizz, ok at maths, but finds spelling troublesome and his handwriting is spidery to be kind to it. But ALL his class teachers are aware of this, and he is never marked downfor this, the emphasis is on whether he has grasped the concepts, and conveyed good ideas. Language and English teachers fantastically supportive. Ask about marking schemes, and how many kids have extra time, use a keyboard for exams. But the thing that struck us most was when we looked around when mock exams were being done. A room was set up for those that did exams by typing. The students showing us round said" that's where friends who need learning support do their exams" with no hint of stigma, just matter of fact. Represents how my DC is treated at the school. This is not a big name Indy, not sure how comfortable they would be with this

Thanks for replying, I agree with everything you have said. We have had a number of visits to both schools and have spoken to the SENCOs. Bedes definitely has more kids using learning support of one form or another. I was told they can sit in a separate space for exams, and that the kids who need it can even use text to voice technology (i.e. they can scan a text using an iPad and have it read to them via earphones). There is also a lot of overlap between class teachers and learning support staff (I met a learning support teacher who is also a head of year). I haven't really drilled down to the same details with Kings, so perhaps another visit would be good to make sure I've got all the info.

The hardest thing is trying to gauge where DS will thrive. On the one hand, he is bright and should be with a bright and ambitious cohort, but he won't thrive if he isn't happy or his teachers don't treat him according to his ability rather than his test results. Thanks again for the advice, I really appreciate it.

Lots at DS’s prep went to Kings bright average musical arty weird etc and lots of my friends sent their DC’s there as well all bar 1 were but as far as I remember none had ”spiky” profile. Secondly it is a full boarding school with day pupils so if you wish for your DS not to board it may not be the best choice.

My son joined Bede's as a weekly boarder in Y9, probably similar to your son (dysgraphia, poor executive functioning). Very bright but was struggling academically in his previous school. Bede's has been fantastic for him. He's needed very few "formal" accommodations as his teachers just seem very in tune with meeting the needs of kids with different learning styles. But, In rimes where he has "forgotten " to use his keyboarding accommodation, for example, they are all over it, making sure he stays in track.

He's had a complete turnaround in maths, from bottom set at his old school to one of the stronger math students in the year. That's an objective measure, based on his performance on GCSE-type assessments where he's achieving shockingly great scores given where he used to be. I say that not to brag but because I want to be clear that the school aims to support all students, and gets a lot out of them academically.

Those who are not academic superstars (I count my son in this group!} do very well too, as the school is very good at helping kids find their strengths and be successful, which does wonders for their confidence. I've honestly been stunned by the changes in my son, who actually enjoys going to school now.

On a side note, son has a number of day student friends, so day and boarding kids definitely mix.

Thanks both Happy and Caddyshack. I do worry that Kings is very much a boarding school and though it is good for "all rounders", would kids like DS will have to sink or swim without much support?Again, I may just not have enough info about their learning support.

Caddy, I am glad to hear your son is doing so well. My DS is similar - very good in classwork/teachers very happy with him, but unpredictable in exams (and he worries about his exams). I am hoping that Bedes can really challenge him as well as support him in his weak areas, and I know the school has become more academic of late. Do the bright kids get stretched as well? We also have to consider her younger brother, who could do really well if he had a little more confidence. The school they are in has some ridiculously high flyers so I think by comparison he thinks he's quite average and doesn't feel he's on the same level.

Sorry doesn't make sense: left out a word should read: "all bar 1 were happy" should also have said all boarded.

I know someone at St Bedes with SEN and she is loving it. Can't be happier.