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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

SEN Secondary school surrey daughter

17 replies

Robinredrun · 15/02/2019 17:03

Hi All
Rather stuck and grateful for any advice. Daughter has been badly let down by her current school - they stopped providing learning support and she has fallen very behind, particularly in maths. Applied to schools that are traditionally sympathetic to kids with learning support issues but maths too bad to get in (everything else apparently fine but they couldn't look beyond the maths). She has working memory and processing speed problems, but isn't bad enough for a statement and doesn't need one on one support. On waiting lists for local state schools but have been for over a year so not much hope there. Can't leave her where she is as I think it will just get worse, and really don't want to home educate, so really stuck. Other daughter at school locally and very happy, so cannot move to another county. We are in Leatherhead. Does anyone have ideas please? I would be most grateful. Thanks.

OP posts:

LIZS · 15/02/2019 18:10

State or private?

Lara53 · 15/02/2019 19:59

Box Hill School
Moon Hall College

Original poster

Robinredrun · 15/02/2019 20:02

Either state or private - we just want somewhere that would be good for SEN. Boxhill said no and Moon Hall college is only for dyslexia which she doesn't have. Thank you anyway.

OP posts:

LIZS · 15/02/2019 20:05

Ewell Castle, Dunottar (Reigate) , Priory (Dorking)

StressedOut11plusNameChanger · 15/02/2019 20:18

I keep hearing King Edwards in Witley being mentioned by friends in SEN circles. It's a favourite of a highly regarded EP we've all used. I don't have any first hand accounts but have filed it away in my little black book of places to remember

StressedOut11plusNameChanger · 15/02/2019 20:19

and I second Ewell Castle

Original poster

Robinredrun · 16/02/2019 06:06

It was a no from Ewell Castle as well. Too far behind in maths. Frustrating because she did really well in the English and everything else. Plus everyone says they are so good with SEN that I was really hopeful. Hadn't heard of Priory but Ofsted report wasn't encouraging. Kind Edwards looks great but not hopeful given everyone else is saying no because of her maths, and not sure I can put her through more tests to hear no again. Will give them a ring though, like the sound of somewhere actually being good with SEN! Does anyone have experience with Rosebery, Therfield and St Andrews in Leatherhead with children with SEN?

OP posts:

StressedOut11plusNameChanger · 16/02/2019 16:41

I've thought of another place though maybe a bit far...Canbury School in Kingston.
I feel for you having to dig around on your own. You could do with a really good EP with a wide knowledge of schools in the area but they do tend to charge the earth. There's no one hub that lists all of the supportive places - I've often though about trying to set one up. You could also try posting on the SEN boards too?

Mary19 · 16/02/2019 16:58

Canbury, Thames Christian, Centre Academy, Seaford, Knowl Hill, The Hall Wimbledon, I will try and think of others. How old is she. Are you looking for primary or secondary.

Original poster

Robinredrun · 16/02/2019 17:27

Ooo new ones, excellent! Thank you, I will do some investigating... Tried Seaford but it has a really long waiting list. Plus she was absolutely terrified by the guns on campus and the shooting practice by cadets! It is for secondary as she is 12.
We tried an EP but she didn't know of anywhere locally, and they seem reluctant to recommend. Others have had Ewell Castle recommended but obviously that didn't work out. I know there are specialist school searching ones but yes, they cost a lot, and they also sent a lot of girls to our current school, so don't really trust their judgement after that!!! Will try posting on SEN board too, thanks for suggestion.

OP posts:

alittlebitsocial · 13/03/2020 22:07

Hi @Robinredrun,

I know it's been over a year. I just wondered if you found a school for your daughter? We are currently in the same situation. She won't even pass her maths gcse she's that bad at a local school but don't seem to offer enough support. Just interested how you got on :)

Original poster

Robinredrun · 14/03/2020 05:39

I could not find any alternatives at all. Either schools just don’t have the support at all, or they are meant to be really good with SEN but won’t take her on because of her maths. Good state schools locally are full.

If we’d be able to move, maybe we’d have been able to find somewhere but my other daughter is really happy at her school and doing really well, so I cannot contemplate moving her.

She’s still at her old school as she is happy with her friends and I’ve decided that it more important at this age than getting GCSEs. However as it gets nearer to GCSEs I am considering home schooling, depends on how she does in her mocks. I’d have to give up work so obviously a massive decision though. Good luck with your search and if you hear of any private schools in Surrey for girls/mixed that genuinely offer SEN support and want to help kids that are struggling, please do let me know 😊

OP posts:

alittlebitsocial · 14/03/2020 08:27

Oh @Robinredrun I am so sorry to hear that. It is a struggle. We live hampshire/surrey border and cant seem to find a school that isn't hours away.

My daughter is year 8, about to choose her options for year 9 as her school does them early and she really isn't ready. We are looking at schools and/or she stays and we get tutors involved. She is extremely behind with maths due to her memory processing. I'd say year 5/6. English she can read, write and is great at spelling but her comprehension is behind and she struggles to articulate her language. Exam wise she had a reader for her SATs and although she didn't pass she got 97 for english and 68 for maths. Her current school dont seem in any rush to find a way to assist with her learning. A couple of apps here and there but nothing more, so it's coming to us at home. You can imagine how hard that is with a nearly 13 year old.

We looked in to home schooling as a last option but she wants to do drama and music GCSes and she cant at home just academic subjects however we have found a local college that do 14-16 courses in year 10 - 11 which are vocational part time courses as her passion is performing.

By year 10, I'm sure we'd know how likely she is to get good gcses. So a vocational will give her the head start. Shes got the brain it's the getting it down on paper as her anxiety overloads her and she cant concentrate or think.

I wish you and your daughter all the best with that you decide. There are local colleges that other functional maths levels if that helps. Level 2 is worth a GCSE grade 4/5. All the best

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 14/03/2020 11:55

Have a look at Bedes near Eastbourne - they have fabulous music and drama, and good SEN support.

I have a very dyslexic DD in Y6 - we are keeping fingers crossed that the state secondary will be a good fit, but have been investigating private options just in case.

ScreamingKid · 07/05/2020 23:58

Have you actually tried to get an EHCP? Don't be put off by people saying she's not based enough. Has she been seen by a speech and language therapist?

ScreamingKid · 07/05/2020 23:59

I meant bad enough

titchy · 08/05/2020 11:05

Have you tried St Andrews in Leatherhead.

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