Looking for day, flexi or weekly boarding schools outside London for quirky son.

[Timber23]

Hello. I am looking for recommendations for an alternative school for my son. He is 14, with mild ADHD and mild Aspergers, and is currently at a big London day school where we don't feel he is flourishing. He is really bright and particularly loves maths and the sciences as well as history, however his impulsive scatty behaviour can of often put teachers and peers off, so we are looking for a school that embraces his quirks as well as challenges his brain. Any thoughts would be welcome. We are looking to reloccate to Berkshire but would welcome ideas from further afield.

Have a look at st chris school in Letchworth (around a 1hr30min drive from Berkshire). They offer weekly and full time boarding x

Thank you for the tip. Looks interesting and refreshngly different.

Bedes near Eastbourne?

Box Hill, Bedes, Bedales?

Frensham Heights might also appeal.

Their rule book was quite entertaining reading...

Bedes

bradfield, quite chill most weekly board. bedales if he's artsy but it's massively druggy. you could also try bryanston of the three I'd say bradfield is the most academic you'd have to be very focused at the other two to do well. st edward's is also good with a mix of abilities.

Not a boarding or private school but Hugh Farringdon school in Reading Berkshire is excellent. They have a special unit for children with all sorts of difficulties. You may need a referal though.
The children in the unit are not in any way excluded from any of the usual lessons or activities. It is just more of a smaller tutor group and if the children have a problem throughout the day they can go and speak to someone there or just have a bit of space.
I was involved with a family whose eldest child had Aspergers (undiagnosed until he was 10) This school was amazing gor him. Plenty of support for the child and fantastic communication with parents. Support arranged for him starting college and he now has an apprenticeship in a field that he is very interested in.

Thank you so much for suggestions, most of those schools are ones we have been looking into, but others are new ideas so thank you. I went to see Frensham and whilst there were plenty of 'quirky' kids, felt that my son would need something a little more structured. Kids with ADHD and Aspergers can often find too much freedom overwhelming. He is also probably more spoddy quirky than cool quirky and I worried he might not fit in as a result. In truth just want somewhere where there is a genuine atmosphere of kids being kind to each other and teacher's being patient with kids who don't neatly fir into a box. Does anybody have a view on the following. Lords Wandsworth College, Clayesmore and Dauntseys - a diverse group I suspect, but so hard to know a school until you are part of it. Keen to know too, of SEN provision at any of the schools discussed. Thank you so much for the help.

I have 3 friends who’s children are at lord Wandsworth and we are considering it for our son too. They are very happy there . Good pastoral and SEN for mild conditions and every Friday night all the kids make a den and hang out together before matches on Saturday. When I looked round all the kids looked happy and confident.

Is your son the outdoorsy, into adventure sports type, or more bookish or technology focused?

Bloxham might be worth a look. A couple of boys from our prep with high functioning ASD have gone there over the last ten years and really thrived. Bright children do extremely well there but it’s not known for being super academic given it’s proximity to some of the top Oxford schools. Known for those who need a little more support on the pastoral size.

St Chris has a good SEN provision for mild conditions, I'm not too sure about the schools you mentioned though x

Following with keen interest as my DS age 11 sounds very similar to OPs.

@reefedsail my son is bookish/technology focused (although not a strong work ethic!) if you have some recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

Bryanston or Millfield.

Leighton Park in Reading?

Thanks Kinlocrhum I was recommended one of those from a different source today too!

User721 thanks, that one looks interesting as well.
There are actually quite a few once you start looking, the difficult part is working out what will fit best for each child!

Have you considered Wells Cathedral School? There was previously a thread where a parent said something like "they do quirky very well" and having looked round I can well see this might be true. It's not a one size fits all approach and I think they have a variety of boarding options. (There is another thread running about Wells currently so keep an eye on that too if it's of interest).

Seaford?

Kingham Hill School.

Another vote for Leighton Park and probably Reddam House in Wokingham.

Lord Wandsworth College in north Hampshire, I have 2 there are they are great with their pastoral support and have all sorts there.