Year 9 London School SEN Support

[sabibi]

Dear All,
After 5 years in Germany, coming back to London for next School Year, my youngest DD has just been diagnosed with mild dyslexia, poor Working Memory and slow Processing Speed but educational reports underlines "she is bright with mild learning difficulties". However, as we are arriving in Year 9, a lot of independent schools would have her sit a 13+ exams which she couldn't pass. Any recommendations for independent schools in SE or SW London or State Schools with the required SEN support ideally more focussed on Art, Sport & Music orientated which we could try to apply to now?

Ewell Castle or Box Hill.

These may be a bit far out of London for you, but my SIL's nieces (both with mild SEN) attended Manor House school (Bookham, Surrey) and St Teresa's (Effingham, Surrey), and apparently thrived.

Thank you both. Actually as my other daughter has got to access the French Lycee in South Kensington - a more central London venue (SE or SW) may be easier!

Your dd will need to sit an entrance exam but try More House in Knightsbridge.

I would second more house if they have space. Or queen's gate.
Also, if she's in the German system and not at an international than she may completely fine going into the UK one. German is quite a lot more intense.

Complicated school career for her... so far, she has been at the French Lycee till Year 3 then an IB School in Germany and now one of the 14 European Schools in an English section but the latter is more academic, no pastoral care and she is not enjoying it...

I see. Im assuming this will be her last move until GCSEs? You're kind of at the mercy of who has space but fortunate she's a girl as there's more options. Have you thought about Flexi boarding? Queenswood or St Christopher's in Letchworth are really great for SEN too.

Thanks for the info, I must say St Christopher seems a very attractive proposition and not something I would have ever thought about...could move around Finsbury Park and get both girls sorted with transport!

I was just going to second Ewell Castle. It’s close to the train station so would be a v easy commute from somewhere like Clapham Junction if you’re looking to live centrally.

Thanks, more thinking!

DD has similar (without the dyslexia) and got into her independent school without any extra time or adjustments as it wasn't diagnosed then so don't write off an entrance exam completely. I would have thought your DD would get extra time for the exam and DD is allowed to use the "reading pen" for exams if necessary. This is in Croydon so might not be in your preferred area though - a GDST school so there are a few around.

I would recommend looking at Fulham School SW6 which has a senior school to 18 and will open its refurbished secondary school campus on Chesilton Rd in Fulham this Jan 2020. I also just visited the Maida Vale School, the new Gardener Schools senior school just opened in Sept 2020. This is further away in W9, but is absolutely gorgeous with a fantastic approach to SEN and a wonderful head.

Thank you!