Finding the right secondary - Aylesbury/MK/Buckingham

[Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep]

I have a yr4 son. Incredibly bright, incredibly ADHD with some ASD traits. In the misfire of getting ehcp sorted but struggling with knowing what to do for secondary.

He tests well, so grammar or independent are options, if we can get a bursary or a rare 100% scholarship, but getting sorry with his SEN is just as important to me as him being academically challenged.

Going to be moving to the area mentioned, probably, for family reasons, and am happy to be guided by the right school. Does anyone have any experience of adhd/SEN at any school in that area, or know how grammar schools deal with it....

Basically I'm completely lost, have no idea where to even start.
It would almost be easier if we were settled somewhere and just had to find the best option of the ones available. Having more of a free rein is something I'd a double edged sword.

Plus I have a yr1 daughter to consider at some point. Sigh.

*in the middle of getting ehcp

*getting SUPPORT for his SEN

Well Aylesbury and Buckingham are in grammar areas and MK isn't (and it's vanishingly difficult to get into Bucks grammars from MK).

So if you think your DC is grammar school material and you like the grammar system, then I'd suggest not moving to MK :)

In terms of dealing with SEN, this is probably a really unhelpful answer, but all the schools will have experience of dealing with ADHD/ASD. And, because every child is different, one person's experience or needs may not be the same as yours. I'd suggest you might need to ring up SEN departments and have conversations about your DS's particular needs.

The Royal Latin grammar in Buckingham is a great school - nearby is also the Thomas Fremantle in Winslow which I have heard good things about, and is much smaller (600 kids vs 1200 at RLS) so a good ‘second’ choice should the 11+ not go the way you hope & I have heard they’re good for SEN - I imagine the smaller class sizes are a positive. However you’d probably need to live in Winslow to get into the catchment for the Fremantle as it’s over-subscribed. There is another (non selective) secondary in Buckingham but I don’t have any experience of it. Private wise there’s Akeley Wood nearby (co-ed) & Thornton which is girls only, plus Stowe but it’s really expensive (unless you did qualify for a large bursary) & apparently not hugely academic so maybe not the best choice, & it’s certainly not a ‘local’ private school like the other two. Aylesbury there are 2 grammars & a couple of non-selective schools which I haven’t heard good things about - Aylesbury isn’t very nice, I wouldn’t move there if you paid me 10 million. MK/Buckingham much nicer area IMO.
Good luck - to be honest all the schools round the area are pretty decent (certainly outside of Aylesbury) so whenever your DCs end up will be fine.

@Chickenriceandpeas There's far more than a 'couple' of secondaries in Aylesbury! Although I concede they are pretty rubbish (with the caveat that AVA is now considered 'good' and St Michael's is really sought after.

You don't need to live in Winslow to get in Thomas Fremantle (but as Chicken says, it would help a lot). This year's Year 6 was a particularly high birth year, so lots of parents have been disappointed (the new RC St Michael's in Aylesbury for instance, it was easier to get into last year, I actually emailed them to get a breakdown of how they allocated places, this year that list was meaningless, as even some RC families failed). Sir Thomas Fremantle still took from a decent distance, but then people from Aylesbury would have hedged their bets on getting a place at St Michael's, meaning fewer put it as first choice than other years. It is a good school though.

If you want a decent secondary near Aylesbury, then try to live in or very, very, near Waddesdon. That is impossible to get into (even for staunch church-goers), unless you live near the school. It is a fantastic secondary, but you will have to live near to stand a chance.

Aylesbury has three grammars- Aylesbury High School (no good for you as it's a girls school), Aylesbury Grammar (the male equivalent of AHS, so all boys), or Sir Henry Floyd Grammar, which is co-ed. I have no experience of SHFGS, although some of my DD's classmates are going there. I have a positive experience of AGS, as my son went there, DD will be going to AHS.

I really wanted DD to get in Sir Thomas Fremantle if she failed to qualify and they were extremely helpful when I contacted them.

If there is any possibility in your DC not qualifying, then I'd err towards Waddesdon way or Buckingham (as per Chicken), as they have the best secondaries.

Thank you so so much this is all really helpful info. I sturdier since DS will be on pupil premium and (hopefully) have an EHCP that that might make it a little easier to get a place, but finding the right place for him will be complex.

Do grammar schools have the same kind of extra curricular stuff you'd be more likely to find in independent schools (decent design tech, art, 'unusual' sports etc)? I know nothing about grammars. I am certain he'd pass entrance exams and 11+. He tests well and enjoys exams. It's classrooms he struggles with. Too distractable. Too impulsive...

I only know RLS in Buckingham with regards to grammars so can’t speak for the Aylesbury ones, but not really in terms of offering the same as independent schools (I have one at RLS & one at an independent, & the independent offers a lot more extra curricular stuff, but obviously at a high cost!) I don’t think they offer any more in that regard - though RLS is certainly a lovely school with nice grounds etc, but probably just because Buckingham is a nice town, not because it’s a grammar. The main advantage of grammar as far as I can see is that everyone is of a certain level, so the classes can move along with subjects quickly, thus learning more. There’s less disruption, not much messing about (says my daughter, could just be her experience, but says it’s very good) and their expectations are very high (eg aiming for top grades, universities) But from an extra curricular viewpoint I think it’s the same as the non-grammars.