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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Advice on private schools

68 replies

BrightLight04 · 15/07/2021 20:57

My 8y old DD is going to be in Y5 private school this year and it's time to start looking into the secondary schools. She's average in Maths and way below average in English (Comprehension and Creative writing are disaster). Hates reading anything hence no vocabulary. She has a brilliant tutor who struggles with her too. No SEN issues I was told about so far. I am obviously not looking into high profile schools, in fact I will have to put her name down for a state school option too as I fear a complete fiasco during 11+ exams. Which private schools might be an option for her? We are in SW London. Thank you.

OP posts:
Hoopa · 16/07/2021 11:36

It sounds like she might have a mild SEN - potentially dyslexic. If private isn't working for her then I would go for a good state secondary with an excellent SEN department, they are generally much better with children with SEN than private schools unless you find one with that emphasis.

Hoopa · 16/07/2021 11:38

Reading your later posts it sounds like she has what is called a 'spiky profile' which would point towards something like dyslexia - don't worry though these days it is considered a superpower in the world beyond school and firms are even actively recruiting dyslexics for their unique brains. Do you have any history in the family? it is genetic.

malteasergeezer · 16/07/2021 12:36

@Mrstreehouse

Sounds like private sector hadn’t really helped her so far…
Exactly! plus the OP gets her tutored as well. Can't you see the writing on the wall, OP?
ExpulsoCorona · 16/07/2021 16:50

@Mrstreehouse

Sounds like private sector hadn’t really helped her so far…
What a nasty nasty comment! Did you mean to be so rude? Do you not think that private schools can have a range of abilities?
FiloPasty · 16/07/2021 16:54

Sir William Perkins in Chertsey or St Catherine’s in Twickenham both girls schools but often used as a back up. I think you’ll feel better once you speak to your school in Y5, my daughter was like this, good at maths but English trickier.

AnoymousCoward · 16/07/2021 17:11

122 isn't 'average', though it may be average in her class. 105 is average (well, marginally above).
I agree, speak to the sendco to investigate whether there is a processing issue, an eye issue (e.g. irlens), dyslexia etc.
Some children do just have spiky profiles though Smile

jeanne16 · 16/07/2021 17:55

Look at More House School in Knightsbridge. It is a very happy and inclusive girls school and does the best by all the pupils.

Original poster
BrightLight04 · 16/07/2021 22:32

Thank you everyone for your messages and suggestions! I will work more close with our current school this year and see what will they say. I asked them about mild dyslexia but they said no.. Anyway, she will have different teachers in Y5 and I will go from there. I think, knowing her character, she will benefit more from a small ish nurturing school rather than a big one. Thank you!

OP posts:
Mrstreehouse · 16/07/2021 23:34

@ExpulsoCorona didn’t think it was particularly rude unless you are super sensitive. Was just pointing out a comprehensive might help with attainment and not sure why that has been completely vetoed.

ExpulsoCorona · 17/07/2021 02:13

[quote Mrstreehouse]@ExpulsoCorona didn’t think it was particularly rude unless you are super sensitive. Was just pointing out a comprehensive might help with attainment and not sure why that has been completely vetoed.[/quote]
@Mrstreehouse you said it sounds like the private sector hasn't helped her so far. You were basing that on her results. As if her results are poor. They are not. The English is slightly above average and the maths is well above average. To me it seemed really rude of you to say that the results are poor and really unhelpful.

This isn't a state school vs private school thread.

Mrstreehouse · 17/07/2021 08:11

Erm, the OP suggested results were below average. Not me.

Scaffoldhell · 17/07/2021 09:33

My DD has dyslexia which is quite severe and it was only picked up at the end of year 4 with similar spiked test results. - high maths and low English.
However points to hold on to are that her maths is very good and way above average . Her English is low for a private school but this will improve as she starts the prep for 11+ that ramps up in year 5 and year 6. We also got an English tutor for 11+ everyone at private school will be tutoring anyway regardless of their ability and it’s your DD’s weaker area so needs a boost.
Don’t get to down hearted. The 11+ puts dread in the hearts of even the most academic children. My DD is now in an excellent private secondary that is small and nurturing and working with her and she is thriving

AirEngland · 17/07/2021 09:38

What about Ibstock Place?
I don’t have much experience of it, but my friend who is a yr 6 teacher in a london prep and tutors for entrance exams really rates it. Especially for children who might not cope with the academic pressure of other independents. I know it’s a bit of a marmite school though!

122 isn’t a bad score at all. And 105 would be considered high average I think. Although if there’s already a lot of tutoring going on I can see why op might think English was a struggle.

AirEngland · 17/07/2021 09:47

Sorry - my last comment wasn’t remotely helpful.

Who was it who said no about dyslexia? And what reasons did they give? If it was just the class teacher - who presumably isn’t an expert - I would definitely push this route a bit more.

AnotherNewt · 17/07/2021 10:20

I think it would be worth looking at Streatham and Clapham High School, Ibstock (but it's hard to reach from many places - don't saddle yourself with a difficult school run) and maybe the Harrodian (where you could look at a transfer in year 5 or for year 6 and sidestep the 11+)

Otherwise, look further out - are you near Clapham Junction station? If so, look at the Croydon schools and at Woldingham

And yes, get an EdPsych report - your DD may not fit the levels required to secure assistance in exams, but understanding if she does have barriers will still help her education

daisypond · 17/07/2021 11:02

Streatham and Clapham High School is harder to get into than it used to be several years ago. I wouldn’t put all your eggs on that.

AnotherNewt · 17/07/2021 11:04

I agree, it's definitely harder than it was.

Original poster
BrightLight04 · 17/07/2021 17:31

@AirEngland

Sorry - my last comment wasn’t remotely helpful.

Who was it who said no about dyslexia? And what reasons did they give? If it was just the class teacher - who presumably isn’t an expert - I would definitely push this route a bit more.

Yes, sorry, class teachers starting from Y3 and Y4. I will ask for an assessment this year regardless of what they are saying ('everything is fine').
OP posts:
Original poster
BrightLight04 · 17/07/2021 17:32

@Scaffoldhell

My DD has dyslexia which is quite severe and it was only picked up at the end of year 4 with similar spiked test results. - high maths and low English. However points to hold on to are that her maths is very good and way above average . Her English is low for a private school but this will improve as she starts the prep for 11+ that ramps up in year 5 and year 6. We also got an English tutor for 11+ everyone at private school will be tutoring anyway regardless of their ability and it’s your DD’s weaker area so needs a boost. Don’t get to down hearted. The 11+ puts dread in the hearts of even the most academic children. My DD is now in an excellent private secondary that is small and nurturing and working with her and she is thriving
Thank you! The whole experience in very daunting.
OP posts:
Original poster
BrightLight04 · 17/07/2021 17:37

@AirEngland

What about Ibstock Place? I don’t have much experience of it, but my friend who is a yr 6 teacher in a london prep and tutors for entrance exams really rates it. Especially for children who might not cope with the academic pressure of other independents. I know it’s a bit of a marmite school though!

122 isn’t a bad score at all. And 105 would be considered high average I think. Although if there’s already a lot of tutoring going on I can see why op might think English was a struggle.

Ibstock is a bit weird to travel too but manageable. She's definitely struggling in Comprehension as cannot find correct answers to the questions and it takes her ages. She used to hate VR but got the grip now. Our tutor and I are puzzled with that score.
OP posts:
IBuyPestoAndThatsOK · 17/07/2021 19:28

Schools can't diagnose dyslexia in our county - has to be by EP. I don't know if that's the same in your borough, but worth checking out.

A private EP in our county costs about £500 for a dyslexia assessment.

Scaffoldhell · 18/07/2021 08:17

@BrightLight04 have you done an online LASS test? If you google them, they are free online and are what the schools use to see if there is a potential dyslexia issue. They are looking for a spikey profile. Might be worth doing to see how she scores. If there is a big difference then it’s worth getting an Ed psyche done.
Think you said that you are in SW London and so am I, so can tell you the schools we looked at for my DD if you like and the ones to avoid. Drop me a PM if you want to.

Hoopa · 18/07/2021 18:27

@BrightLight04
I wouldn't trust the schools diagnosis - they are not experts and it can be very easy to miss, very nuanced. Might also be something more niche like dysgraphia. I would look to an expert - before you get a tutor, spend the £500 on an assessment which should give you a really good detailed report, they are such a great thing to have to send to schools and will be your sword and armour in the education system (whichever sector) if she is diagnosed with an SEN. It also helps explain some behaviours at home - ie being very disorganised, unable to follow a stream of instructions etc.
Whatever happens, it sounds like she has some real academic strengths in certain areas, so she is going to be just fine in 'real' life!

Mrstreehouse · 19/07/2021 07:48

If your child can only pass the 11+ with hot housing and ongoing tutoring, even if they do get a place, they are going to struggle long term at school. Grammar schools are usually extremely academic and our grammar actively encourages not putting pressure on children to practice for these tests, they may pass but they will often really struggle long term and always feel like ‘the bottom of the pile in a hugely competitive system. Better to chose a school more suited where they might get a chance to shine.

daisypond · 19/07/2021 07:51

I got the impression the OP didn’t mean 11+ for a grammar school, more the selection tests that independent schools will do, many of which will be easier to get into than a grammar school.

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