Advice on private schools

[BrightLight04]

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.

They are no easier in this part of SW London than state sector 11+ tests - it's a fiercely competitive area l unfortunately for those who love in it.

Willingness to consider a short journey out of London will give many more options. Especially if the school offers flexi-boarding, and once your DC have settled, then a sleepover at school might be preferable to daily commute - even one night a week would break it up a bit.

I would get a private dyslexia assessment. Our ds , who also has ASD so that is an added complication, has a spiky profile and school said it was not dyslexia on loads of occasions. This was based on his reading being advanced and his having ASD causing some other difficulties. Spelling dire. He does have dyslexia. Since diagnosis school have been v good. Current age is 10yr 1mo, spelling age on his report 8yrs, reading 16yr 6mo.

Then I would second a smaller inclusive nurturing independent. I think the bright capable and motivated do well anywhere but the middle, those with mild difficulties, sensitive and less confident benefit from extra attention and support available in some independent schools. Not familiar with your area I’m afraid but I would look through good schools guide.

I live in SW London and my DD - middle table at a state primary (not one where children routinely went off to independents) - went to SCHS. This was some years ago. No tutoring. Not a reader. Terrible at maths. No problem getting a place. As long as you weren’t actually under-par for state school SATs, I assumed you’d get a place. It was the only one we applied for. But as I said, I think it’s harder to get in now. But that’s just anecdotal.

Meant to add, there was no way my DD would have passed a grammar school entrance test.

Depending on where you are in SW, Portland Place does not have entrance tests and is very central, giving you time to work out what to do at 16+.

PP has already given great schools to look at.

Good luck

Friends I know with girls who didn’t want to do the whole 11+ craziness have gone to St Catherine’s and Emanuel in Year 6. Also have a couple of friends who went to Radnor House. All lovely schools and worth looking at.

Don't know much about the other schools, but Emanuel does have a 11+ exam to get into yr6 around December. Though I have found these easier than 10+, you do have to study the same material as you would for 11+ for them.

Saturday 4th December 2021: 10+ entrance exam. Details of exact timings will be sent in November.

www.emanuel.org.uk/admissions/10-plus-entry/

Agree with GlencoraP.... investigate the significant disparity between maths and English. Ed psych,., maybe dyslexia? Who knows? See what outcome is and work on advise from that.

Sorry, got my 10+ and 11+ crossed there.

Emanuel does have a 10+ exam, which may be easier than 11+, but still requires that DC study the same material.

Agree with previous posters who said push for a dyslexia assessment. It does sound like she would benefit from some specialised support. I had suggested dyslexia for my DD1 from first year in school and they only did one after 5 years to shut me up and because her spelling was very poor. Turned out she needed quite a lot of support in reading/writing, although not falling behind generally. What you've said you are doing already sounds very familiar to me.

It may be worth looking at the new senior schools being opened by Broomwood, Thomas’s and Fulham Prep. Suspect they are likely to be less academically competitive to get into, given they are new amd cannot compete with the established names. Also expect they will be smaller schools, to start with at least, and that could benefit your DD who may need close attention to help her with the bits she struggles with and to see if there are any underlying issues.

Emanuel is very competitive at the moment.

I would second St Catherine's, Twickenham. Such a lovely, nurturing school and the small class sizes would help staff be able to give her reading more attention. SENCO is also pretty good there, as there are quite a few dyslexic girls so would be able to give good advice.

From what I hear the English department there is a particularly nurturing and kind bunch - but also get pretty stellar results. I know a wonderful young lady there who has just completed her first year of A-Levels there, and I know they have done wonders for her. I've heard they've provided amazing support to all their students, no matter their ability, and sparked pure interest in the subject. Students who were previously struggling have scored 7s and above in their Lit/Lang GCSEs. I would recommend booking an open day, it's totally worth a look.

The prep school also means that your daughter can start in Year 5 or 6, if 11+ is too much to bear! I feel like this school is also rising in popularity too as many are after that close-knit ethos, but that being said entrance requirements are lower than other local schools. I know that lots start in those years for the same reason, and are made to feel like part of the furniture.

PM me if you have any questions - I'm familiar with most schools in the area and would love to help :)

Don't discount the state sector.

DH and I were both at v selective indies/grammars and had planned for private schools for DD.

She's very dyslexic and ultimately it didn't seem fair to send her somewhere where she'd probably be bottom of the class and feel stupid. So we found a comprehensive that excelled in music and the arts and sent her there.

She's just finished Y7 and is coming top of her class in some subjects and near the top in others. Teachers have completely understood her strengths and weaknesses and what she needs to help in the areas where she struggles. Result is a child who is happy, feels she's succeeding and doing well - and is therefore trying hard and doing better than anyone expected in subjects she always felt a bit of a dunce in.

Couldn't be happier - and while my heart may still slightly yearn for wood panelling and glorious grounds, we know we made the right choice.

I totally agree with posters above suggesting an education psychology assessment, they can also make recommendations from that on how education can best meet your child's needs, which you then discuss with potential schools to have an idea of what they could offer specific to your DD.

Can please recommend any private english tutor for creative writing and comprehension for one on one online lessons please for Yr5 DD. TIA.

Look at Radnor House in Twickenham. Might have crept up academically but when it opened, it was known for being good at nurturing children who were below average.
Hampton Court House School, maybe?
Same used to be true of Claremont in Esher though I think it is academically more demanding these days.

If she hates reading, encourage her vocab in other ways. Put audio books on in the car, listen to podcasts on subjects she likes and give her a small incentive every time she asks what a new word means then uses it in context in speech or in schoolwork. Play scrabble and bananagrams with her. Buy her magazines and illustrated books on subjects that fascinate her. She doesn't have to like fiction.

I think she'd walk into Streatham & Clapham girls with those academics. Their intake is roughly comp standards, not sub-comp like a Portland Place type, so you definitely get the odd bright girl there too.

Kew House and Radnor House