APS or Fortismere for a boy with ADHD?

[Winterblued]

We are in a local Muswell Hill primary school. I am trying to decide between these two schools. I know that APS has a great SEND team and reputation but talked to someone who had to leave because they were not supported. I am thinking it does not always translate to the classroom experience. I am worried about the strict uniform and discipline ethos at APS and ADHD often comes with defiance and this could cause a lot of friction and stress on top of already stressful existence for a kid with ADHD. What I like about Fortismere is that its more relaxed so I am thinking less triggers all day for someone who cant sit still and doesn't care what they look like and cant stand restrictive clothing. I like the ethos of letting kids be who they are and learning self motivation. However not sure it works that way with ND kids who have short attention spans and goals. what do I know? I am just a mommy! If any one has any insights or experience of the schools please do let me know.

May also be worth looking at Heartlands in Wood Green/Alexandra Palace right by the AP station, who have a great reputation for SENd support

They are both very good schools. My cousin went to to APS years ago and she loved it. It not as diverse these days as the catchment has shrunk and it has become similar to Fortismere in that the intake is very middle class/affluent.
APS is preferred these days to Fortismere as well when it used to be the other way round when my cousin went. I have also heard Highgate Wood has improved if you live close to it and have great pastoral care.

Heartlands in Wood Green doesn't have as good grades as APS and Fortismere, but then again APS and Fortismere have a very middle class in take compared to Heartlands, and they are supposed to be very good with students with SEN.

Thank you 0ntheg0again. I will look into Heartlands. But it feels a bit far from MH.
Sammyvine I think both are great schools and would be happy for either for neurotypical kids. Difficulty is if your kid has special needs. The things that are good might not be the best. Its so difficult to try to ascertain beforehand.

@Winterblued

Thank you 0ntheg0again. I will look into Heartlands. But it feels a bit far from MH. Sammyvine I think both are great schools and would be happy for either for neurotypical kids. Difficulty is if your kid has special needs. The things that are good might not be the best. Its so difficult to try to ascertain beforehand.

Yes they are both very good schools. Muswell Hill is an affluent area so there is no surprise. My cousin lived in Wood Green which isn't as nice as Muswell Hill and got into APS back then (she left year 11 in 2014) because the catchment used to go as far as Wood Green and even some parts of Tottenham. Not anymore going by several threads on here, you literally have to live on the door step if you are trying to get a place through distance.

As i said both are excellent schools, but i do think APS is the better school these days. It seems to be more stricter (Fortismere doesn't wear uniform) and probably the more diverse of the two. I know Fortismere is very middle class and and a lot of parents get their children private tutors . That might put off some parents.

My stepbrother lives in Muswell Hill and his kids went to Fortismere. DDs both brilliant students, but his DS was constantly in detentions etc for the first two years or so, whereas last time I saw them in person, admittedly a while ago, things had apparently settled down a lot and stepbrother and his DS were laughing about the past experiences. Though Fortismere doesn't do uniform, they do still have various rules and discipline and quite a lot of academic pressure.

Have you talked to the teachers and staff at your child's current school, including any pastoral staff who've worked with him? Can you find out more about how both schools do transition to secondary and ongoing work with ADHD students. Worth talking to primary school about it because staff of primaries and secondaries will probably be in touch with each other about transition, and may have traihing things etc.

I'm on the other side of Haringey in south Tottenham, with 2 sons now in secondary but I'm a parent governor in primary with a responsibility for SEND (because everyone on the governing body has roles to take on to try and share out workload).

I have been thinking along the same lines re: my adhd daughter. While APS is a great school, I see your point about it possibly being too restrictive for a kid with ADHD and agree that the more relaxed attitude at Fortismere might be better. That said, the pastoral care at APS is meant to be better so if there is a problem they are more likely to be proactive at dealing with it than Fortismere.
I’ve spoken with contacts at Haringey CAHMS and they said in their experience kids with ADHD do tend to have more issues at the stricter schools like APS and Heartlands.Good luck with the choice

@10YellowTulips

I have been thinking along the same lines re: my adhd daughter. While APS is a great school, I see your point about it possibly being too restrictive for a kid with ADHD and agree that the more relaxed attitude at Fortismere might be better. That said, the pastoral care at APS is meant to be better so if there is a problem they are more likely to be proactive at dealing with it than Fortismere. I’ve spoken with contacts at Haringey CAHMS and they said in their experience kids with ADHD do tend to have more issues at the stricter schools like APS and Heartlands.Good luck with the choice

APS is supposed to be very good with pastoral care.

Have you looked at the Archer Academy in Finchley? I think that might be a bit out as its in East Finchley but i have heard nothing but good things. It is smaller than most secondary schools and the pastoral care is supposed to be fantastic, especially when it comes to kids with special educational needs.