Where, oh where?

[Karentully]

My son is about to start year 6 in South London - so secondary school next year.

He is autistic, very bright & able but does have some sensory & other challenges. Superbly self regulating.

We are considering a move out of London . Preferably by the sea. Maybe Highlands of Scotland but very open to ideas

Where in the world is a great secondary school who can meet his needs? And a great place to live?

You’ve not got long before your secondary application needs to be in tbh.

What are your local secondaries like? From what I read on MN and from people I know, south London is well supplied with good schools.

Does he have an EHCP? If so, you can usually name his school, I believe.

Is he at mainstream primary? How is he doing there? Tbh any good secondary should be able to support a student with ASC who is bright. IME anyway.

OP, unless you're thinking of applying to a school with a formal specialism in your son's needs, be wary of public recommendations on Mumsnet or elsewhere. A recommended comprehensive school with a great SENCO, where other families have had a great experience, can quickly end up with unsustainable numbers of applications from children with similar needs and/or the fab SENCO can move to a different school, so your experience may end up being very different.

OP you need to be aware that the education system in Scotland is very different to that in England. That affects the application process for schools and support for individual needs.

If you can afford it, send him to an independent school with very strong pastoral care.

The extra care they give around various stress points that children who are mildly on the spectrum experience, can mean a much easier ride than in state secondary. That has been our experience.

Or alternatively a grammar school could be a good option as if he is bright, you may as well use that to his advantage. There are often a higher percentage of people on the spectrum at grammar schools than in the natural population, so he would be among like minded folk which is nice.

Some are diagnosed, others not, as it's mild - but you see it there as plain as day. I can't support this with any figures, just experience of what I have seen myself.