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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Recommend me a school... Anywhere!!

47 replies

SquareInSquare · 04/02/2023 14:47

I am a secondary teacher and my daughter is in year 5 so I've been looking at secondary schools.

They all make me want to cry. I've honestly not seen a school I'd be happy to send her to, including my own.

She is severely dyslexic but loves reading and is exceptional at maths. Dyslexia would likely prevent her passing the 11+ but we're not in a grammar area anyway.

So I'm looking to move house and want a creative, happy, academic comprehensive.

Currently live in the south west but not adverse to moving further if there's a school that will help her thrive.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
SquareInSquare · 04/02/2023 21:38

@starpatch thank you too. Although @parrotonmyshoulder has put me off, that is a bad read.

OP posts:
JustKeepBuilding · 04/02/2023 21:43

It is always worth appealing. In 2021-22 SENDIST only upheld 3.7% of LA decisions. I would reapply - if an EHCNA was actually carried out wait to reapply until it’s been 6 months as there’s no right of appeal before then.

Ionacat · 05/02/2023 08:28

I’m in the well kept secret area - East Hampshire! We have amazing schools here - all comprehensive. DD is thriving at her comprehensive, she doesn’t have SEND, but it is always recommended locally as being very good with SEND. There are so many opportunities on offer and generally behaviour is good. (She complains about one particular teacher, but having worked in a secondary myself, it’s rare that you get a perfect set of teachers and it’s not affecting her progress.) She loves school as do her friends, it’s walkable, most of her friends life within walking distance and she’s much more independent as a result. Please feel free to PM me if you want to know which bit of East Hants and the particular school.

Sjhegsb · 05/02/2023 08:34

www.applefordschool.org/

Its a private school in Wiltshire that specialises with dyslexia

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 05/02/2023 08:42

I’ve no idea what these schools are like for dyslexia, but if I was moving based only on secondary schools, I would look at Cotswold School/Chipping Campden School.

FeinCuroxiVooz · 05/02/2023 08:51

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is insanely difficult to get in to (1000 applicants in the lottery, sometimes only 50 or so places left over for lottery allocation once other priority candidates are accounted for) and has a reputation for being the best local school for SEN provision in mainstream comprehensive, and also for stretching the academically able. Their admissions policy prioritises children of staff so you wouldn't be the only applicant to any job vacancies who had an ulterior motive, and may find it difficult to get a job there, but worth a try maybe? I don't have direct connection to the school (we weren't successful in the lottery) so don't know if the reputation is deserved.

PammyShipman · 05/02/2023 08:58

Why don't you have her take the Gloucestershire 11+?
Pates is the only Glos grammar you need to get certain scores in every section. The others you can get in if your maths is amazing but English not so much like in your example.
The Stroud grammars will obviously be closer to you than the Gloucester ones.

MrsSchrute · 05/02/2023 09:21

FeinCuroxiVooz · 05/02/2023 08:51

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is insanely difficult to get in to (1000 applicants in the lottery, sometimes only 50 or so places left over for lottery allocation once other priority candidates are accounted for) and has a reputation for being the best local school for SEN provision in mainstream comprehensive, and also for stretching the academically able. Their admissions policy prioritises children of staff so you wouldn't be the only applicant to any job vacancies who had an ulterior motive, and may find it difficult to get a job there, but worth a try maybe? I don't have direct connection to the school (we weren't successful in the lottery) so don't know if the reputation is deserved.

It isn't.

Icedblondelatte · 05/02/2023 11:10

How about an international school abroad? Looking on TES and there's quite a few language teacher jobs advertised and you'd get a school place for your child too.

Original poster
SquareInSquare · 05/02/2023 14:14

@Ionacat thank you so much. This sounds amazing! What a great kind for your DC. I suspect the area is out of my budget but if you're happy to PM me that would be great.

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Original poster
SquareInSquare · 05/02/2023 14:15

@PammyShipman i have no knowledge of the grammar system at all. Stroud isn't too far from us. Are you suggesting she could sit it even out of area, it that we'd need to move? Do grammar schools also account for distance from home?

Thanks for the idea

OP posts:
Original poster
SquareInSquare · 05/02/2023 14:16

@Icedblondelatte this is a good out the box idea that you. Not sure that is the lifestyle for us though.

OP posts:
Original poster
SquareInSquare · 05/02/2023 14:18

Thanks @FeinCuroxiVooz good idea

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CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 05/02/2023 14:23

Op, did you mean to state Chippenham as the venue of your potential 1hr radius since you didn't want to say where you were?
Language teacher in Chippenham!?

CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 05/02/2023 14:23

Centre not venue

Original poster
SquareInSquare · 05/02/2023 14:25

I'm not actually in Chippenham, just near to it..and I don't work in the same town I live in, so i think I'm ok. Thanks for the heads up though. And if you do recognise me (because i have spoken to people irl) then please don't tell me you've read this 😁

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PammyShipman · 05/02/2023 14:28

SquareInSquare · 05/02/2023 14:15

@PammyShipman i have no knowledge of the grammar system at all. Stroud isn't too far from us. Are you suggesting she could sit it even out of area, it that we'd need to move? Do grammar schools also account for distance from home?

Thanks for the idea

Gloucestershire grammars are open to anybody who passes the test. No preference is made for where anybody lives.

People do often take the test and move closer but people also travel from far each day to get to school. There are buses than run from Bristol and Worcester for example.

Get yourself over to the eleven plus forums and do some reading.

There are 7 grammars

1 boys in stroud
1 girls in stroud
2 girls in Gloucester
1 boys in Gloucester
1 co ed in Gloucester
1 co ed in Cheltenham (but you need to get above a certain score in all test areas for this one)

Soundofshuna · 05/02/2023 14:29

How about applying for a job at Stonor or KES or Kingswood and use staff discount. My children are at one of these and I am very happy with extracurricular, pastoral support etc

Original poster
SquareInSquare · 05/02/2023 14:30

@PammyShipman thank you for your excellent advice

OP posts:
Original poster
SquareInSquare · 05/02/2023 14:31

@Soundofshuna I'm really pleased your dc are doing well.

I don't think i can afford private unless the discount is very substantial (and from what I've heard on the teaching grapevine it isn't). But thank you for the idea.

OP posts:
Ladyoftheprom · 05/02/2023 14:31

Bredon school is a dyslexic specialist school and is amazing

Soundofshuna · 05/02/2023 14:44

Depends on school can be more than 50%

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