PHS Vs KGS - any insights?

[Sohardtodecide]

Our DD has been offered Putney High and Kingston Grammar for year 7..finding it hard to decide between them. DD is fairly reserved/shy, not massively sporty.Commuting distance will be similar and not fussed about girls or co-ed. Also wondering how the SEN provision and pastoral care compares at both schools? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Just a personal opinion . My DD and I liked Putney more. We were more impressed with the teachers and facilities there.

@Sohardtodecide , your dd will have a much larger pool of dd to find friendship groups in at PHS and check the commitment to sport on a Saturday morning at KGS. Is she non sporty and has no interest or is would she like to have a go anyway hence the inclusivity of KGS on a Sat am in Thames Ditton might be better? Personally I think a quieter dd does better in a girls school as more likely to find like minded friends.

Thanks so much for the above. We will probably need input from the SENCO re: ASD/ADHD, has anyone had experience of this at either KGS or PHS and how well your DD was supported? I've heard at PHS it's more putting them into groups for extra support but not very individualised; KGS pastoral care seems very supportive and may have a more targeted approach?

Putney High is great but not so great for SEN. There’s a lot or unmet need in that area so I’d be careful if you feel your child needs a lot of input.

Hi RedDogBlueDog. I'm certainly no expert, but from what I've picked up the following indie secondary schools seem to have a good SEN offer (list not exclusive): Dulwich College, The Hall School, Thames Christian School, Sutton High School, Streatham and Clapham High School, Wimbledon High School and maybe Surbiton High? There are probably many others. Emanuel seems to be reported to have a poor SEN offer. Other people may know more.

Claremont Fan have made it pretty clear to prospective parents that they don't have the support to help SEN pupils, the head is taking the school in a different direction.

I know a few boys at Halliford who have very high functioning ASD. Parents report that the school have been really supportive. From what I hear it is quite a kind inclusive school.

I just wanted to say that academic standards can be maintained and probably improved in these schools by accepting DC with ASD / ADHD / Dyslexia. If they pass the entrance tests then they should be able to accommodate these, often very gifted children and stop seeing them as a 'problem', as some clearly do. Yes, they may need some input from the SENCOs and maybe some specific adjustments but they deserve to have this support and it is actually enshrined by law. I hope that independent selective schools don't / stop distinguishing between SEN DC and academic excellence. They are not mutually exclusive. Neurodiversity is a fact, its here to stay and all schools need to fully accommodate it and celebrate it.