Independent school for academically gifted autistic 12 year old boy commutable from Harrow?

[AshRam1]

First time posting here. We have a very bright 12 year old autistic son who has been struggling in his mainstream independent school resulting in increasing school refusal. The school have been fantastic but are approaching the limit of what they can offer. They have suggested us looking at SEN schools that might better cater for his needs. Holmewood has been suggested as one option, but it's a bit difficult for us to get to from Harrow. Does anyone know of any others in North London or Hertfordshire area? We're able to pay (within reason). DS would want to sit GCSEs and A' Levels. No behavioural issues, but struggles with the social side of things and can get very anxious. We've just started the EHCP process with our LEA.

Depending on DS’s needs you could look at Egerton Rothesay. It only goes to GCSE level though, and it isn’t ASD specialist although many of their pupils do have ASD.

I was going to suggest Egerton rothesay too. Unfortunately your neck of the woods doesn't have many options. Just so you know, the Holmewood is £70k a year!

Odyssey house School in Higate. They have plans to open one in Bloomsbury soon too (from the website it looks like they also have one opening in Wokingham). It’s newly established I think. I don’t know that much about it but from what I understand it specialises in kids with ASD as a primary diagnosis, particularly school refusers. A friends exceptionally bright autistic son started there after being unable to cope with a mainstream school, and has been doing well. Fees are very high though. Does he have an EHCP?

Weekly boarding at More House Frensham?

Bruern Abbey senior
The school that used to be called the Moat
I think Hillingdon Manor has some very able pupils
SOSSEN May be worth a call

Bit of a schlep but Wychwood in Oxford is going Coed.
There is also the Ambitious about Autism school in Feltham I think it’s called Rise

Thanks for all your suggestions. I hadn’t heard about any of these schools, but some look like they might be a good fit. I’ll contact the schools and see where we get. Thanks again (and yes, £70k/yr is way out of our price range - thanks for flagging up because it’s not advertised)

Hi can you tell me more about More House. Do you know anyone there with ASD? Looking at the website it seems more geared toward kids with dyslexia and other learning difficulties.

Op you need to @ people in your reply otherwise they won't know you've replied to them with a question.

@Foxesandsquirrels thanks. You can tell I’m new to this

@Taptap2 Hi can you tell me more about More House. Do you know anyone there with ASD? Looking at the website it seems more geared toward kids with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Thanks.

Look at The Rise school in Feltham. Set up a decade ago by a mother of who felt the available SEN provision at the time wouldn't stretch her son academically. I heard anecdotally the other day that he's moved on to impressive things since finishing there.

http://www.orangetreeschool.org/en-gb/