Catholic high school in Scotland for non-Catholic ASD child

[FriendlyFireflies]

We live in a rural area in Scotland and DD12 is currently in S2 at a secular high school. She's autistic and has been bullied constantly since starting at the school. Things have improved slightly since S1 but she'd dearly love to change schools for a fresh start.

We can't afford a private school and she is adamant that she does not want to be home educated or attend an online school. Moving house isn't a viable option for us at the moment. The only other school in our area is a Catholic high school on the same campus as her current school that accepts some non-denominational pupils.

We're not a religious family (DD herself is very firmly atheist) and none of us have any experience with Catholic education so I'm struggling to understand if this could be the fresh start she desperately wants or if her not being from a Catholic background will just be an added difference for her to deal with.

She enjoys and does really well with the academic side of school and has no issues with behavior or attendance etc. It's all the social stuff she finds difficult.

She says she'd happily join in with religious services or lessons if it means she gets to change schools but honestly even in primary school she was outraged at having to watch nativity plays so I'm not convinced she'd deal well with any compulsory faith-based activites. I'm also unsure about how things like sex education and and LGBTQ+ issues might be presented.

Would be good to know if anyone has experience with anything similar, or can suggest anything we should ask the school or consider generally before taking things further.

Personally I'd go and look at the school and see what you think. There absolutely will be religious activities, all school masses and lots going on at key times per year eg Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter plus potentially religious singing, music, assemblies based on the faith. Given she's autistic this might be far too much for her (I say this having a ND son myself).

Don't decide based on answers from people in the English system.

English catholic schools are a different kettle of fish from Scottish ones.

If it was me I'd try it.

I've known non-catholics go to & do well at Scottish catholic schools.

Go and have a look at the school and see what you and your child think. My child is at a Catholic school and yet we’re not Catholic. I surprised myself for choosing it but it is the right place for my child for the pastoral care, activities etc and they just accept that they also have prayers and Mass. It wouldn’t work for everyone but it’s perfect for our child and they’re thriving. I was worried about the sec education and LGBTQ teaching and was delighted to see books and posters on display when we looked round!

Go to the school and take a look round. It might help you decide.

Thank you for the responses. That's very helpful. I'm going to contact the school when term starts and see if we can arrange a visit.

I know several families who choose to do this as the local Catholic secondary allegedly had better provision for children on the Autism spectrum.