Is there any evidence that private dyslexia schools can improve GCSE grades over state schools?

[thelastallosaurus]

Does anyone know if private dyslexia schools offer any grade improvement? Is there any research indicating this? I would like to know the money has a fair chance of paying off in terms of helping her achieve a level 4 in english. Dd has severe dyslexia and working memory issues and really struggles with writing anything that requires a sustained train of thought. As with many dyslexics she does not struggle with puzzle solving and non verbal tasks. Such a shame as her favourite subjects are literature and history but she cannot articulate on paper (or use punctuation correctly etc). She wasn't making any progress in her state school and is about 4 years behind with english language. I have taken her out to home educate, small improvement because she is doing things she enjoys and has had a lot more one on one from me than was provided by her previous school, she also has a bit more confidence in herself now (wasn't trying because she thought she was stupid) but she is not highly self motivated and I would rather send her somewhere that instills some self discipline and offers the traditional school structure but also has highly qualified motivated dyslexia friendly teachers not just a teaching assistant. I'm happy to move house to achieve this as we have no particular reason to live where we currently live anyway, long commute etc and have seen that there are a few specialist dyslexia schools and dyslexia friendly private schools in convenient locations for us. Like everything, I want her to achieve at least a level 4 in her english and maths so she doesn't have to retake or have doors closed to her.

Are there any private schools that have a better reputation for this than others?

I can't help with studies showing the added value of dyslexia specialist schools, but pupils who have provision that meets their needs, whether in MS or SS, are always going to achieve more compared to if they didn't have their needs met.

Have you thought about applying for an EHCP?

Have a look at Frewen college, Fairley house and Blossom House.
Cavendish Education have a few dyslexia specialist schools - the Moat, Abingdon House, Bredon and Trinity. I'm sure there's more, too.

Finborough School in Suffolk has a dyslexia unit so might be worth a google. I have friends who moved to send their DC there for this. I don’t know whether the outcomes are better but I assume they think so.

I would also love an answer to this question. I haven't ever seen a good impact measure or outcome report from private schools AND I am not aware of any comparison between them and state. The big challenge is that there is no consistency of approach in either state or private schools so it is really hard to evaluate!

My experience with one of the schools listed above was that as an independent education trust they were very unaccountable to anyone, but particularly parents. I work in Education and have experience of both independent and mainstream sector (professional non-teaching). The DfE aren't interested, the LA's that fund through EHCP aren't really interested and the inspections regime (vis Ofsted or ISI) tend to be superficial. The special needs independent school are often very small so for example the Ofstef Parent voice - results wont be included because the number of replies is too small to maintain anonymity. So nobody really cares what value is added for your child.

To come more precisely on to your question - I think you are asking for a crystal ball and/or a miracle. Sorry very few people on here can assess what type of support your DD's difficulties need. The Level 4 is the holy grail that my family is currently at. It will open doors to appropriate level courses for my teenager in the subject they wish to go on and study. My DC has been at one of the dyslexic schools named above (teaching quality very variable, behaviour management dreadful and academic expectation very low); they moved and are now at a small independent mainstream school, and thriving. They love their courses, are working really hard, are doing very well in some subjects. Sadly i think despite a lot of effort are not likely to gain the 4 in Maths or Eng Lang this time round. But at least they are happy and enjoying study. Something I never though I would write. We have thinned the number of subjects (eg dropped Eng Lit, and a choice subject, and are only taking a 1/2 GCSE in RE).

Hope you find somewhere.

My children are at a dyslexia school, that does have high expectations for their pupils. Mine are not in GCSE years, but all the teachers have additional qualifications, targets set and monitored. They don't do 10 GCSE's, they focus on the GCSE's that don't require a lot of writing (so no history or geography), but they can do triple science, further maths, if they have the aptitude. A high number get the equivalent of 5 GCSE's at grade 4 and above including maths and English, but they are selective in terms of underlying ability, despite how severe there dyslexia. Mine may move before GCSE's, but if they did stay, I feel they would get the holy grail of level 4 in maths/English.

All the schools I mentioned above have DC who achieve grade 4s in Maths and English along with other GCSEs and other qualifications. Of course not all do, but that is the nature of the schools.

If a pupil’s EHCP is specified and quantified then the school and LA can be held to account. LAs may not care usually, but they start to take notice when parents threaten Judicial Review, especially if they are paying the school £££. If the EHCP is vague and woolly then that is a separate issue to be dealt with.

I don't know the answer to your question, but last year I taught an extremely talented and motivated student with dyslexia and ADHD who graduated with a first class honours degree and went directly into a creative job with a very high profile company. He went to a 'special school' throughout the whole of his secondary education and put his academic success down to his time there.