A London Secondary School for High Functioning Autism - help!

[Hackney23]

Hi!

We're urgently trying to find the right secondary school for our DS, for Y7 entry in 2024. He has a diagnosis of autism, is currently in mainstream primary here in Hackney, with an EHCP with a high level of 1:1 support. He's done really well these past 6 years, support is being tapered off and he is now around the expected level academically.

Going into secondary, he could probably cope without 1:1 so long as there was specialist ASD support. But, he is likely to have a rough time making friends in a big academy like Mossbourne (even though it does have more specialist ASD support), while all the specialist schools seem to be for children with a much higher level of need. His brother is at Emanuel in Clapham, which doesn't really cater for this sort of SEN.

So far, the only schools anywhere we have been able to identify as a good fit are The Holmewood School up in Finchley/Muswell Hill (or More House out in Farnham, which would mean a complete life change moving out of London, taking his brother out of school in Clapham etc.)

The difficulty with schools like Abingdon House, The Courtyard, Roehampton Gate, Storemont House is that they are really geared up for kids who need a lot more support and A-levels are not an option.

So right now, The Holmewood School seems to be the only viable option... but we can't rely on that and have to put down at least one other choice by the deadline on Friday. Eek.

Any thoughts, intel, tips etc would be very very welcome!

In that case, it will be up to the individual sixth forms whether they admit DS and what course they are willing to offer him. Especially now we are a few weeks into term. DS will probably have to study maths and English too. You might be better looking for a 1 year GCSE course whilst requesting an EHCNA. This will also give DS time to settle in England.

@Hackney23 Hi there, how is your son getting on at Holmewood? Looking for a similar profile school for my son. Thanks!

Generally great - lovely school with great expertise. Only downsides are commute is hardcore and small classes mean limited scope to make friends.

@mumintheeast interesting as I was worried about the friendship situation at Holmewood too. Are there any out of school friendships formed from what you can tell, even between years as making friends is so important to my son and wouldn't like to think all his teen years go by with any/ many.

A bit... I think it requires parents to be quite involved in sussing out potential connections and orchestrating things... but the alternative in mainstream may be worse in terms of a much tougher environment day to day... Holmewood is very friendly all round

That's very true, infinitely preferable to MS where my son would fall apart within days. Guess you can't have it all and there's always out of school activities to try and widen social circles.

Those of you with an EHCP that names Holmewood (especially where the LA funds it), what needs did you have listed? Did the EP specify class size (or anything else)? Thanks!

Hi, how do you find it? Is it suitable for academically able kids?

Hello, did you get council to cover cost of the school?

Hello, did you get council to cover the cost of Holmewood school?