Shapwick

[alwaysrushing]

Hi guys- does anyone have any up to date info on shapwick school? I have an appt to visit on Friday for v dyslexic dd. However have just read very poor recent ofsted. Quite a shock as the report 3 years ago was outstanding across the board... Now unsatisfactory- anyone know what's happened?

Have sent you a message.

I would be grateful for update/info too please. We are considering this school for Ds any info gratefully received.

Hi Beeci
Since that post I have visited the school and had a really good dig around. I was so impressed-it's small ( prep is tiny) but really caring whilst also quite buzzy. Lots of evidence of multi disciplinary approach to teaching- lots of passionate teachers, and the children were completely delightful- so polite, so happy. We talked to 4 of them and they were all so grateful to be there. All had had problems at previous school ("I couldn't learn the way they taught"-being the most common problem) but loving shapwick. My daughter is severely dyslexic and dyscalculic, and often misreads situations- when I told the head teacher she laughed and said they were very used to that and put a lot of input into social skills. With only 8 per class, they get to know their children really well, and their results are brilliant. The ofsted was awful- but they are appealing-as she said- 3 years ago it was judged outstanding and nothing has changed.
Finally I spoke to an ed psych I know who had coincidentally visited the week before, and she said that the school are doing everything right, and for a child who cannot access the curriculum because of the way she learns- it is a really good school. I also had a PM from green duck above whose son has just started and is happy and settled for the first time in years. I'm sure she'll tell you more.
Going on my instincts I thought it was fab. And perfect for my daughter whose self esteem is on the floor after 5 years of 'failing' in mainstream. Now I have to gear myself up for parting with her in September ( she'll have to board- we are overseas) but as my husband said- it's not about me.
Go and see it and let me know how you get on.

Apparently they're challenging the Ofsted finding - www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-30021363

I visited shapwick earlier in the year and thought the head of prep was amazing. The maths teaching and resources were incredible (spent all afternoon in the maths classroom!). I also looked at boarding (DS is only 9) and thought the set up there was excellent. Slightly too sporty for DS.

I couldn't take the application further for other family reasons (exH very opposed n grounds of distance; also in senior school - Saturday am school would not work well with divorced families)