Special Schools and GCSEs

[PerpetualCircle]

Growing increasingly despondent after looking around 3 special schools for ASD ( a free school, state school and section 41 independent school) None of them offer GCSE. My son is good at maths and I would like him to have the opportunity of taking at least maths GCSE. Mainstream is not a possibility, due to the impact of environmental and social factors.

All independent ( none section 41) schools I have contacted told me they are full.

Would appreciate any advice.

How old is your son?Is residential an option?

There are secondary SS who do GCSEs, though most have a limited number of subjects. Sadly it's often nowhere near a MS curriculum offer. Have you looked at all suitable schools within travelling distance? Maybe look at schools that aren't just solely ASD specialist schools as well. I would second looking at residential if appropriate too.

I understand if you would rather not, but if you want to post your whereabouts people on here may have suggestions.

Thanks for your replies.

My DS is 10 yrs old. I am surprised that ASD specialist schools don’t encourage even limited GCSE s,my son is like a human calculator, yet he struggles with basic social norms and has multiple sensory issues.

We live in West Yorks I have started looking at schools in Lancashire, as local ones are either unsuitable, full independents or not offering any GCSE.

I though it was nigh on impossible to get a residential school place? I made enquiries to one and was told that I was unlikely to get a place unless their was social service involvement.
We did have Ss involvement 3 years ago, they said he was a Child in Need, saw him 3 times and then nothing!

I would feel guilty sending him to a school that would deprive him of opportunities.

As he is only 10 now is it an option to look for what will meet his needs now and then look for GCSE provision when he is older?

With regard to residential provision - if he needs independent living skills training then "a waking day curriculum" may be what's needed.

Local authorities may have blanket policies about not funding residential or out of area placements but these are unlawful.

Our son went to mainstream primary and secondary schools. Mainstream FE was a disaster. We fought and got three years at one of the Priory Group's residential specialist colleges for students with autism where they do GCSEs, A levels and a range of other courses.

Try looking at the Priory Group schools which are autism specific and recognise that some students can have high level abilities. Also try looking here:

www.specialneedsuk.org/findaschool.asp

If there isn't a suitable day placement then residential would be the logical next step. It may be a fight to get it, but you would stand a good chance if the LA couldn't come up with an alternative.

None of these may be suitable, but it's worth looking at as many as possible to get a better idea of what will work and what won't. Depending on where you are in West Yorkshire some may be within travelling distance.

Breckenbrough in North Yorkshire. It's residential and day. I've heard brilliant things about it.

Witherslack group schools, particularly Cedar Hall in N Yorks and Pontville in Lancashire. Hall Cliffe is in Wakefield and offers some GCSEs.

There is also Alderwasley school in Derbyshire and Cambian group schools - there's one in North Yorkshire.

Meadowcroft in Wakefield and William Henry School. Not ASD specialist. SEMH schools but takes pupils with ASD and offer a few GCSEs. Unlikely to be suitable from what you have posted and mixed reviews from what I've heard, but may be worth a look still.

I have looked all over England for primary for DS1 who has SEMH and is academically able. I'm now doing the same for secondary. Sorry if my suggestions are useless.

I looked all over England and Wales for specialist FE provision that offered GCSEs and the only one I could find was 160 miles away from home. We had a huge battle with the LA but that's where our son went. It was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Never thought about specialist FE provision, I will have a look at that.

I have been in touch with Breckenbrough school, but they said they were full. The Lancashire school I have enquired about is a Priory group school - Rossendale . I will also look at some of the other schools mentioned.

Looks like I will have a fight on my hands.

Thanks again for you help.

It's a bit daunting but you can always get help and advice from IPSEA.

www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Category/service-overview

and SOS!SEN

www.sossen.org.uk/

Our son went to Farleigh FE College in Somerset.They take students from 16 -25.

That's a shame about Breckenbrough. It would be worth contacting them again at intervals to see whether that changes, especially if you can get an EHCP that brings a decent amount of funding .

I think Rossendale is section 41 so, if it is suitable, it should be easier to name than Breckenbrough.

Ellie, that's brilliant your DS is doing so well.

Yes we have just got a ECHP, no named school on it yet.
Been trying to arrange a calling with IPSEA but it’s always booked up ( unless I’m doing something wrong?)
Thank goodness for these chat threads!

@PerpetualCircle

Several appointments showing on the IPSEA advice line now for next weekend.

Cheers Ellie, just got booked in for IPSEA call. Xx

Great stuff Perpetual. Looks like they've all gone now.

Keep looking. We were lucky enough to find a school for ds1 that met this profile and he came out with nine GCSE's so there are some schools out there that can meet both academic and behavioural needs. Ds1 coped well with a journey of just over an hour (was a bit of a struggle until he settled at the school to be completely honest) so that might extend your search area. Also look for schools registered for social, emotional and behavioural needs as well as those specifically for an ASC as they would be likely to meet needs too. (Sadly, I can't recommend ds1's school as it has now closed its doors to this profile of pupil because it was unable to get enough pupils to keep going).

I know that even when I eventually find a school suitable in another borough, will have to fight it out in the tribunal. Just bought the How To Be a Velvet Buldozer.

I am mindful that we could lose at tribunal, so also thinking of Plan B, private maths tutor alongside local special school? But not sure if this would work.

I found with digging many ss are like that. its basically functional maths and life skills!! ds is worth more than that and ASD doesnt mean he`s an idiot!!

online schooling is the answer for us. Theres no reason why he cant go for a set of GCSEs like anyone else.

for ss around here really seemed like a glorified childcare service for 11-16`s!

OP google online school. many students (like ds) end up here as they can`t cope with the mainstream environment BUT have brains/ intelligence to do just as well as any other child. They thrive! ds is at my online schooling. there are others..... my online schooling can set you up with a trial class free. thats what we did.

From what Ive seen so far I agree about SS being glorified childcare.

I will look at the online schools, my concern is that he absolutely refuses to do homework, so don’t know if he would knuckle down for home based learning.

Perpetual, not all SS are like that, so do keep looking.

Internet school wouldn't work for my DS either because he needs face to face tuition, and I don't see DS being at home 24/7 indefinitely as the best for him or me. It also doesn't give other provision from the EHCP such as SaLT etc or the same peer interaction. But, if it is something that would work for you you can get in named in the EHCP.

Norfolk, it's brilliant your DS is happy and doing well with online tuition. Making assumptions based on your name If in the future you did want to look at schools the Priory group's Sheridan school offers some GCSEs.
And Cambian's Wisbech and Bramfield House in Suffolk offer a limited number of GCSEs, though I have heard mixed things about both.
Gretton School in Cambridge offers some GCSEs and A levels.
Though depending on where you are in Norfolk, if indeed you are at all, not all may be possible as day placements.

I've PMd you but another option is an ASD or SEMH school with private tutors for GCSE subjects written into his EHCP, as if his Outcomes are Maths and possibly other GCSEs they must find provision for that.

online school you can tailor it for homework. some students are not sn, just travelling for a year and stuff! so homeworks a bit iffy for them lol.
the schools pretty understanding if you explain. classes are live streamed, so teacher is "there" on screen live.

Things are not looking quite so bleak thanks to the varied advice I’ve received on here.

Met with SENCO today, she is in full agreement with me abut DS academic capability for GCSE.

That's great news, we rejected the MLD school that DS previous school wanted him to go to on the grounds that two children in 11 years had done any GCSEs.
He is only 7, but he's been trying to tell me about negative numbers today.