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Original poster

(Essex/Brentwood) moving my ADHD kid from Brentwood School to Shenfield high school or Felsted?

2 replies

Brentwoodcat · 06/02/2026 20:25

Hello,
My husband and I moved to Brentwood a year ago from abroad. We put our son (11 yo) in Brentwood prep school without doing much research. He has been having a hard time adjusting to the UK and especially the school. He made friends but had fall outs and being bullied (teased etc)

He is under assessment process for autism and ADHD at the moment. Before moving here he has been in British international school and has performed well with many close friends. He feels that the teachers here pick on him a lot. We feel that the SEN support is lacking, they will send us some emails (telling us what he did wrong) and after we reply by asking further questions then they just ignore it. Meetings happen but not much guidance…

We got accepted to the senior school next school year and we are wondering if we should pull him out and put him to a different school? Shenfield high school is very near to us. Does anyone here has any experience with SEN support? Also is Brentwood support any better in their high school vs prep?

The other crazy idea is to check Felsted school as I have heard good things about them but they are 40 mins drive away.

Any other schools recommendations? We are still not that familiar with schools in the area. Thank you. 🙏

OP posts:
Bestlife19 · 13/02/2026 03:45

Please look at St John’s Billericay. It’s a small private school. My daughter is in yr 8 and has mild adhd sounds similar to your son - she’s clever and sociable . She is thriving and loves school. Can’t say enough good things about it. They have primary and senior . Only downside is it stops at 16 but I thought send her to best school for her now and deal with a levels nearer the time! It’s so kind, welcoming, very small classes. They can’t offer places to kids with ehcp I believe as can’t offer 1 2 1 teaching. But classes are so small and teachers know the kids and their passions and interests. My daughter also says all the teachers are so passionate about their subjects. We live in Shenfield and there’s 2 routes by road incase traffic is bad or can get train. Good luck! My son is at primary in Shenfield and he is joining St John’s in sept for yr 7.

Original poster
Brentwoodcat · 15/02/2026 15:30

Bestlife19 · 13/02/2026 03:45

Please look at St John’s Billericay. It’s a small private school. My daughter is in yr 8 and has mild adhd sounds similar to your son - she’s clever and sociable . She is thriving and loves school. Can’t say enough good things about it. They have primary and senior . Only downside is it stops at 16 but I thought send her to best school for her now and deal with a levels nearer the time! It’s so kind, welcoming, very small classes. They can’t offer places to kids with ehcp I believe as can’t offer 1 2 1 teaching. But classes are so small and teachers know the kids and their passions and interests. My daughter also says all the teachers are so passionate about their subjects. We live in Shenfield and there’s 2 routes by road incase traffic is bad or can get train. Good luck! My son is at primary in Shenfield and he is joining St John’s in sept for yr 7.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! We will check it out. Sounds like a very nice & nurturing school.

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