Private Secondary School

[pilates]

My daughter is 9 and I'm thinking ahead at the possibility of sending her to a private secondary school. She has mild cp. Is anyone's SN child at private secondary school, and if so, is it working well? Do they have SENCO's in private education and do they have to accept my daughter?

Private schools do have SENCO's but are not obliged to take any child, SN or otherwise, and she'd have to pass the relevant entrance exams. Some schools support better than others and the ISI reports will give you a better idea but usually understate the number of children who have needs and relatively few, if any, statemented unless they are specialist ie dyslexia .

Thanks Lizs, the entrance exam is it a pass/fail exam or is it to test ability? Are you saying if you are a parent paying the required fees, they could still refuse to take your child?

Private schools which are selective can be inflexible - they teach to a certain ability range, set their goals on achieving certain results and can choose to exclude those at the lower end as they have enough applications. The "pass" mark which each sets (some are more demanding than others) may be a moveable feast depending on the children who apply in any one given year but it won't vary significantly. There is often also an interview, offers being based on a combination of the two, but usually to the higher achievers. If she passes an academic entrance exam you may then be able to insist they accommodate any physical needs. There are non or less academically selective schools so I'm sure you could find one that would suit your dd if you look around.

How do you know if a private school is selective?

I think my daughter will not achieve her potential in a state secondary school because of her special needs and that a small class would suit her better.

Do you think she would need a private tutor to improve her ability or is there something I can do with her to help?

Are you a private school teacher by the way?

Thanks LIZS.

Generally if it has an entrance exam it is selective to a degree (look under Admissions on website), but some require a higher level than others. You'd have to ask each one really what that level might be. Exam practice would be worthwhile as the format will differ to anything done in state school classrooms but some schools publish past papers or you can buy Bonds Assessemnt papers in places like Waterstones. If she needs serious tutoring to pass you may like to consider whether it is the right school for her. Also worth calling and asking to meet SENCO before applying to see how amenable they would be to accommodating her SN and if they'd make any allowances under exam conditions (extra time for example).

Not a teacher, dc at a prep school and looking at secondaries atm. ime the small class sizes are not as much of an advantage as they get older as increasingly they tend to teach in ability groups for most subjects which are more variable, so ask about both.

A bit puzzled at your last paragraph, even if they are streamlined to ability at a state school, you are still going to have a class of 30+ rather than say, 15.

Thanks for your comments.

I just think you might be surprised once they choose gcse subjects how the size of some of the sets can change in State schools. It won't necessarily be 30 all the time. Even independent schools can have large intakes so the advantage may lessen. You may need to specifically ask to be able to compare.

Can anyone help? My son has downs syndrome and has just started year 6. He will need to go on to secondary education next Sept. I have seen a school out of borough and I have been told I will not get in unless I fight! Can anyone give me the best ways to appeal????? Thank you