• Replies 11 replies
  • Subscribers 72 subscribers
  • Views 9220 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Views on attending Grammar school with Asperger's

Nikki

Hi all

My son starts secondary in Sep and he we have not been able to secure placement in any private school. We cannot afford to pay fees of specialist schools. His EHCP states mainstream secondary. The only place he has now is the local grammar school, where he passed the test. Since he masks well in school, I do not have strong evidence that he needs a specialist setting, he is quite bright. But DS has mobility issues,sensory issues,  social anxiety and processing speed issues. Not sure how he will cope. He also developed OCD recently. I will be appealing the council's decision, but till we get a hearing DS will have to go to the Grammar school. 

I would be grateful to find out if anyone has kids with ASD attending grammars and what is their experience like.

Thanks

Parents

  • I went to a grammar school in the last century - 1965-71 to be precise. I did not have a diagnosis then, but looking back I can see ASC traits in myself and many of my peers. Actually, I think a lot of the teachers were neuro-divergent too.

    We had a lot of activities including a Scientific Society, Aviation and Aerospace Society, Photographic Society, Chess Club, Literary and Debating Society - plenty to keep the geeks engaged during breaks, so no need to socialise. I also spent a lot of time in the library during breaks. The school was smaller than the local comprehensive, had a good pastoral system and a real corporate identity.

    The main thing was there was an expectation that we wanted to learn and achieve - positive peer pressure for good behaviour.  I don't know what modern-day grammar schools are like.  Hopefully the fact that your son passed the test for grammar school means that the school will understand that being autistic does not mean your son isn't bright - he just needs to learn differently.  Often the risk is that kids with SEND are seen as less able - this leads to frustration for the more able autistic students who are not challenged and lose interest.

Reply

  • I went to a grammar school in the last century - 1965-71 to be precise. I did not have a diagnosis then, but looking back I can see ASC traits in myself and many of my peers. Actually, I think a lot of the teachers were neuro-divergent too.

    We had a lot of activities including a Scientific Society, Aviation and Aerospace Society, Photographic Society, Chess Club, Literary and Debating Society - plenty to keep the geeks engaged during breaks, so no need to socialise. I also spent a lot of time in the library during breaks. The school was smaller than the local comprehensive, had a good pastoral system and a real corporate identity.

    The main thing was there was an expectation that we wanted to learn and achieve - positive peer pressure for good behaviour.  I don't know what modern-day grammar schools are like.  Hopefully the fact that your son passed the test for grammar school means that the school will understand that being autistic does not mean your son isn't bright - he just needs to learn differently.  Often the risk is that kids with SEND are seen as less able - this leads to frustration for the more able autistic students who are not challenged and lose interest.

Children
No Data