Should my child start high school at year 7 or 9? Single sex or co-ed?

Hi,

My child, a daughter,  has just been diagnosed with ASD is in  year 6, is meeting educational requirements. The diagnosis is so new to us that we are trying to work out exactly all the issues and how to help her etc  -although anxiety is a big one. She seems to enjoy being by herself on the weekends. It could be that she is masking a lot at school but she insists that she does not find the classroom too noisy/busy.  She likes to manage herself.

We had considered that maybe the local state school would be good for her since she could get conveniently lost  and  mage herself but I have read some of the other threads on this website and seems to suggest that it can be really overwhelming for them.

We are very lucky to be able to afford a private education. In the next couple of weeks we would need to decide whether to start  high school in year 7 or wait until year 9. Also we would  need to decide whether she goes co ed or girls only school

Some people have suggested that it is better for ASD children to start in year 7 so that they have a good 3 years to get used to  the high school before they need to concentrate on GCSes.  They suggest that if the kids start at year 9, they only have one year to get used to the school and the other children. Other people say if they seem happy at their primary school keep them there and wait until they are a bit older/mature.

I would really welcome any comments from the community on whether to move her at year 7 or year 9 and whether to go co-ed or girls only school. I have read that ASD girls often hang out with the boys as they get older because the girls are a bit complicated for them???  I suspect that I may ask a lot of questions over the coming weeks

Warmest regards