Private schools in Sheffield..any experience?

[tattytilda 10]

I am considering sending my 8 year old (Y3) daughter to a private school, primarily because she has dyslexia and although she struggles at the moment she is still keen to learn. I really don’t want her to become disheartened and “switch off”.

 

She is currently in a class of 30 very mixed ability children. She does have some extra support at the school she's in and outside specialist dyslexia teaching.

 

I can't help thinking that smaller classes would help her emormously. Perhaps these teachers are more able to teach the children rather than the subject due to the smaller numbers of children?

 

Does anyone have any experience with the private schools in Sheffield? Any recommendations/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[gabzball 10]

I went to private school and it was excellent, obviously i have nothing to compare it with as i never went to a state school, but my experienece was great. I must warn you to beware to check out the schools support for dyselxia as i do know that when i was at school over 6 years ago that some private schools did not have any means to support anyone who had any difficulties such as dyslexia, this i do imagine has now changed.

Dont listen to anyone who tells you not to because private school is snobby and suck up because that is a narrow minded view and on the whole is totally wrong. I am completely normal lol, most dont even know i went to private school, and why should they, its not about money its about the education. I say go for it as long as the school has everything your daughter needs, of course if a state school catererd beter for her then id say go for that too.Hope this helps, good luck. x

[lola2 10]

I've fallen in love with Ashdell for my dd but you really need to look for yourself as everyone has different needs from a school. My colleague thought that it was a little twee when she looked but thats what i love about it. Now to find the cash. The ones we've seen have all been really nice.

[gabzball 10]

They wear the cute little boater hats in the summer at ashdell dont they? Totally cute and nice to see little girls dressed so smart i think its a great start. If you do send her there please i beg you dont be one of th emothers who parks in the middle of the road to drop off n pick up hehe

[lola2 10]

Thats a whole other thread i'm afraid.

[tattytilda 10]

i promise I won't do the whole parking thing, I agree its another thread completely and it drives me CRAZY!!

[Dalek Boy 10]

I'm now 36 years old. I was in the state school system untill the end of what Sheffield council then called middle school.

 

I then went into private school - within Sheffield. I found it a very mixed experience.

 

The class sizes (in terms of pupil numbers) were not really that different to state school, but the physical size of the classrooms was awful. We were in old Victorian buildings, there was just not enough room for us all to be comfortable.

 

Some of the teachers were really good, really well qualified, and really happy to be teaching in the private sector. On the other hand - some teachers thought of the pupils as an inconvienience.

 

If you were a bright child you were "fast tracked" I remember some kids taking O-Level/GCSE Maths and Latin at 13 years old. If you were "thick" you were doomed - from my first class two have gone to prison for armed robbery, one was thrown out of the army, and two are dead.

 

I doubt things have changed since I was there.

 

My 6 year old son is very clever - but is bored at school - so at the moment he's horrid, and handled in the wrong way will become tomorrow's nightmare!

 

I have a lot of life experience - from dealing with smack heads to royalty - Life is what you make of it - mostly bourne from the influence of your parents (regardless of how much you may like them!).

[metalman 21]

I'd say that Ashdell would be your best bet. The class sizes are usually about 12 maximum and it's a well run school with lot of extra activities (at an extra cost, naturally).

[kieran_grund 10]

I went to private school from about the age of 8, I also have dyslexia. Although the "prep" school I went to was in Stafford, I ended up going to Mount St Mary's College in Spinkhill... I had a great experience there, in terms of schooling and sports.

 

There prep school is just down the road in Barlborough, again has all the requirements and support that a dyslexic child would need. I think the school size is just under 100, but down quote me on that!

 

Prices I don't know, I think its quite a competive school to get into as well. The web site is:

 

http://www.msmcollege.co.uk

[gabzball 10]

Thats a whole other thread i'm afraid.

 

So true lol

[littleblue 10]

Go for it.

 

I was privately educated and I'll certainly do the same thing for my children.

 

The class sizes help as you get more attention from the teachers and problems are picked up very quickly.

 

I can't pass comment on Sheffield schools as I went to boarding school in the South (and lived in the South too)

[KenH 10]

I have children in a mix of private and state schools. I am surprised to hear that Ashdell has 12 to a class as this doesn't sound like it would be financially sound to me. Certainly it is normal for the class sizes to be not that much smaller, or even the same size as state schools.

 

All these schools are welcoming and easy to speak to. I would recomend a visit and a talk with the head of anywhere you are considering. I have visited a a great number of state and private schools in Sheffield and the rest of the UK, even Eton. There have only been a couple of schools (state!) that weren't welcoming during the school day and didn't want to show us round, and this only added to the poor impression we got on open evenings.