13+ Sports scholarship? Or excellent sporting opportunities?

[TLC11]

We live in Bucks and my DS is currently in year 7 at our local comp. We are considering an independant school for him due to the lack of sporting opportunities avaliable at his current school.

A bit of background - He is bright but struggles academically due to dyslexia and adhd (well controlled on medication). His school at the moment are delighted with his progress academically and say he has great knowledge and excells in Maths. He always seems to fall down when doing examinations and totally flunked his 11 plus. To be honest, we didnt feel a grammar was the right enviroment as he wouldnt like the academic pressure. We registered him for a local indie who offered a very generous Sports scholarship but pulled put at the last minute as I felt they wouldnt be able to support his academic needs and were very much about results.

The dilema I have is he excells in and loves sport. His head of year and head of PE have told us he is the best in his year and has a real talent. He participates in rugby and judo competitively to a high level outside of school. Every sport he does he is good at but we focused on 2 as we just couldnt facilitate more on a high level with intense training. He enjoys tennis, golf, cross country and athletics recreationally.

I feel he is missing out and that he would benefit from an enviroment that is rich in sporting opportunities. The problem I have is I cant seem to find a school that would offer him this while not focusing too much on the academic side - many Sports scholarships state they must also do well academically.

We are not rich by any means, but I worry we will earn too much for any sort of assistance. We have 4 children and both work full time.

Does anyone know of any schools (would consider boarding) that would offer him the sporting opportunities we are looking for?

I have looked at Hailybury and Shiplake but they seem pretty focused on the academic side too and are very expensive as he would need to fully board.

I know this is very long and a bit of a stab in the dark, sorry!

Thank you

[kenyancowgirl]

Bloxham school offer sport scholarships. Sibford School is a Quaker School - with a specialist dyslexia unit so incredibly caring - lots of opportunities but it is a small school so not top level sport. Sibford does not have an entrance exam - it assesses everyone against its dyslexia criteria (so they sit a “test” but will only not be offered a place if the school feels they can’t meet their needs.) There is a separate academic scholarship exam and generous bursaries. There are other Quaker schools around the country - from memory I think Ampleforth is one - that has a good rep for sport.

Rydal Penrhos in North Wales has superb sport and is not overly academic... it is probably a case of looking at each potential School and then investigating it heir expectations.

[scary mum]

I don't know where you are in Bucks, but I know people who have sent their children to Claire's Court in Maidenhead. I don't think it is selective, but I don't know about the sporting side of it. The people I know have been very happy with the school.

[doodles]

Millfield school is renowned for its sport and Christ's Hospital School is also worth investigating.

[Loopyloulou]

Millfield is certainly worth a look - with nine medals the school equalled Singapore on the medals table for the recent Commonwealth Games - and it is not particularly academic.

[kenyancowgirl]

Millfield, Oakham, St George's Wadebridge, Sedgborough are all very good sports schools - especially for rugby - but they do have entrance exams of varying difficulty - the problem is the OP says their DS struggles with exams, which may influence how he does on these entrance tests. Speaking to the schools concerned is the best way to progress as some of them may be prepapred to show some flexibility in how he is assessed.

Sports scholarships in the better sports schools do tend to be awarded to those who are a minimum of County level, (but more usually higher) usually in two sports minimum. And, scholarships are often almost not worth the paper they are written on, financially, being capped often at around 10%.

[loobylou]

I don't know much about it nowadays but Aldenham always used to be known as a very sporty school without too much academic expectation.
Things may have changed in the last few years though it rarely gets mentioned on here so I imagine is still not particularly academically selective?

[fairyelephant]

I also hear Aldenham is good with dyslexic DC so definitely worth a look.

[TLC11]

Thank you everyone! Will start looking into all of your suggestions! I particularly like the look of Millfield. Does anyone have any experience of scholarships / bursaries for this school? Thank you!

[loobylou]

I don't know which part of Bucks you're in but Abingdon School is also very sporty I've heard. My friend is considering sending her child there and she feels the the exam is not particularly selective, assuming for average or just above rather than anything more. I know nothing else about it though and there is no boarding I don't think.