11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi all,

Are there any parents with dyslexic children at BETHS? How do they cope? Is the school supportive?

I guess it may have been easier for dyslexic children to get into grammar school before they had CEM. I get the feeling that the fast pace nature of CEM would be very difficult for dyslexic children. Is this your experience? Also, CEM has an element of English which could also be a weaker point for dyslexics.

Many thanks.

I don't have first hand experience for either school, nor do I have a dyslexic child. However, BETHs (I'm told) have fantastic pastoral care (some of the best around, along with WGSB) and are very good with a child's individual needs. However a teacher friend of mine was telling me, that DGS do not recognise such issues and somewhat bury there head in the sand. DGS aren't known to be the most "sympathetic" and are more results driven.

Good luck

Thanks so much for replying. Anybody else have first hand experience?

Yes, my oldest son has challenging Aspergers and we were very involved with the SENCO and special needs team at BETHS over his whole career there from yrs7-13 - he's now at university. We chose the school specifically over Bexley Grammar and Chis and Sid because of it's great special needs unit and they were excellent. It was really hard work, with lots of parent/school engagement, but they were very supportive and knowledgable. I know dyslexia is different but the same level of support and experience should be available to your son. We've no regrets, and there was a happy ending! Please PM if you'd like any further info? Good luck!

Hi Crazydaisy,

Many thanks for your reply. I am trying to help a friend whose son is severely dyslexic. Assuming he passes the exam, she wonders whether he would find life at a grammar school, especially BETHS too much. He is very clever as non verbal reasoning tests have shown. She lives closer to Bexley Grammar, but has heard wonderful things about BETHS and their SEN department.

My older son has just started at Dartford Grammar and so far I haven't heard anything with regards to dyslexic children. I have posted on the Kent section.

Thank you for sharing your uplifting experience. I would still love to hear from parents with dyslexic children, maybe there aren't any? I think there must be, especially as the old test would have been easier for dyslexics than the current CEM. I think it would be such a shame that very able children would be left out as in the real world dyslexics make a very valuable contribution.

Well done to you and your son!

DGS specialise in extra support for visually impaired boys AFAIK - a couple of ds' friends in Y11 have moderate visual impairments.
There are other boys in his year who have HFA/Aspergers, and a boy in his year group who has ADHD. All of those families seem extremely happy with the pastoral care at DGS for their sons. That said, it does sound like there is perhaps the best provision for your friend's son at BETHS salsa. Good luck to him. I hope your ds is enjoying DGS...I cannot believe we are at the point already where we will be meeting my son's tutors to discuss IB options next term those five years have whizzed by!

Hi Filitosa96,
Thank you for your reply. I'm glad to hear that DGS are supportive to children and families with special needs.

My son has settled in well. So far we are very happy with the school.