The Blue Coat School Birmingham A GSG School
- The Blue Coat School Birmingham
Somerset Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B17 0HR - Head: Mr Noel Neeson
- T 01214 106800
- E admissions@thebluecoatschool.com
- W www.thebluecoatschool.com
- An independent school for boys and girls aged from 3 to 11.
- Boarding: No
- Local authority: Birmingham
- Pupils: 657
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: £15,075 - £18,177 pa (last updated on 21/01/2025)
- Open days: See website
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Termly assessments, with results fed back to parents. High expectations in all subjects, with STEM taken particularly seriously – pupils made and floated their own boats in a recent project, then measured which ones went fastest. Younger ones told us of an experiment whereby Blue Coat Bear needed waterproof material to keep him dry, so they tried out different textiles. A focus on cross-curricular keeps things fresh (eg if they’re studying WWI in history, they’ll do portraits in art) and each topic has a Wow Day – we popped into a year 5 workshop by the Young Shakespeare Company. ‘Double double toil and trouble,’ chanted the children in their witchiest voices while...
What the school says...
We are an independent preparatory day school offering an outstanding educational experience to boys and girls aged 2 to 11. Founded in 1722, the school occupies a beautiful site in Edgbaston, in 15 acres of playing fields and gardens. We are a thriving community where children achieve a great many things, with outstanding results. ...Read more
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What The Good Schools Guide says
Headmaster
Since 2016, Noel Neeson BEd (Glasgow) NPQH. A Glaswegian through and through, though most of his teaching experience has been south of the border. He was a deputy in Kenilworth and a head in Leamington Spa – so knows the West Midlands pulse - before spending seven years at the helm of St Peter’s in Devon. Loves that his kids spent their earliest years by the coast but says he was ready for the more multicultural vibe of Birmingham. His son is at Blue Coat, his daughter at Solihull School.
We don’t meet too many headmasters with unruly long locks of curly black hair tucked under a bright blue beret. But Mr N’s weekly video is live screened to all classrooms and the theme was modern languages when we visited. ‘I’ve...
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Special Education Needs
SEN for senior school is as per the existing GSG entry. Pre-Prep, small group 'booster' sessions for English and Maths in years 1 and 2. Prep: 1-1 withdrawal for learning support for children with SN, eg those with dyslexia. The needs of gifted and talented children are provided for by a differentiated approach to teaching. The school's extensive programme of extra-curricular activities provides additional opportunities for the most able children. The school hosts specialist masterclasses for gifted and talented children within Blue Coat and the local community. 10-09
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder |
Y |
| HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment |
|
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty |
|
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing |
|
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes |
|
| PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability |
|
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty |
|
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma |
|
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication |
|
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP) |
|
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) |
Y |
| VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment |
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