Opinions on Varndean College and BHASVIC please

[runaroundstartsnow]

DD quite fancies going to it for IB but also quite fancies BHASVIC for A'level.I need some info to help her decide.
Has Anyones DC gone to either of these?
Is there a good social scene ? (DDs question)
I want to know what teaching standards are like, is it friendly, do students get a lot of support?
And lastly if you had to do it again would you send your child back?
Thanks, i did post this on local , but hoping for more response on here.

[bucaneve]

Hello,

Me and most of my friends went to Varndean College about 5 or 6 years ago. We all had a nice time and came out with 3 or 4 good A levels, don't know what the IB is like though as they didn't have it then.

I had some lovely teachers, I remember one in particular very fondly as she gave me lots of advice on applying to university and applying to scholarships and things like that.

Hope this helps :)

[Goblinchild]

What does she want to do at A level?
BHASVIC seems to have a very buzzy social scene, teachers appear very enthusiastic about the subject areas we looked at last year. Lot of building work was going on at the time.
Have you been to one of their open days/evenings?

[runaroundstartsnow]

We have been to open days at both and she did like Varndean better, she has about 5 a'levels she wants to do which is the reason she was considering the IB.However someone told her teaching is better at BHASVIC.
A'levels will be French, Chem,Eng Lit, Creative Textiles or Art &Design.

[runaroundstartsnow]

Bump

[haggis01]

Bhasvic is getting better A level results in general than VC in the past few years ( new head at VC appointed a few years ago - the results are on their websites, look at particular subjects to compare A/B grades). My DD is at VC and doing A levels - unfortunately she has not been very happy there - the tutor support has been poor ( tell me one thing on the phone and the reality seems to be another). My DD did consider the Ib but went for A's in the end. She says the IB is a smallish group - so your DD would get to know the group very well and they get perks such as lockers , seem to be supported more in her opinion. However, I would check out results for the IB's and how the points match up with A level Uni Offers. I have met parents on UNi open days who were concerned that it was harder generally at IB to get the higher points you need for decent Uni offers than standard A levels.
VC teaching has, for us, been better in the sciences than in the humanities.I know lots of people highly rate the art teaching. The students who have the GCSE grades take 4 A's as standard - you can negoiate to take a 5th or do an evening class in art/photography etc.

The english Lit and french will be taught in the "huts" - the permanent temporary classrooms that are a bit grim.

[runaroundstartsnow]

Thank you all for your opinions, they have been very useful in her decision making