School or college for A levels?

[Bucharest]

My lovely half-sister is after advice for her son.

I did mine at school, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and have no idea of the differences/similarities pros or cons.

Any feelings one way or the other?

[scaryteacher]

I am moving ds to sixth form college in the UK. Larger gene pool, fresh start, new teachers, and dedicated, specialist A level teaching.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Depends on what school 6th forms and what colleges are available surely, and what courses they offer. Where we are, for the subjects DD is likely to do, she'll probably stay at her school. The 6th form (esp lower 6th) run clubs and junior drama and suchlike which seems like a nice bit of responsibility.

[lazymum99]

Ds2 started at 6th form college last september. By definition teachers are specialist A level teachers. He has to be organised and self motivated. He has to attend lessons only. Extra curricula is voluntary and no assemblies etc. So he has more time off than when he was at school and does not have to be in when no lessons. If he is unwell or can't get in he emails his teachers (I don't have to be involved any more). If he misses lessons for no reason then after a certain time I will be told and he may be thrown off the course.
I think they have to be quite mature in this environment but it is a good stepping stone to independence at university. The pastoral care is there if needed - he has tutor meetings etc.

[lazymum99]

Also there is usually a much larger choice of subjects at colleges and at my son's there are no subject blocks to choose from. In other words any combination can be done because of the size of the college. This is a large inner city purpose built 6th form college.

[hocuspontas]

The sixth forms where I am are getting so restrictive! Male and female students have to wear suits, registration at 9, no 'frees' off-site etc. and they are not 'trusted' to manage their own workload and behaviour. There is a greater level of freedom at sixth-form college by the sound of it.

[SecretSquirrels]

Usually more choice at 6th form college plus specialist uni preparation and A level teachers.
They are also more like a half way between school and uni and treat the pupils as students.

[TheFarSide]

School sixth forms are generally smaller and more intimate, with possibly more support from teachers. If it's his own sixth form, he'll already know all the other students and won't have to worry too much about making new friends. If he's entering the sixth form of another school, he will have to fit into a group of students who know each other already - he might find this difficult and stifling or refreshing, depending on what kind of person he is. Some students who stay in school for A levels start rebelling against the restrictions of school life (eg uniforms, having to stay on school premises) - others find it safe and comfortable.

Sixth form colleges are larger and less intimate but possibly more grown-up and challenging in the sense that they expect more independence and he will need to make an effort to get to know people and make friends. They tend to offer a wider choice of subjects and they may have better facilities eg cafes, libraries, gyms, clubs, studios, etc.

Where I live, school sixth forms tend to get better A level results than the local sixth form colleges - but this might be different where you are, so check Ofsted reports and league tables.

He should certainly visit those places he is considering to get a feel for which environments would suit him.

[nagynolonger]

All of mine have stayed at school (for 14-19s). The youngest is in year 10 and I would prefer him to do the same. They would have to travel some distance to our nearest 6th form college and they can do the A levels they want to without moving.
Some do leave after GCSEs and go to what used to be called the tech college. Everyone who wants A levels stays at school.

[GrimmaTheNome]

When we were doing the rounds of secondary schools, none of the sixth forms (in the schools which have them) had a uniform. (one, private, made them wear suits). They all had 6th form centres and extra facilities.

Whether 'a much larger choice of subjects' is necessarily a good thing depends on what your DC wants to do afterwards.

[nagynolonger]

Ours are allowed out of school for lunch and can wear their own clothes in post 16. They are nolonger allowed out during free periods for driving lessons or to sit and do work in the park. They have to be in school in lesson time.

[BackforGood]

Depends entirely on your 6th form colleges in your area.
Around here, the 6th form colleges are generally attended by the less academic pupils. Traditional A-levels and higer expectations are at the schools' 6th forms. For ore vocational courses and more opportunities to do all sorts of resits as well, then go to the 6th form college.

As others have said, staying on means the staff know you. (This of course, can be good or bad )It means there are more opportunities for extra curriculum stuff, and 'Leadership roles' from Head Boy/Girl, Student Leadership Teams, Chairing School Councils, being asked to me mentors or tutor supports for younger pupils, prefects, leading school music groups, etc.,etc. (the 6th form colleges - you just go for lessons only).
However, school 6th Forms are by their very nature more 'school like' and some think that's positive and others thing it's a negative. Will depend on your child.

[BackforGood]

Oh yes, ours can wear own clothes, and be off site when not having lessons.

[ptiger]

My ds and dn have both been making this decision, my ds has opted to stay at school whereas my dn has opted for college. Unless there is a particular subject that they can only do at College or school. I think the important thing is how ready is the child to take on the extra responsibility going to college entails, and are they ok with not having the reassurance of already knowing everyone. I know my dd who stayed at school for A levels really appreciated the support of friends and teachers she knew well and who knew her.

[Bucharest]

Thanks for all answers!

I'll link this thread to her. My own antisocial gut feeling would be to stay in school, but I was one of 11 in my whole 6th form year (and the only one who eventually went to university) and looking back I don't think that was necessarily good for me.

[GnomeDePlume]

It is worth looking around to see what all the options are within striking distance.

DD1 is applying to another school for sixth form. We are at the county border. There is an excellent school over the border which is now open to DD1 as catchment areas dont apply for sixth form.

[sashh]

VI form - teachers are still calleed Miss / Sir and have usually trained to teach children. Often there is a uniform or dress code and the only subjects offered are A Levels. A lot more chasing up and punishments such as detentions are still used.

College - rarely a uniform unless taking 'Uniformed Public Services', teachers are normally addressed by their first name unless taking the aformentioned UPS where they call teachers Sir or Ma'am and stand up when a teacher comes into a room.

The teachers are qualified to teach 14 - adult and have studied adult learning styles / motivations. The teachers have often come from industry and teaching is a second profession. Often more courses available so if AS levels don't go well there are options such as BTEC National or other vocational subjects. Less chasing - if student doesn't hand in work then they fail.

So if the DC is still quite immature and needs chasing VI form may be better. If DC is self motivated, wants more freedom or wants to do a vocational course then college would probably be a better fit.

IMHO college is more of a half way stage to uni than VI form.

[fuzzpig]

Much more freedom in college, and with that, more responsibility.

We pretty much got on with everything ourselves, it was up to us to attend classes, study in our own time and do assignments - there was barely any chasing from teachers.

Much more informal, we wore anything we wanted (as did the staff) and called teachers by their first names, had their mobile numbers and went to the pub with them. Only one weekly compulsory registration session, and a personal tutor whom you could ask anything. Open door policy for everything, you could wander in to the staff rooms without knocking.

There were plenty of people in college who didn't want to study and were just there to avoid getting a job, and they certainly wouldn't survive in school 6th form. Only the highly motivated got good grades because they did it all off their own back - studying in free periods rather than mooching about etc - in that sense college is much more like uni than school.

I feel I matured a lot faster than my friends who stayed in school - I was there for me rather than because of teachers breathing down my neck.

[mummytime]

I am fortunate my DCs are at a school with a fabulous and large (and newly built) sixth form, there is also a fabulous sixth form college within easy commute (and a possible commute to other really top rate sixth forms).
My advice is it depends on the child. The colleges tend to offer a less paternalistic level of support, which for some youngesters is ideal, they are ready to spread their wings and be independent. However others do better with staff they know and who know them, and who know their weaknesses.
The other factors to consider are: courses on offer (including exam boards, as the syllabuses do vary), their friends, the size, the outcomes, career/higher education support, opportunities for enrichment.
Good luck.

[Kaloobear]

With regard to teachers at colleges being trained to teach 14 upwards and being 'specialist A level teachers', all Secondary PGCE courses train teachers to teach years 7-13 and in order to teach a subject to A level you generally have to have a degree in the subject (this can vary for some subjects). Certainly college teachers are no more specialised than school teachers. Professional, trained, educated teachers who are good at teaching can be found in both school and colleges-there is no question that one has better than the other. In fact if there's any leaning at all in my area I'd say the better teachers are in schools as they have better reputations academically and the colleges mainly provide more practical courses. (So I suppose if you're doing Beauty Therapy at college it would be true that your teacher would have been trained to teach sixth form age students only as you can only do PGCEs in traditional academic subjects.)

[HappyLuckies]

I am currently living in France, and my DS is attending an International School where he will do his IGCSE's. However we are moving back to England next year where he will take A-Levels. Please can you advise whether these can be taken in a regular school, or is 6th form college the only option?
When I was in school (in Scotland) it all happened in the school I had attended for my secondary education, but in England their appears to be many options.

[BlessYourCottonSocks]

As a teacher (in school - teach A level) I would say to be honest about how self disciplined the student is.

The biggest difference is generally that in school if you fail to turn up to lessons/hand in essays you will be hauled across the coals, given detention, etc. Just as you would have been in Y11.

In college if you fail to turn up to lessons or hand in work staff often shrug and think 'Go ahead and fail then - it's your choice'. If your nephew is self reliant and disciplined and will work hard college might well work. If he needs support and structure and a bit of nagging then school 6th form is likely to be better.

[TeenTimesTwo]

Happy Depends where you are moving to.

Here in Hants the state schools almost entirely don't have 6th forms, so you have to go to a 6th form college.
Whereas in other parts of the country there are still many schools with 6th forms.

[BackforGood]

I repeat my thoughts from 2012 {Zombie thread}

This varies area to area. Can't make a call for the whole of one country, let alone the 4 separate systems in the UK.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Oh, a zombie in which I participated under another name! 5 years later, school sixth form has served my DD very well indeed, I'm glad to say. (rather than drama, she helped set up and run the robotics club for younger girls)

Happyluckies - you might want to start a new thread of your own, but either way it does depend where you are. Where I am, in Lancashire, it's mostly sixth form colleges, but the (few) grammar schools take in a lot more at sixth form.

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

My DD has no choice to stay at her school as they removed the 6th form provision a few years ago, despite it being an outstanding school.

We visited a few other schools in the area as well as the newly built 6th form college.

She went for the college. As well as it being newly built and very impressive looking, she liked the fact that there weren't any younger pupils there. Teachers weren't pulled away from prioritising the A level students because of GCSEs or any other years. It has high expectations for behaviour and attendance and she likes that. Hopes that all pupils will be there because they want to be there and therefore any time wasting or messing around will be minimal, because she can't be doing with any of that.
They have a card to beep in with (like train station gates) so no registration. Lockers for their stuff. Plenty of ICT provision. Free transport. They wear their own clothes and call the tutors by their first names.

She's looking forward to being in the more mature setting.

In our area, there is a college for the pupils who aren't taking A levels, but are doing other qualifications or more vocational courses. And then the 6th form centre.