Pates 6th Form

[madaboutlife666]

Does anybody out there plan on applying for Pate's 6th Form and if so how difficult is it for students that don't study there to get in? Also, is here an exam to take for 6th form entry and how do they select their students. Thinking of applying for DD for 2017 . I've heard the 6th form is number 1 in the UK for 6th form grammar schools, but really hard to secure a place.

[Clobbered]

It's hard to get in. They have a points system for GCSE scores and interviews. There is a substantial intake of new students to the Sixth form every year.
Their results are amazing, but they do have the pick of the brightest students from far around to choose from. I'd be asking a lot of questions about pastoral support and how much help the students get with UCAS/personal statements. My (admittedly limited) experience suggest that these areas are not particularly great.

[Namechangefor]

I have a DC at the school from year 7 and now in the sixth form and it has been an extremely positive experience. The sixth form now has a very large intake who seem very quickly and well integrated particularly those who are open to getting to know people. I think the UCAS support is as good as it gets in the state system with a very experienced team. Pastoral care also seems fine and the house system is excellent for those who like to get involved with inter house events of music, drama and sport. The pupils do spark off each other as you would expect and there are a lot of subject related opportunities available. There is no exam but as for the pupils already there a certain minimum GCSE score is required. There is an interview for external pupils but I don't think it is an issue. As the intake is very large there probably is a wider range of ability now but the requirements are quite transparent from the website information.
My DC has some really excellent teachers and I think the school is fortunate enough to have a very strong physics department which is unusual.
Like a lot of these type of state schools a go-getting pupil will probably thrive more especially when changing sixth form. However it does seem a friendly and fun place for the bright and provides support for those who need it.

[umberellaup]

Name changed for this hopefully so as not to out dc.

Dc is in yr 11 at the moment and should transfer to sixth form in September assuming they get predicted grades.

I can honestly say that sending this dc to Pates was the best decision we could have made. The pastoral care has been amazing and the quality of teaching is brilliant. Dc has been very happy there.
The dc are self starters, highly motivated with a fantastic attitude to education, some are more ambitious than others but the General atmosphere is positive and the dc always seem happy when we see them around the school.

Read the prospectus for entry, everything you need to know is in it. Be prepared for open evening, it is very busy.

[madaboutlife666]

All sounds very positive. With a child who likes to be challenged a lot it seems a really good choice. Any idea how many apply from outside the school and how many places they offer as couldn't bear her being amongst 400 students for 100 places.

[madaboutlife666]

I've just read that she will need 22 points, a personal statement, interview, predicted grades. Do you need A * in your A level choices or is it 22 points across the board ?

[umberellaup]

22 points from top 8 subjects. Has to be As in the subjects she wants to study.
I don't know how many external candidates apply but there is competition.

[madaboutlife666]

What happens if you get the 22 points and miss the A s in chosen subjects , but get A s in other subjects are you able to switch?

[madaboutlife666]

If some of the chosen subjects you get A's and say B's the totaling 22 points would that be enough?

[DorothyL]

Is she year 10 at the moment? The requirements are changing.

[madaboutlife666]

Thanks everybody for the info. All very helpful and yes, she's in Year 10. :)

[DorothyL]

Then she will need 57 points from 8 subjects - old style gcses: a* - 8.5 pts, a - 7 points, b - 5.5 pts
New gcses - as numbers suggest, so 9/8/7 etc

It means that the average grade needed has gone from below A to just above A.

[madaboutlife666]

But if you get 28 points and you study 10 GCSEs means you can also get Bs and don't necessarily needs As or do you have to absolutely have As in chosen subjects. That's the confusion I'm having. 57 divided by 10 at Bs and 1 A also qualifies or not. 10 GCSEs x A is 85 points, so 30 too many.

[DorothyL]

Only the best 8 are counted, so you need 7 A's and one 8/A*, or two or more if you get a B

Definitely need an A in A level subjects.

What are the initials of the school she's at currently?

[umberellaup]

Remember that these are minimum requirements, you also need to look at what they do if they are oversubscribed. They will be looking for the best candidates.

[madaboutlife666]

Goodness, a lot to take in. DD doing very well at school and it will be interesting when we visit the Open Evening next year. Out of curiosity if the grades are needed at present is 22 why change for 57 ? :)

[DorothyL]

Because of the new gcse grading and because they want even better candidates.

[madaboutlife666]

They are just roughly doubling the points as present 22 points A = 4 next year 57 points but A = 8.5. Very much appreciate the quality and teaching of such a school from what I've read. Any idea on ratio public students to state school students. Because usually you'd imagine private students who've been to expensive fee paying schools will have the edge on exam results compared to state school students, so wondering if they take that in to consideration when state school students apply and base it on competences, or ability and capacity of the students along with their predicted grades , interview, personal letterfinal grades etc.etc. will be worth it from what I have been reading.

[DorothyL]

I don't think they look that carefully, they take the highest achievers regardless. You used to be able to get in without any a s and a b, now you need a * s.

[madaboutlife666]

Thanks again for all your input . It's a labyrinth of information.

[Namechangefor]

There are a number who come from CLC and occasional ones make the grade and choose to transfer from. Cheltenham College and Dean Close. My impression however is that the majority are from other state schools including the local single sex grammar school.
I did n't know they were putting the points up. The equivalent of an A is definitely ok for some humanity subjects like English or History as GCSE marking is recognised to be unpredictable as it was for Pate's last summer.
Unless your DD is at an underperforming student I think she should be comfortably capable of the requested point total to be happy at Pate's

[Clobbered]

"Marking was unpredictable last Summer", er no, Pate's taught the kids the wrong syllabus.

[DorothyL]

Really? how? Why??

[Namechangefor]

No they did n't Clobbered I'm not sure where you got that information from.

[umberellaup]

I am sure my dc would have said something if they were concerned about rumours the previous cohort were taught the wrong syllabus. I am pretty certain we would have had a message telling us not to worry.

Where did you get that information clobbered? I am sure you wouldn't be saying it with no basis unlike most parents I have met who have opinions on Pates never have been inside.

[Namechangefor]

My DC and friends were in that cohort and I think are switched on enough to know if the exam papers contained questions they hadn't covered or read the appropriate books etc. They did not raise it as an issue. Would it be possible for them not to realise?Obviously I can't be categorical for all classes but I am pretty sure the pupils would have been talking about it if it were an issue.