DD1 and I will be visiting three sixth forms at local schools in the next few weeks so she can make a decision on which one to attend.
I've already posted on concerns about sickness absence at her present school and will ask about sickness levels at each of them (as well as putting in a formal Freedom of Information Request), but what other questions/information would anyone else suggest? And what would you look for? Any teachers out there who can give us some 'inside advice'?
She's academic and motivated - we don't need to nag her to study - so it's a case of finding somewhere offering the subjects she wants to take - definitely Spanish, English, possibly History and either Physics or Biology and which has a strong teaching record in those subjects plus somewhere that she thinks she'll be able to settle and be happy of course.
One of the schools she's interested in offers the International Baccalaureate;t her present school is keen for students to take the Welsh Baccalaureate.
Other questions on the list so far are:
What percentage of last year's students, in the subjects she's interested in, obtained an A or B at A'level
What support do you give potential Oxbridge candidates?
Do you have a debating society?
What sports do the school offer?
What sort of problems have you encountered with sixth form pupils in the past and how have you overcome any difficulties? (A friend's daughter at her present school stopped going to lessons and the school was very slow to alert the parents who are now forking out £21k a year for her to attend a private school and redo her lower sixth year)
Thanks if you've stayed with this, I'd be very grateful for any advice.
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Secondary education
What questions would you ask when choosing a sixth form?
11 replies
mamhaf · 21/02/2009 08:55
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