Sixth form North London

[N6mam]

Hi
Considering Brampton college for my son . Is it mainly pupils who have struggled in a previous school or also a school of choice for pupils who want to achieve the best results possible? Also Is it true that pupils who don’t get good enough results get kicked out at the end of y12?
Thank you!

[evenstrangerthings]

We did the tour and interviews at Brampton College for my DD a few years back. She ended up choosing a more school-like 6th Form but we did like Brampton. The small class sizes (7 in a class) and the informality mixed with the rigour and high expectations makes it a good option for those who want to do well.

I'm not sure about them asking poor performing Year 12s to leave. They wouldn't be the only school that does this, but many of their intake would have been students who performed poorly at Year 12 in their previous school and are now resitting Year 12 or have switched to Brampton to cram Year 13.

When you go for the tour/interview you can ask these questions to the staff or to the student tour guide.

[N6mam]

Thanks. Where is your daughter now?

[evenstrangerthings]

Edinburgh Uni via KCLMS 

[N6mam]

Sounds like she is doing very well!

[FanDabbyFloozy]

Would you consider Woodhouse College? It has a great reputation, although has more of a university style culture which won't suit all.
There are some great 6th form colleges as part of schools in the area.

[N6mam]

I have thought about woodhouse college . I have no experience with state schools (..ashamed to say) though, so slightly worried about numbers in classes .. do you know someone who goes there? Are the pupils hardworking and focussed on their studies ?

[FanDabbyFloozy]

I do know kids who have been and some thrive in the less strict environment. However they do need to be mature - kids aren't forced to attend classes. Some do extremely well and I understand the results are great, but there's no spoon feeding.

[AgonyBeetle]

Nothing but praise for Woodhouse - my bright but coasting ds who went there came in with slightly disappointing GCSE grades and an attitude of doing the bare minimum necessary to keep the teachers off his case, and came out with the ‘Woodhouse Triple’ (= a full set of A/A*), having actually worked properly hard for the first time in his life.

And they don’t do it by selecting out lower-achieving students - they understand that many will find the jump from GCSE to A-level difficult, and will work with them to get them where they want to be.

Communication with staff also really good - emails get answered promptly and they are very hot on monitoring attendance and homework. I’m sure hardcore slackers will find a way to doss regardless, but for a bright teenager who’s ready to take the next move I can’t fault it.

Lots of extra curricular as well.

[AgonyBeetle]

And contrary to the previous poster, attendance at classes at Woodhouse absolutely is compulsory. They take an electronic register at every lesson and if your child is not where they should be you get an immediate email and text notification requiring you to explain the absence.

[FanDabbyFloozy]

And contrary to the previous poster, attendance at classes at Woodhouse absolutely is compulsory.
I take it back. My information from a mum was clearly either outdated or wrong.

[N6mam]

This is all very useful information. Thank you! Woodhouse sounds like it provides a positive working environment . It would be good to compare (without taking school fees into account..) with experience of students going to Brampton. I guess the advantage of Brampton is the very small class sizes and individualised teaching . Anything else I should know about ?

[Amlen]

Have a look at St. Dominics in Harrow (opposite Harrows Boys). Very similar to Woodhouse sometimes seen as alternative. Great results, students very dedicated naturally and come from variety of backgrounds. Class sizes varied, but max would be around 10-15 with Maths and Sciences being popular. Although its Catholic, mainly in the name. Plenty non catholics attend there too.

[Marisquita]

Hi OP - old thread but did your DS choose Brampton, Woodhouse or elsewhere in the end? DD will be applying for 6th forms later this year and both of these are on the longlist. Would welcome any insights at all.

[Mumsense]

Hello,
Im considering Woodhouse also for a bright high achieving sporty son, however...Fortismere on paper has better results and along with smaller class sizes is really attractive as son has friends there also and is 'cooler'. Does anyone know why Fortismere has stronger results I was suprised it wasnt Fortismere. Thanks!

[Mumsense]

Sorry I meant to say I was suprised it wasnt Woodhouse. I believe they are both very different with different specialisms.