6th Form Open Evenings....

Some of the applications ask for a list of 5 possibles in order of preference, some just the 4. They seem to be saying start with 4 and drop one after AS, I think.

He needs to find out what syllabus/courses his/other sixth forms will cover as that may have a bearing on what he chooses.

Will he have to apply for the sixth form and hopefully get an offer of a place which may or may not be conditional on him getting certain grades? That is what happens round here. If so, he might want a back-up plan just in case.

DD and her mates would like to move for sixth form, so we have been to quite a few already and more still to come, never mind the actual applications and possible interviews...

Whereas DDs school did not have a 6th form but she had decided which college she wanted to go to and we only applied to that one!
Did not even attend the open evenings for the others.
DS is the same - no interest in the other colleges.

University will be a whole new ball game for this time next year.

Dd1 didn't want to go anywhere else for sixth form, was completely sure about staying at her school, so didn't bother looking anywhere else. No regrets

Yes you can hold a number of places until the results come out.

Worth going to check them out. They might do subject which he can't do at school but hasn't thought of.

Needs a plan B. Know someone whose school who required very high grades for 6th form. This wasn't achieved and then they were running around in August trying to get a space

My DS accepted a place a two colleges and waited for results before making a decision. As it happened the grades dictated which college he ended up at not him

It's difficult to persuade them. I didn't go and look at any other 6th forms with DD1 because she went to a really good school and wanted to stay. Then post GCSE she hated it!

DD2 wanted to stay on at her school until she realized that she could not do her option choices. We have been or are going to most of the local sixth form open days. I think it is always wise to keep your options open as long as possible.

Agree that its best for him to stay if that's what he wants to do.

However, he should still attend the open evening as he will hear information about the A levels on offer - the curriculum, topics covered in each subject and entry requirements for the subjects he's interested in.

I would love it if my son's school had a sixth form. As it is, we have looked at a few colleges, and he has made his choice, and whilst he is happy with it I know he will be sad that his friendship group will disperse.

If it's a great school and he's happy there, then why not let him simply stay on? That's what happened when I was at school. Most of his mates will be staying, he knows the school and the teachers. Those are good reasons to stay, especially if he doesn't have a burning ambition that would be better served elsewhere.

In two years time he will have to move so no point worrying about complacency now.

We recently dragged DS1 kicking and screaming off to look at a particular university that we thought he might like. He said we were wasting his time (not ours apparently because parents have nothing better to do on a weekend than drive a 300 mile round trip) because he'd already decided on his first choice.
He moaned all the way there but within 10 minutes of arriving rather surprisingly completely and out of character changed his mind and has made it his first choice.
It's always good to look at a fewoptions IMO even if it confirms your view that where you are is what you want.