Private to state for sixth form - having a wobble

Ripeningapples

We're about to do the opposite and I've got concerns too. Will ours be overwhelmed by the confidence, lifestyles, etc. Also will she be out of step intellectually coming from a comp that didn't live up to expectations?

They'll be fine, all of ours apart from the youngest two went to state until 13, they were absolutely fine adjusting, lots of their friends only joined at 6th form too and were also fine, give it a term and it'll be like they were always there.

Most private schools are not full of uber rich crazy confident kids, there is a good mix at most schools.

I went to a sixth form college after private 11-16 because I couldn't deal with being bullied for another 2 years. Best decision I ever made: 3 As at A-level and I went on to study at Oxford. I was also surrounded by lots of like-minded, academic people.

My DDs both moved from private to state for sixth form, driven mainly by DD1's desire to go to a large co-ed environment,, rather than stay at the small but lovely Girls' school.

It did work out for both girls, but only because they both wanted to go and both worked really hard. The class sizes were larger and DD2 had some issues making friends as surprisingly there were few girls in her subjects. She was the only girl in her class of 20 for maths for example.

If your DS doesn't want to go and you can afford it, I would keep him in private, as it is a very intense couple of years, and they need to go into it with the right attitude..

I work in very high performing state school, we get quite a few students from independent schools and they generally make a very successful transition. One of the students told me the standard of teaching was so much better than in his independent school. There is a bit of unnecessary fear of state schools here.

I am kind of in the same boat. My DS son has made the decision to leave his private school for a grammar 6th form. Admittedly he has done this off his own back but even the HM of his school wanted to know why he did not want to stay.
Thankfully the HM has kept his place for him until half term in case he changes his mind and this reassures me. But I will be anxious for the first couple of months.

I'm not prepared to go into details but no, it wasn't that things worked differently, he was a twat. HTH.

I know the teacher has been sacked because it's common knowledge.

In our case we had some nasty reverse snobbery from a teacher at the new school ("it may have worked like that at your previous school but it doesn't here" said sneeringly in response to my reasonable request for an appointment with the head)

The teacher concerned has now been sacked though."

Gosh. Is it possible that maybe things just worked differently in the new school? Just a thought..........

The teacher concerned has now been sacked though.

How do you know this? Do you work there?

"So you're moving him from a school where his peer group are expected to achieve uniformly high passes and go on to good degree courses to a sixth form where some of the DC will simply be passing the time until they hit 18?" Yep- perfect description of a state 6th form.

Hi Batters

Criteria here were GCSE grades plus interview plus application with a personal statement

Titchy this one could run and run, but no, they admit based on interview/personal statement. Straight A/A* at GCSE is not enough.

"Applicants must complete and submit an application (including a personal statement). Applicants must obtain a reference from their current school which must be sent directly to the school (reference forms are available from the website). All shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview to discuss their application. For the interview, applicants must bring with them a copy of their Year 10 and Year 11 report. An official copy of predicted grades is also required from the applicant's current school."

You need to look at the admissions policy Jan - 6th forms are NOT allowed to select purely on the basis of interview.

It's more likely that priority is give to kids from their own school, then a few other state schools or catchment or similar.

I wouldn't move a child at this stage. Nothing to do with state v private. I wouldn't move a child at all from one place to another. If you can manage financially I'd keep him with his friends.

Gruach - your guess is as good as mine! But straight A/A* students who want to move there, who are known to me, and would perform well at interview as they are lovely bright young people are declined.

I don't think it's inherently a bad idea. As long as it's a decent 6th form.

My kids choose a local sixth form college over private school and thrived in the more 'college' type environment. They enjoyed the freedom and lack of stuffiness and pompousness that they had previously experienced at other schools. However, as they were the ones who choose the sixth form college they were all motivated to show us that they had made the right decision.

Our local 6th form has some incredible teachers and students can do as well as students in the local very prestigious private school. There is nothing there that prevents a student from achieving if the student wants to.

I think it's tricky if your son says he doesn't want to change as he might then blame you if things don't go well.

If the change really is financial then make that clear to him. If you can't afford it then that's that.

Yes, but why?

What's the reason for this unspoken policy?

The local sixth form selects new intake students on "interview", not results. Independent refugees never make the cut. Surprisingly, neither do grammar school refugees. Its an unspoken policy I think......?

Why's that Jan?

I'm amazed you found a state 6th form to take a private school student. Round here it's virtually impossible!