Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Changing schools for sixth form.

34 replies

FiveHoursSleep · 22/09/2017 10:32

Our eldest daughter wants to change schools for sixth form next year. Her school is a good one, and it gets good results, but she says she hates it. She says the teachers are annoying and the standard of teaching is bad, there have been some staff changes lately but I have no concerns about the standard of teaching.
She is predicted to do well in GCSEs ( 7s and 8s with the mention of a possible 9 or two, but no one is willing to commit to that yet) but is very anxious with her exams being only months away now.
She wants to do 'something medical' as a career and is looking and Biology and Chemistry ( +?) for 6th form. The school she is at has good science teachers and will have a brand new 6th form centre for her Y12.
DH and I don't really want her to move as we know the school but if she really wants to move, we feel she should have some choice in the matter. So we are going to look at 6th forms with her but won't let her move to one that gets worse results than her school.
The ones we have found are all twice the distance away than her present school, so 1 hour commute vs 30 minutes ( or less if I drive them to the station).
Some of her friends are staying, others are leaving to go to specialist schools- art, performing arts, media etc.
Can anyone give us some advice in what to look for in a sixth form? I'm just worried it's Y11 she hates, not the school, and she'll find herself isolated and miserable in a school where she knows no one.

OP posts:
MumTryingHerBest · 22/09/2017 13:55

Check out the progress 8 score in the 16-18 tab.

Sorry, forgot the link:
www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/find-a-school-in-england

MumTryingHerBest · 22/09/2017 13:54

Will just wanted to add:

Check out the progress 8 score in the 16-18 tab.

Look at the AAB or higher in at least 2 facilitating subjects.

Look at the full list of A level grades broken down by each subject (this is already on your DDs school site, I you might need to contact some of the other schools for this though).

MumTryingHerBest · 22/09/2017 13:17

Are you talking about WHC for the 6th form college?

No St Dom.

I'm not sure if they are coed (I'm a long way off that stage) but it could be worth asking just in case.

Have you had a look on here (search school names etc. in the forums):

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=3437-a-levels

I know there is a lot of movement for 6th form at all the schools in the area so I think it would be a good idea to have a good look around to see what is on offer.

I know a DD in yr 13 and she said a fair number left after GCSEs and many had not even mentioned the fact that they were intending to leave. They also said that there was a lot of movement in the first couple of terms of yr 12 too which, combined with a couple of teachers leaving, was quite unsettling.

Have you also looked into the privates as there is a fair amount of movement between state and private at this stage too.

hertsandessex · 22/09/2017 12:52

I would just go through the motions of looking at and even applying to other schools and just try to be supportive but tell her to keep her options open. Year 11 is a tough year and her views may well change. As I said luckily can put off a final decision until the last minute.

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 22/09/2017 12:38

Thanks Mum. I think you know where she is, but I don't think the boys school is coed for 6th form, are they? Are you talking about WHC for the 6th form college?
The new head has left and we have a ( very good) acting Head, I'm not too worried about that.

OP posts:
Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 22/09/2017 12:31

hertsandessex
This is exactly what I'm worrying about, that she will regret leaving and then will spend time trying to adjust to a new 6th form and fit in, that could be spent studying.
I'm afraid I've made it very clear that I will not be able to help her get to and from school, or bring in forgotten stuff as my first priority will be my younger kids. She's accusing me of not wanting her to be happy but that's not true at all.
Thanks catslife I will look at that link.

OP posts:
MumTryingHerBest · 22/09/2017 12:28

I'm not sure if I'm confusing you with someone else in which case some of this may not make sense but just in case...

Would the boys school be an option for 6th form?

Have you considered sixth form college as an option? I know there is a certain 6th form college that a number of DCs from the boys school have moved to that could be worth you considering.

Bear in mind that a new head may mean more changes. In light of this it is worth exploring all available options at this point.

Have you posted in your region on here?:

www.elevenplusexams.co.uk

or here:

www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewforum.php?f=57

hertsandessex · 22/09/2017 12:24

If she is currently at a good school beware of the grass is greener syndrome. My DD has gone in year 12 and many of her friends left. Several has since come back after couple of weeks elsewhere and some others want to but can't. The good thing is she can apply elsewhere, hopefully get a place and then leave the final decision until the last minute after GCSE results. Sixth form applications are much more flexible than year 7.

catslife · 22/09/2017 12:19

There is another thread about what to look for in a sixth form here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/3037672-Sixth-form-questions.
For medical sciences, you usually need both Biology and Chemistry.
It depends on what you consider to be a Good school and good teaching - pupils may have a different idea to OFSTED inspectors or parents on this one.
But in general would look for a sixth form with Good overall results and where the teaching staff are able to engage with the pupils as well. It may be that after looking round some of the alternatives she decides that she's better off where she is now anyway.

Swipe left for the next trending thread