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Original poster

Moving from private to state at 6th form - any advice?

28 replies

PrivateToState · 27/04/2018 15:49

Ds is currently in year 10 at a selective all-boys independent school. He enjoys it generally, although is finding the GCSE pressure a bit of a struggle at times, and has started to voice doubts about whether he really wants to stay on for 6th form. He has talked about wanting a 'change of scene' and a bit more independence. I don't know really whether this is the case or whether it's just GCSE blues.

He has a good group of friends at school, but does also have several other friends (and a girlfriend) at other schools, mostly state, and he makes friends easily so I'm not worried on that score. What concerns me most is that whilst he is bright and able, he tends to be pretty disorganised and a bit lazy. His current school are good at supporting him and keeping him on track. I definitely worry that his natural inclination to do the bare minimum might trip him up in an environment where perhaps fewer tabs are kept on him.

He is predicted mostly 7s and 8s in GCSEs although he will have to knuckle down to get them. The state options around us are good/outstanding although none of them have A-level pass rates even close to his current school's results.

I'd really appreciate any advice or experience from people who have moved slightly unmotivated dcs at 6th form, what made you decide, how did it turn out etc? I've told him that we don't need to make any decisions either way until later in the year but I'd like to canvass opinions from MN now for my own benefit!

OP posts:
Original poster
PrivateToState · 28/04/2018 08:19

Thank you both, good advice. I don't want to give the impression that I think the state provision would be inferior in terms of teachers' commitment etc, just that I am aware of how well-resourced ds's current school is and therefore how much time they have, relative to colleagues in the state sector, to spend on supporting students who are struggling in some way.

I am just a bit nervous about it I guess, not because I think state is 'bad' (ds went to a state primary after all and did very well there) but because we won't know if it's the right move for ds until we do it. And it's such an important time.

OP posts:
jessamie · 27/04/2018 19:23

My DS moved from an independent school to state for the Sixth Form - we have never regretted it and he is very happy. He wanted a change and was bored with his school, but I was unsure for similar reasons to those you mention. I'm not convinced there are less tabs kept on their academic work though. He gets far more homework than his friends at his old school and his teachers seem really on the ball with how well he is doing. There isn't the same level of spoon feeding, but that seems to have been a good thing as it has helped him to be more motivated!

AChickenCalledKorma · 27/04/2018 16:01

I can't offer experience, as my eldest is in year 11. But we did look at all local sixth form options - state and private - and there are a few practical issues to be aware of. First and foremost, it came as a surprise that all sixth forms operate their own application timetables. Application deadlines at the schools we looked at ranged from end of September to end of February and open days were similarly spread over a period of months. So if you have your eye on any specific options, don't hang about waiting for "open day season" because there isn't one!

Beyond that, it's the old thing of the right school/college for the child, rather than whether private/state is best. And you may find that some of the things you think you know are turned on their head. For example, we discovered that the best option in terms of small class sizes and individual attention was DD1's current state comprehensive. Lots of people leave in year 11, leaving those who want a very traditional academic curriculum (because they don't offer lots of Btecs etc) which will suit DD1 down to the ground. In contrast, the very prestigious private sixth form we looked at had enormous class sizes and didn't seem remotely interested in DD1 as an individual. So look around at all options with an open mind and see what's out there.