Gcse 2018 (10) The one with half term

@Nettleskeins
Thank you for the info about DS1's firm choice. At the open day they implied they would drop a grade for him, although obviously he doesn't have that in writing.

Stick You know there is something called something like 'academic season tickets' which are slightly better value than usual rail tickets? Your college should have info.

@sandybayley
DS2 is booked to attend a Physics summer school with Debate Chamber. He isn't doing it until August so I can't give feedback yet. He can get there on public transport, so that helps.

The 'getting better results' thing has to be judged very carefully though, doesn't it? (Obviously I don't know your area or schools mmzz)
Some school 6th forms, reading on here, have very high entry requirements, plus of course last year's scandal of some schools not letting kids progress to second year if they weren't expecting at least Bs.
The Hants colleges tend to just say 5 A*-C (old money), plus some subject specific requirements, plus at most 3Ds to progress to the next year.

Wow, catching the ferry daily from Isle of Wight to Hampshire, that's quite something!

Most of the secondaries around here do not have a sixth form, although DS's does. There is a medium sized sixth form in town and one of those warehouse-type sixth forms approx 15 mis away by train.
The (surprisingly, large % of) DC who are leaving DS's school, are mostly looking to go to the warehouse place. Their mums say to me that they are just "ready" for a move, similar to when they had outgrown primary school. TBH, I find it an odd decision. Why would you leave a sixth form that gets far better results, and has really good pastoral care to go a warehouse with weaker results and is a train ride away? (I just nod and smile though!)

Others go private for the excellent career advice and help with university applications.

DS is leaving (if he is leaving) because he has a place at a sixth form that will give him a highly specialised education in the area in which he excels and no regular sixth form could do that.

I think the Hants system is good in parts.

On the one hand every DC has to make a positive choice of where to go / what to do - no staying at current school by default. it can also act as a great stepping stone to university.

On the other hand it means no one knows both the DC and the intended course so advice is less good. And some DC just aren't ready for the 'stepping stone' level of freedom. Plus pastoral care doesn't seem as good as at schools, so for more 'vulnerable' teens this can be an issue.

A lot of movement here at sixth form too for a whole host if reasons. Also a lot of switching between private and state both ways at that stage

Good luck all for tomorrow and the rest of the week. I will be so glad to get the next two days out of the way (as will DS)

Just been out for a walk with DD and the dogs for two and half hours along the beach in beautiful warm sunshine. She gave me a full oral account of medicine since 1250 (well we got home just after the Great War but she covered a lot in two and a half hours although still had a hundred years to go). Supper will be ages so it's not going to be an early night. She'll sleep better for a long walk though. Good luck to all DC as the exam engines fire up again.

sticker we are also in Hampshire. DD's school didn't have a 6th form, but in the end she decided to go to another nearby school that does have a 6th form rather than Brock, our nearest college. Her 1st choice was PS where most of her friends went, but we couldn't afford the train fare (about £3000/year!)

Interesting to read of different systems in different counties. An added anxiety for some I imagine. Local 6th for me here are selective but all offer different pathways : so APS of 6.5 for 3 A levels but some vocational courses and BTecs for less academic dc. Most subjects require a 7 for progression to A level.

Good luck to all tomorrow doing exams. Dgd starts Tuesday. She has now took pup out to get some air. Pup is not well and if no better tomorrow will take to vets. Ever known a dog turn their snout up at roast chicken, bacon and even her favourite treats? She hasn't eaten for a couple of days just a mouthful here and there. Any rate fingers crossed for all DC!

Our situation is fairly different. At ds’s school many leave after year 11 for the bright lights of London or because they want a more classical or contemporary based school or because they’ve decided they no longer want to perform.

Locally few schools have 6th forms. The few that do like ds’s are very small 20-50 per year) & offer very limited subjects.

lljkk

My nephews were at school in Surrey in a town where many schools did not have 6th form. there was an absolute scramble to get into the 6th form - I remember my sil queuing from 5 in the morning to get in line to hand in an application. I feel lucky really to not have to make any terribly difficult decisions.

KickBishop wow - from 50 to 2000 is quite a leap! Sounds like she is ready though.

Cubscout, I live in Norfolk where secondary schools are called high school and few high schools have own 6th form. The walking-distance 6thFC probably is main 6thFC destination for kids from at least 3 nearest high schools (usually one HS in each market town, dotted every 9 miles apart or so).

Secondary school "choice" here means "Can you afford £600 annual bus fares to go out of catchment?"

DS has been working hard on history all week. He says it's the equivalent of 4 other GCSEs! The week kicks off with edexcel paper 1, which is crime and punishment you him. He has also done a bit of each science, but no maths or English even though they are this week too!

DD's A levels also start this week!

So looking forward to it being all over in 3 weeks!

cubscout I think it depends on the child. I was a very young 16 (summer birthday) and really wouldn't have coped with a big city sixth form. School was the right choice for me. It meant I could hit the ground running with existing teachers and not have the big upheaval. I had that when I went to uni instead from a tiny village having only turned 18 a few weeks earlier.

DD is much more mature and ready for a change than I was. I think she'd go mad staying at her current school. There are only around 50 on the roll for sixth form vs over 2000 at the sixth form college.

I think moving at 6th form can be a real opportunity for some - particularly if the school is small. KickBishop, I'm sure DD will get used to the additional travelling! We looked around other school 6th forms by ds was very happy to stay where he is but in some ways I would have liked him to broaden his horizons. He's a stubborn lad though, and there wasn't really a good reason to 'make' him move...

Kick - Your holiday sounds lovely ...I need to venture further a field before I get too old!

Good luck to all the DC's doing GCSE's or A level exams tomorrow..NOT sure I want to even think about A levels....hope the nerves calm down.