AIBU to be upset with school re:sixth form?

X post, oh brilliant

"RilkeanHeart

Some depressing responses here. Yes, A levels are hard, but suggesting that a child who gets one or two 5s (high Cs in old money) in subjects they don’t intend to take any further shouldn’t then be able to pursue subjects in which they might excel is incredibly short-sighted."
Completely agree.
Amazed at some of the initial comments

I must admit that it came as a shock to me that school sixth forms are selective.

Of the 3 we applied to two set a then grade A as minimum requirement for STEM subjects, and one a bit lower. I think that is fair enough for A levels in those subjects, tbh, as the bar is high. My Dc got a 9 in maths and A in two science subjects at GCSE, has worked very hard in 6th form and is predicted A, A, B.

Presumably your Dd has applied and they have given her her offer?

The HoY was really tactless and insensitive - I bet the comment was based on 'better keep them on their toes to get their results up' , which is hardly needed or appropriate for your Dd.

I would bet quite a bit that they will snap her up and there will be no issue with her staying.

They cannot go against what they say in the admissions criteria / prospectus / offer and change it once she has her results.

Is it possible she asked when he was busy, in public, or similar and he merely recited the published set criteria without either thinking or knowing of your DD's spld? This. He probably can't talk to your daughter directly about any special measures as its probably not up to him!
From one spur of the moment conversation you got - 'No mention of the fact that DD is a model student and has never been in any kind of trouble.... but I would expect a "well done for trying so hard, we know you find it difficult"

Give the guy a break!

I have to say I find this attitude that if you don't get a string of As at GCSE you aren't bright enough to do A levels. I think you are absolutely right OP and there is no reason to write people off.

In the days before A* grades, I got 4 A 3 B and a C in my GCSEs. There were lots of people (around 25% by memory) in my school who did a lot better than I did, getting from 8 x As to mainly As and a couple of Bs.

But I got 3 As at A level and only 3 other people in my sixth form did, and all had done better than I had at GCSE.

The reason? I worked for my A levels, I decided to wing it for my GCSEs. And when you do A levels you generally choose your best subjects and the ones you are most interested in so you're not having to do the core subjects that you may be less interested in/talented at.

You do not need a 9 to be successful at A level.

DS has been offered two sixth form places on the basis of 6 GCSES at grade 5 and above including English and Maths and a 6 in the language he wants to take. That seems reasonable to me.

My DS has a spiky GCSE profile due to a SpLD. He got a 9 and came top of the school in the subject he is doing at A level. His college have said they will support him with an Oxbridge application. If the SEN causes the spiky GCSE profile I would point the school in the direction of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Well for a start no school shoudl be predicting lots of 9's unless they ar absolutely sure they have a child who is a genius at a particular subject as a 9 is statistical according to others grades.

But apart from that I think asking for 6 Grade 6 and above is quite reasonable. We don't have grammar schools here, most schools ask for eight GCSE's at Grade 5 and above with at least 5 of those being a Grade 6 or above and a Grade 7 in the subject you wish to take at A level.

Those without those grades are directed towards courses more suitable for them such as Btec.

I have a son with SEN who is likely to struggle with those requirements. He is likely to not get the English grades. He wants to take music and is currently working at a very dvanced level in that subject, but A levels won't be for him so he will likely go the Btec route.

On saying that however you say it is maths that your child might struggle to get the grade in. Pretty much all the schools I know would accept a child with otherwise good GCSE's without maths as long as they were not planning on taking a related subject such a science. (and they'd do a re-sit)

It is unkind though. My SN DS got 9 A*s and 2As and was made to feel like pond life because he didn't get a clean sweep.

Excuse my typos!

Is it possible she asked when he was busy, in public, or similar and he merely recited the published set criteria without either thinking or knowing of your DD's spld? He may not have even appreciated that she is now stressing about this. Also if she is known as a model pupil and clearly very able in some areas it might nit have occurred to him that she may be on for a 5 in Maths.

As you say the 6th Form is a popular and oversubscribed one. They therefore can and do set higher criteria than some.other schools. In her favour is that they do know her and were she to only get a 5 in maths she will have her A level subject teachers to fight her corner whereas a child applying from a different school would not have this advantage.

I would probably just have a quick chat with head of 6th form and tell him that it has caused DD unnecessary stress duribg her exams and is there anything he could do to reassure her.

Talk to head of Sixth Form not HOY. You may get a very different answer if you have a quiet meeting to discuss options. Ask for the department head of the subject she wants to take to attend.

It is a ridiculous system. Our school says you need a 6 preferably 7 to take a particular A level or IB, but the reality is they’d be more lenient. As for all those 9 predictions - as it’s supposed to be the top 3% in the country you must be very good indeed!
I thought SEN students got priority? Be that as it may, I come from the US system and there are no major exams at all. You continue with a wide range of subjects until you graduate. There are SATs in math and English but the scores are not deal breakers but a part of a more holistic picture (extracurricular activities weigh in quite heavily in uni applications). Seems a much better system especially if the child does not know what direction they want to go in.

The facts are no matter how much you speak to them and try to put your point across .They are in the driving seat and will be able to pick and choose the students with the best grades.Perhaps now would be a good time to look around at Colleges ,other schools within the area and see what they are like .I agree that she should be able to stay there ,but many schools view 6th form as a seperate unit ,and will treat admissions as they would children coming into year 7.A levels are hard and the school are looking for the best results to boost their results .

Eleanor - not true at all schools! And even a grade E can be useful; to some students.

ime you can only progress to year 13 if you have c in the mocks at least
sixth form/a levels are tough. no getting away from it.

Not all British schools are like this!
But if her school is there is little you can do, except find a good alternative.
If this is a change to the previous regime then it could be a new head who is trying to impose a new system. And the school is becoming "less supportive".

If she does have SEN then somewhere else might be much better for her. For example near me there are two sixth form colleges, one is very rigid and you either conform to their way or are encourage to leave/chucked out, the other has a lot more flexibility and treats students as individuals, or my DCs sixth form which is a confusing mix of treating them like adults (not always listening when parents say there are problems) and treating them as children (having to be in school in free periods).

If you don't have a back up place, I would go and look at alternatives - for most places it isn't too late.

As PPs have said though she meets the requirements of 6 ‘6’s so should be fine for admissions

I think the issue is it is 4 GCSEs at grade 6 and above and grade 6 and above on English and Maths. Which is probably not going to happen. Regardless of the fact that ops Dd is not taking Maths A level.

*Ugh, teachers not teacher's. I don't know why my autocorrect is so against me using plural's.

There are pros and cons of A levels. One of the pros for children like your DD is that it gives children with a "spikey profile" a chance to give up what they struggle with and really play to their strengths. I do think you need to sit down in a quiet private room for a meeting and make your case. But you're right, I too would be doubting whether it's the best place for her.

Is it worth talking to her teacher's of the subjects she wants to do for A level? Get them in to bat for her.