Good sixth form (not private) options N/NW/C LONDON?

ok, i get that. it shows in the results. Anyway QE never been an option for my child as its boys only school

Yes. It's a cull. The teachers aren't "making sure they can cope with the pace and workload", they are weeding out anyone they a) don't like, and b) suspect might get lower than A/B borderline.

I only had a look at QE boys results yesterday and I was impressed!
I never looked at QE as I only have a girl, but I can clearly see how they maintain good ALevel results if they only keep high achievers at the school and no externals join the school for 6th form.

Yes they do but that does not mean teachers cull them. They are simply making sure the students can cope with pace and workload required at that Level. Anyhoo the ones that leave go on to great things at other schools so that's QE's loss.

Yup....That's exactly how it is at the Majority of the Best performing schools whether Grammar or Independent. Heck even at the Most selective of Comprehensives.

Show me a school that gets the majority of it's average ability students to Oxbridge/Top Ten unis and I'll show you a lying Headteacher.

I believe that too. In my daughter's school, to study some subjects you need at least an 8, which is 1-2 grades more to what other schools require. And that is the reason of her own school having such a successful ALevel results. If she doesn't meet the requirement for a particular subject, she won't be let to do that subject!

That's not exactly true though. In school Exams are sat in Year 10 to determine each student's suitability for the subjects they want to take at ALevels. However conditional offers are still made to some providing they meet the Grade requirements at GCSEs. It's no different from what is done at Schools like St Paul's. They however are very strict when it comes to certain subjects like Further Maths and rightfully so as it's not for the feint hearted.

Students leave for various other reasons like Going to private schools, wanting a Coed sixth form, change of scenery et al. Also there are quite a few independent schools and in some years Grammar schools that get better results than QE Boys does. The great results it gets is because of the selectivity of it's intake.

QE boys have always chucked out the boys who don't get top gcse results. They are not allowed to continue into 6th form. This ensures that their A level results are usually the best in the country.
It is horrible for the kids who are asked to leave. It is known as the cull.

Where do people get these 20% cull figures for QE Boys from? Would someone please direct me to that article?

And no the results they get is not because of the culling because rather as a result of the highly selective intake year in year out. Infact there are a number of Independent schools that get better results than QE does and that's not because of some magical culling of students.

The more selective a school is, the better the result it would get it's that simple. Infact we have seen Schools shoot up the league table as soon as it became a bit more selective. We have also seen schools most parents won't send their worst enemies kids too have one or two students come out with a flurry of 9's at GCSEs. A school's result is as good as the quality of it's intake it's not rocket science.

I know, it really depends on the child to perform well at the school.
The main reason I am looking is of course the fees and also I am not 100% happy with the school in terms of issues anyway, so it can be really hard really to know if it will be better or worse.

I'd never send any child of mine the Wren Academy with its culture of bullying and oppression (dictated from the senior leadership downwards). Their SEN provision is a scandal.

Drug problems in Woodhouse - yes, but same at DAO. I know a lot of people who are and have been deeply unhappy there (DAO).

MHCHS mixed but good curriculum, good teaching and nice mixed intake although definitely including a rougher element. Strong in music, dance etc.

Nowhere is perfect!

Thank you, very useful. It is very difficult to choose/apply to a school that have not seen before. At least she has been to DAO when looking for secondary school and that is the main reason she applied for 6th form.
Don't know how it was 10-15 years ago, when we visited the open day it looked fine to us and academically it was very strong. I can also see that the head has changed since we have been (6 years ago).
I did hear good comments about Woodhouse from others too, so will have that in mind on result day.

Woodhouse is very flexible even if no application has been made. I know of people who got places on the day of their GCSE results (because they got excellent grades) by just walking into the building and asking. In my time they were very flexible and pastoral care and extra learning support was excellent. It is an excellent stepping stone between school and university.
I have experience of DAO. It went downhill after the head teacher left and a new one took over about 10-15 years ago. It had a huge drug problem, like most schools in London, but the problem was that they refused to acknowledge it. The other problem some people found was that pupils joining in 6th form found it hard to settler into the group. However, I have had no dealings with the school for about 10 years now, and schools change a lot. Many kids did very well there, others just fell by the wayside. Pastoral care was very poor IME.
I guess it is horses for courses. You have to find the right place for your child.

Thanks you, unfortunately she didn't apply to either of these.
Her only option is to either stay at her own school (STAHS) or move to DAO - if anyone has info about DAO, let me know.

Another vote for Woodhouse here. Fantastic place.
You won't find a secondary school anywhere that doesn't have a drug problem. Private, state, selective or not.

Another vote for LaSWAP!

Anyone has experience of joining DAO 6th form with following subjects:
Maths, Physics, Chemistry, DT (Product Design)

I would appreciate if you can give me any info

Hi, I’m looking at sixth forms for my DD does anyone know much about Mill Hill Sixth form? And Dame Alice Owens?

Kiings Maths school is pretty central and should be feasible if you can access Northern or Bakerloo lines. Take a look on TFL journey planner.

My DS is at the Wren in North Finchley in yr 13 -he has really excelled there in sixth form and has some amazing A level teachers. Their online provision for A level students was very good during lockdown. They encourage a fourth A Level -my DS should really have taken further maths as his extra one because he now wants to study economics.
I would say behaviour is better there on the whole than MHCHS ( my dd is currently in yr 9 there-she adores Mill Hill but the behaviour of some of the kids was a shock. However I think you get that in most if not all state comps)
Also look at Alice Owen's if his GCSE grades are high enough-theres a school bus up to Potters Bar and we know a few kids in the sixth form there. DS was offered a place there but opted to stay at the Wren .

CSG and Marylebone 6th forms are both said to be very popular with boys transferring from the private sector.

Camden School for Girls has a mixed sixth form. I don’t know much about it apart from it exists! Is it on your radar?

Harris Westminster or Greycoat?