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

Appeal - preference school having a sixth form as an argument

30 replies

BlackoutBlind · 20/07/2022 09:10

Hi just wondering whether the appeals experts can advise whether this is ever a point worth raising (in conjunction with other things).

I know we’ll only be offered schools without a sixth form and know my son will want to do A-Levels (full marks in end of year tests in year 5 etc). Obviously the counter argument is just that he’ll be able to join another sixth form or college after year 11 but is there any merit to the argument that he will benefit from being in a school where he can aspire to that, be around other students taking A-Levels in a range of subjects etc?

Other potential arguments so far include desired school offering photography clubs and photography GCSE plus German and Latin. He is doing courses in all of those in his spare time. Desired school is a specialist music college and he’s just started learning an instrument so I’m thinking chance to play in an ensemble which the other school may not have (further research needed) as an argument too. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 20/07/2022 14:42

Agree with others. The sixth form argument won't carry any weight. Your other points are much better.

Ontomatopea · 20/07/2022 14:08

No I wouldn't use the 6th form argument. The rest of it yes.

PatriciaHolm · 20/07/2022 14:07

The sixth form argument really doesn't have any weight at all, as so much can change between then and now - he might not want to do a levels, they might close the 6th form, he might want a change of scene for 6th (common), they might not offer subjects he wants so he needs to move, etc.

You are also in danger of suggesting that a school without a 6th form will have lower ambitions for its children, which is very risky - you never know where the panellist children might be/have gone (It won't be this school, but they may have gone to a similar one).

Your later points will bear more weight - the subjects it offers that suit him specifically for example, and the music opportunities if they are there, are much more around what the panel would expect to see (I sit on admissions panels).

Bluevelvetsofa · 20/07/2022 12:37

I agree

PinkFrogss · 20/07/2022 12:23

I don’t think the existence of a sixth form will have much weight OP, as every school should be able to have pupils that continue on to A levels, this isn’t something special about the school you want and there’s nothing to say that school will particularly have more pupils that aspire to continue to a levels than a school without an attached sixth form.

The other things you mention will carry more weight, how long has he been doing them for?

There are some amazing appeals experts on these boards so if they disagree with that I say then definitely go with their answers more than mine Grin

Not appeals related but something that did jump out at me from your post - a hell of a lot changes between year 5 and 11, you may find A levels turn out not to be the best option for your child for a number of reasons, so please be aware of what sort of academic pressures you are passing on even without meaning to.