What senior schools manage out pupils

I guess it's a function of being very selective in the first place. Very few kids seem to leave generally, at any point. Results at both GCSE and A level are great, but I get the feeling that's almost inevitable given the entry process, and if a few kids don't quite hit the stellar results, then that's fine, the school will just support them to do their best.

A secondary in the town where DM lives has closed its 6th form only a few years after establishing it. I think ofsted don’t like to see low A level results when dc could do BTecs elsewhere and be more successful. I think they closed in advance of ofsted arriving!

Or maybe they offer BTEC as an alternative to A Levels for the less academic pupils?

Yes, I was wondering the same. My DC's school has a huge inclusivity ethos and the lowest entry criteria in town but even it requires at least a 5 in A Level subjects at GCSE (6 for maths/science). I suspect this academic private manages the children with 4/5s at GCSE out well before they get to sixth form (or doesn't let anyone likely to into the school in the first place).

How well do they do at A level then with a level 4/5 gcse? Or does everyone get 7/8/9? @vrooomvrooom

It's not true that all schools have minimum requirements for continuation into sixth form. Ours (academic private) doesn't. I'm not saying no student ever leaves, but I haven't heard any rumours of students being managed out for low GCSE grades.

Managing kids out is a common phrase used by private school parents. It refers to schools that ask students (directly or indirectly) to leave if they think they are going to mess up their league table rankings.

Many selectively academic schools are rumoured to do it.

Hi - I’m considering kings Ely for my son at the moment so wondered if you might be able to tell me more about your experience?

Hi - I’m also considering kings Ely for my son at the moment so would be interested to hear more about this.

Most sixth forms, state and independent, have minimum academic criteria for Year 12 entry. Both in number of gcses and the grades achieved. It is unusual for pupils to be withdrawn at gcse unless SEND or other circumstances mean focussing on core subjects is better. Such decisions may be made in year 10 or post mocks.

A local highly selective boys school definitely does this - we know two affected families. This was before the child didn’t get all 8-9s for GCSE which is expected. In both cases it was voiced as ‘not a good fit’ .
Schools don’t get results like 95+% grade 9s by teaching alone - those schools are great for some super bright robust dc but not for everyone.

No, sorry, I wouldn’t like to share..! My child is still at the school - for various reasons - so I wouldn’t want to risk any details.

It depends on your child. If he fits the King’s Ely mould he’ll be fine but if not don’t waste your money frankly.

There’a a real bullying problem in some years which is denied completely for the sake of the school’s reputation. They claim to have a zero tolerance on drugs but loads of the kids smoke weed and there have been at least two credible accusations of sexual assault which have been brushed under the carpet.

Plus there is no added value anymore and the new headteacher is a strange, cold fish compared to the previous one who I liked immensely.

It’s also often a case that at uni you do one subject you have chosen. Not three where two may not suit.

A D or an E are pass grades at A level, low passes but still passes.
My daughter's school tried to manage her out at year 12 as she was predicted C and Ds. We resisted, she got Cs and Ds. Found a university which would take her on a foundation course and achieved a First in her degree and a distinction in her Masters. The difference when an organisation believes in you (and has good teaching) is amazing.

AS levels don't go towards A level marks any more, which is why most schools don't bother wit them anymore.

Plus, an E is a pass at A level.

The only time I've heard about it is at the end of year 12, and if pupils are predicted Ds or Es they aren't allowed to continue in year 13

For some exam boards the AS level is worth 50% of the final exam grade - they would need and A/B in the final exam to drag the AS result up to a C and therefore a pass mark.

Pointless carrying on for a year to then fail them.

All sixth forms, state or private will have criteria for entering, and subject specific ones too. Some highly selective schools have very high requirements (e.g. average 7.5 from best 8) others maybe only 5 at grade 5 with 6/7s in A level subjects.

The scandal a few years back was a couple of schools pushing kids out at the end of year 12 for not having done well enough in AS / internal exams. This was taken to court/ombudsman and some rules were put in place. I think (may be wrong) now they can't force you out end y12 (though it may not be in a students best interest to do y13 and end up with EEE of course v restarting and doing maybe a BTEC).

That's one reason why picking somewhere for y7 based on A level results is a bit moot as A level results often reflect the 6th form entrance criteria as much if not more than teaching.

I would say all of the selective schools do this to some extent
Some schools communicate this better with parents than others - earlier is best so kids can apply for places elsewhere

Goodness this happened at all the selective private schools on Surrey/Sourh West London 25 years ago: it’s hardly news!

Why would it be useful to you?

Won't necessarily be represented by kids leaving the school before y11, just not being entered for GCSEs where they're expected to drag the school's stats down. "For the child's benefit", naturally.

Any school that is competitive/aggressive about its rankings and marketing based thereon will be doing this to some extent. A school that is taking on and supporting a breadth of abilities and backgrounds would not be able to deliver the "all 8s and 9s" garbage.

Ds is meant to be going into yr9 next year. If be interested to hear about your story if you're happy to share?

@catsonahottinroof “I always wonder at all the A stars, A and B grades and anything lower being almost unheard of nowadays and wonder what the grade curves look like, as some people surely have to get the lower grades?”

It’s just the circles you’re moving in. The national average for a Grade 5 in Maths & English is only about 42%. So there are plenty of those grades out there. You may be in a self selecting bubble. It’s 30% in my niece’s school. I’ve seen 4 niece/nephews come out with between 3-5 GCSEs each with nothing above a 6, and 2 of the 4 resitting English in Y12.

I heard a highly ranked boys' school in Oxford and a highly ranked boarding school in Brighton do