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Original poster

Sixth form admissions (specifically North London CSG and SMMA)

31 replies

Sixthformconfusion · 07/02/2023 12:49

My newly minted username says it all really. We're finding sixth form admissions, specifically in Camden/Islington, to be a really opaque business. It's so unlike the y7 ones with the common application form and everything was largely transparent and measurable. It's almost like it's a wild west with sixth forms competing to get the easy-to-teach pupils over their existing ones...

DS has been offered a place at St Mary Magdalene Academy in Islington, no required grades, presumably as he's got very high predicted/mocks. However, he has to respond within 10 days.

He'd prefer Camden Girls, but we don't know if we'll be living near enough as it's dependent on which subjects are most oversubscribed.

With sixth form places, can you hold more than one place? What actually happens on GSCE results day? In other words, could you have no place but presuming the pupil does well could end up rocking up anywhere? Or could you be holding three places and you'd just then commit with grades in hand? Ideally he'd like to see if he's offered from Camden and Marylebone and then to go to offers holder days at wherever he's got a place.

Sorry this seems dense of me and him, but it's remarkable how little of this is on the websites.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sixthformconfusion · 07/02/2023 14:33

Yes indeed re. previous distances at Camden. A friend says she reckons it's rigged so they can say it's based on distances but in reality they can always argue that it was that particular combination of A levels that got a child in Hampstead a place over the child in Archway.

The y7 admissions seems to work across boroughs so one could work at sixth form. Some sort of UCAS style firm and insurance choice perhaps?

Do you know when CSG typically make their offers? I think I remember something about the end of March but again there's nothing on the website?

OP posts:
BananaDaiquiri · 07/02/2023 13:20

gogohmm · 07/02/2023 13:03

Do they not use ucas progress? Where we lived they completed the process in November, very similar to university applications. The whole of our county used it

I believe they each have their own admissions forms and process. Though even if there was a county/borough wide type admission, it might not help (unless there was a pan-london admission round) as these three schools are all in different London boroughs (Camden, Islington, Westminster).
Following OP. I've noticed that schools like CSG don't seem to publish anything useful to tell you whether you have a chance of a place or not based on previous years' data. Maybe that's because it varies a lot from year to year and subject to subject? But surely seeing some kind, any kind, of data would be helpful.

Original poster
Sixthformconfusion · 07/02/2023 13:17

Thank you so much for your replies. I'm surprised that you can accept more than one like this - must be a nightmare job on the 24 August. It wouldn't surprise me if there might be a condition to this particular Mags offer that means it has to be exclusive - you also have to send a deposit for library books! An amount that might be difficult for lower income families.

Like I say, it's almost as if sixth forms are cherry picking the pupils who might be well supported and get good results.

OP posts:
gogohmm · 07/02/2023 13:03

(Including private though you sent a supplement firm too)

gogohmm · 07/02/2023 13:03

Do they not use ucas progress? Where we lived they completed the process in November, very similar to university applications. The whole of our county used it

redskydelight · 07/02/2023 12:55

Yes, you can accept multiple offers (and most people do) . You then decide on GCSE results day which one you want to take up (assuming you've met any conditional offers).

Some students end up with no place on GCSE results day - in this case, you need to ring round and find out where you can get a space. This might well mean you being flexible in your requirement e.g. for subjects or type of qualification, as you'll only be offered subjects/qualifications where there are places.

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