Are more of you planning to move your DC from private to state for 6th form now?

iGCSEs are the same exam boards as GCSEs one is not more widely regarded then the other , they are just on two different levels, iGCSEs are cheaper to run and easier to pass, hence them being banned in state schools.

Why do you think state schools are not allowed to use them as GCSEs? if they were the full equivalent, they would be an option, wouldn't they. They are not, so they are not.

This is a universally known fact.

The only people I have ever come across who don't know this are on this thread.

What do you THINK the difference is? Why would any exam board make a different GCSE for pupils taking an English qualification abroad? because poorer schools abroad don't have the resources - internet, science lab, library, sports equipment, DT workshop etc that uk schools have.

Even rich schools in other countries might not have what is expected in a UK school, as the culture is different, so an english qualification might not be possible, in schools where the culture is not to have science labs, for example. Even many European countries teach science in theory only

The iGCSE is designed for that purpose. What do you think they were designed for?

Think you need to tell Keir how difficult life is for private school pupils with their substandard teachers, poor safety concerns and adult to student ratios. Sounds like he needs to consider adding VAT to the privileged state school pupils.

IGCSEs are internationally recognised which is why some private opt for them, they are far from substandard.

This is true. We take a constant stream of children from private schools. They tend to be a little weaker when they arrive - not all of them. But they can catch up if they put the effort in.

Good points, @RampantIvy . We (a non selective state school) get better A level results, and more students into Oxbridge than the local private school.
There are many variables.

There are some ridiculous prejudices and wildly inaccurate statements on this thread.

I have no skin in the game any more as DD is now applying for post grad.

Fact 1 State education is woefully underfunded
Fact 2 State comprehensive schools also have bright children
Fact 3 Some state comprehensive are better than others, although this may be down to demographics. And some are better than some independent schools
Fact 4 Some independent schools are better than others, and many are better than many state schools. Again, this is likely to be down to demographics
Fact 5 Some state 6th form colleges are better than private 6th form provision

There is a 6th form college in the next town that is outstanding and so highly regarded that they attract a lot of students who have been privately educated up until GCSEs. It is a large college and can offer a much wider range of subjects than the independent schools do.I

@WomensRightsRenegade DD stayed at her school for A kevels, but found it quite cliquey. Quite a few who joined from other schools left after a couple of weeks for this reason.

Students who go to a 6th form college tend to make more friends because they are all newcomers. Is there not a good 6th form college you can consider?

Exactly. I have had to explain to so many parents of students who went to private school - coming here won't guarantee your child a university place! They really do misunderstand how it works.

Money talks. Wait and see...........

Yep - even if you meet state school, POLAR home post code and standard offer requirements, you’re only eligible for a contextual offer, and not guaranteed an offer (contextual or otherwise).

The state school students are not disadvantaged. We've taken private school students for many years into our post 16. They tend not to be such resilient learners, but otherwise little difference in outcomes.

Is it really just dawning on the people who rejoiced at the VAT change?

I'm surprised that people think that the kids who leave/have to leave private schools will be on an equal par in a state secondary. That is naivety at its finest.

The kids who will be at the disadvantage ultimately are the state school kids.

I've worked on the UCAS applications for 15 years. I'm well aware. I recently attended training for all the updates.
Attending a state school is not, in itself, going to get you a contextual offer as claimed upthread.

Depends on the university - you need to check how each one addresses contextual offers / widening participation.

Bristol (as mentioned) just has a list of schools (no POLAR requirements) which includes sixth form colleges that have a track record of successful Oxbridge applicants and has managed to include a school local to me that doesn’t currently have a sixth form.

Even so, for oversubscribed courses being eligible for a contextual offer does not mean you’re guaranteed an offer.

Send them to the state school by all means, but just to repeat, it won't be easier for them to get into university. Also, don't expect the system to be the same as at the private school. We get a lot of private school students transferring to our 6th form. The expectations are often not matched by the school's provision.

Exactly. They will not get a lower offer! The contextual offers are for PP students and the POLAR postcodes, asylum seekers, those who are first generation to go to university etc. not just state school students!

A lot of children in my daughter state 6th form college are from private school and few attended boarding school. It’s very small college and you have to have good grades to be accepted

I think you are a little off. Some of the most selective schools in the UK use IGCSEs. They do it because the grade is based on a final exam rather than coursework

That's not true. The GCSEs were reformed in 2017 and now the grade is based on final exms only.

If it’s a heavily oversubscribed subject, then being on the Bristol contextual offer school list is no guarantee of an offer at all, even with predicted grades above the standard offer.

You mean like your discription of state school not having homework for years 7-8 and other insane untrue descriptions? Because that was blatantly not true.

Please stop this silly trolling.

This is categorically not true. Presumably you aren't telling the truth about what you do.

@Inthemosquitogarden "that, and the fact that their university grade offers will be lower if coming from our local state college vs their private school)"

Do check whether this is true.