Leaving private school for state 6th form - experiences?

If Music is his thing, then isn't there a myriad of external examinations and private tutoring available to probably offer him better training than A level?

Lots move locations for 6th form and whilst it's disappointing the bursary has fallen, what a fabulous opportunity your DS has had up to now.

University will be a move "into the wild" anyway, so a change now is only 2 years early. Me and my children all found College a fabulous springboard into work - OK we came from dire and average Comprehensives, but change will be on the cards reasonably soon for him.anyway.

Loads of young people leave Indies to go to state 6th form especially around Cambridge and certainly in my area. As there is usually a wider catchment I find in hard to believe you don’t have one with a good music department within reasonable distance. I understand that it’s harsh now but realistically he will have to move on after 6th form anyway so often it doesn’t hurt to get used to change. I agree with looking at state boarding option. Hockerill for example has a phenomenal music department and if you live near enough offer flexi boarding.

Gosh. You must take up practically all the very few full bursaries available! But that’s not what this thread is about.

We had to make a similar move due to finances. Ours was a very sudden, no notice move. It was incredibly tough for my ds.
Things they found particularly tough:
The size of the place - going from knowing everyone in the school to a school 8x larger where they don't even know half the children in their own year group. Also the busy corridors and staircases.
The shouting - From a very quiet school where every child wants to be there, to hearing children kicking off and teachers shouting in corridors.
Locked doors - From a totally 'open' school where you can wander in and out of each building and classroom if you needed to find a teacher / access resources during lessons otr free time, to a school where corridors and classrooms are routinely locked during lessons and only teachers can unlock doors.
Lack of contact with staff and regular supply covers.

It has been tough. It is what it is though, and there was no choice. I am incredibly proud of ds for adapting and making the most of the situation.

It’s possible to do A level music remotely via the Trinity College junior department- info is on their website. Worth a look if its a fourth a level and he’s academic as then you only need a college that does the stem ones. For post grade 8 students out of school ensembles are often a better level anyway- do you have a local youth orchestra or could you look at holiday courses?

Surely universities are wise to the ‘advantages of private for GCSE then switch to state at A level when the classes are smaller and the less academic pupils have left’ plan.

I thought universities looked at ‘always state educated’ rather than ‘has ever been state educated’ and indeed look at whether the particular state school typically sends children to university or not as a reference for a particular student’s attainment.

I should have also said that, whilst it may be an exception at your school, a lot of children do tend to go state for Sixth Form whether for the cost, a different range of A levels, the additional freedom or because they didn’t get the grades. Most Sixth Forms have a lot of children joining so your DS won’t be the odd one out on arrival. You may well find that, whilst children having previously left your DS’ school after GCSEs, the VAT impact will change that. There will be others who have had their bursaries cut no doubt and even those on full fees will have seen a 20% (or thereabouts) increase which they may be struggling with.

No direct experience but agree with PP that there are definitely state schools with good music departments and ensemble groups - my son goes to a local comprehensive that meets this criteria. But to manage expectations of it’s the same near you, the school are clear that most of their 6th form places go to children already at the school and unlikely to get a place if you’re not at a consortium school (our friend and neighbour who’s son is currently at private doesn’t expect him to get a place for that reason). So do check if that’s the case too at your local schools (music or not) and if so you might be better looking at 6th form colleges.

good luck to your son. It sounds like the school have behaved badly.

I’ve had a very musical child at state school, who did A levels in Maths, Further Maths and Physics. He’s now just done his first year at Uni doing Engineering and is playing in the Uni ensembles (and loves it). There are great state schools out there where your DS will fit in fine, with excellent music departments. The state schools music departments are as good as the highly regarded private schools in our town (if not better), with County ensembles opportunities too.
You might need a house move OP. Rent your house out and rent near a good state school for 2 years??

Could he earn some money tutoring/ part time job etc? Due to personal allowances he will not pay tax on first £12570 of his income so it will stretch further than if you work on top of your jobs. Could maybe ask in school if there are any jobs that he could do. It might mean sacrificing some time spend in extra curricular activities outside of school though but life is often a balancing act.

Both of mine left private to go to a dedicated state 6th form college. 6th form was just too expensive. They were fine about it as they liked the idea of wearing what they want and it having a less ‘school’ feel about it. They stayed in contact with their old school friends throughout. One has graduated uni and one is still there and they’re still close friends with their old private school mates.

Rather than a 6th form at a state school are there any separate state 6th form colleges. Some (like the one mine went to) had a whole music and performing arts building.

Has anything about your financial position changed since your DS started at the school? It seems unusual for there to be such a significant change without at least a meeting with the Bursar. Have you asked former a meeting with her/him, perhaps with the Head of Music in attendance too? One option you might be able to propose is a payment plan so that your son continues for the Sixth Form but you pay it off over four years or something. It would be unusual but it might be acceptable to them.
Otherwise, is it worth looking at one of the boarding schools which offer 100% bursaries? You may meet their criteria for fee support. If your son is as talented as he sounds, then music tuition may be included too.
However, it is worth bearing in mind that a lot of schools are having to cut costs at the moment and a lot of schools are functioning without a bassoon/double bass/French horn/tuba player, perhaps bringing in a local teacher and paying a session fee if one is really needed for a piece.

Round here full bursaries are offered up to household incomes of £70ish k

Lancaster Grammar is another state boarding that offers it

Would you consider state boarding? Peter Symonds in Winchester for example offers music A level.

Do you think that someone entitled to a full bursary would be in a position to take out a loan for 2 years private school feels?

If it’s that important, why aren’t you taking out a loan or such like? It’s only for 2 years.

Whereabouts in the country are you? There are loads of good music opportunities most places for good youth musicians, you just have to hunt for them. There’s the JDs and local music hubs, and by the time they get to A level, you see a few of them popping up in the local symphonias or philharmonic orchestras.

The more I think about this the weirder it sounds. Absolutely not wanting to touch on the VAT thing-but I just can’t see a school losing a pivotal member of the 6th form like this. Apart from anything else, it’s just such bad PR-when making it possible for him to stay would look so good for them. Is there a misunderstanding somewhere? You really must talk to the Head. And the Head of music-does he know what’s going on?

My friend’s son got a full boarding scholarship to Chets for A level - try them

Sounds a difficult situation all round. Your DS sounds amazing. We are pretty rural and have little choice in terms of sixth forms. Would he be eligible for a bursary elsewhere and would he board for sixth form?

Your thoughts that the school have been ‘nasty’ to reduce the bursary and that you now regret choosing private education due to it being reduced may or may not be well grounded (I don’t know much about private schools’ different bursary values and criteria), but seem unlikely to help you to help DS now.

Looking at it another way, DS will have had 5 years of low cost private education, aiding his GCSEs and high level music and he enjoyed it. He starts from a strong position going into 16-19 education and beyond. You and he have time to investigate and choose from his options.

It’s hard for a kid to have to move school when they’re happy. However, it’s also not the end of the world and the bottom line is that if you can’t afford it, he needs to understand that. It’s a life lesson. We don’t always get what we want. My older kids both went to state sixth form, one of them for financial reasons (had to leave private school), and they enjoyed it and both went to RG universities afterwards. They met a wide range of new friends from different social backgrounds and I think that has opened up their views of the world in a way that mixing with only their private school friends wouldn’t have done.

Lots of DC seem to move to state school after GCSEs for financial and other reasons. Most seem to tell their friends/classmates why and have stayed in touch with friends etc.

You could investigate day or boarding options with large bursaries, but imagine there are few at 100% or close to it. You and DS could seek the best state option - that might mean a long commute or moving house - and music ensembles .

Sorry I have not read the entire thread but could you consider applying to Christ’s Hospital? They have an incredible music department and still offer very generous bursaries for day and boarding children.
Good luck.

Most sixth form colleges have music. Why should he go quietly? Not having fees that are most people’s income is hardly a crime.