What do I need to know before my daughter starts her a-levels at college in the autumn?

[MyrtleHannigan]

I got all emosh today as her school sent out a letter all about arrangements on the last day of school and prom etc! It's the end of an era 😢

She's going to the local 6th form college to do her A-levels.

How was the transition for your child? What do you wish you'd known? And did you see a big difference (good or bad) in personality/independence etc?

I'm not nervous for her - she can't wait, and im excited for her (GCSE results permitting!) but is there anything I should know?

That A levels are bloody hard! The jump from GCSE is immense (especially in the sciences) and did come as a shock to DD + her peers at first. For us there wasn’t much of a change in personality or independence as DD and the vast majority of her friends just continued into sixth form at their grammar - that all just happens naturally with age

There is a Further Education board that may help.

College is a lot more free than school.
You have to do about 1hour additional work for every hour of teaching.
Pastoral care may be less good.
College may keep saying they are adults now and your DC may believe this.