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Original poster

Can anyone help on 6th form enrolment question?

26 replies

LittlePickleHead · 13/08/2025 21:50

Hi, I am confused. Will call the school in question tomorrow but thought someone here might know!

DD gets GCSE results next week. She has offers at two sixth forms, one is her current and one is a conditional offer at a different sixth form.

She'll definitely get the grades to get in, however the email sent from the school about enrolment states that they are always oversubscribed and if courses are oversubscribed after results they will apply criteria to decide who gets a place (after EHCP/looked after it's basically a lottery).

I understand DD will have to enroll at one school and turn the other one down. But what if she enrolls at the school that is oversubscribed and doesn't get a place?

Can she enroll at both in this circumstance to make sure she has a place in case this happens?

OP posts:
QuillBill · 13/08/2025 22:01

Tomorrow is not a good day to phone a sixth form college, they will be super busy!

We had to go in person for sixth form enrolments at both school and college. Is an actual lottery? That seems like a chaotic way of doing things on the actual day. Not like primary and secondary where they have months.

TickyandTacky · 13/08/2025 22:07

Goodness don't call them tomorrow!

QuillBill · 13/08/2025 22:11

I don’t think they will answer!

Interested in this thread?

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Original poster
LittlePickleHead · 13/08/2025 23:00

Ok good point about the call I forgot about A Level results! But how am I supposed to find out? DD is stressing!

Yes, the admissions are a lottery for y7 as well (with some opportunity for 'scholarships'). I don't really understand how they can expect students to enrol without a guarantee of a place, and expecting them to turn down another place?

I'm going advise her to enroll on both to buy time. It's in person at her current school where she will be so she can do that, and the other school is via an online form.

OP posts:
QuillBill · 14/08/2025 04:59

I think that’s all you can do really, enroll on both. She definitely can’t turn down a place at school then enter a lottery!

tennissquare · 14/08/2025 06:07

Enrol at both and then decide, it's not uncommon for this scenario. 6th forms don't submit their enrolment numbers to the DfE until October so there is much movement during Sept.

BalloonSlayer · 14/08/2025 06:22

I doubt it's really going to be a lottery. More like: if their entry criteria for A Level Maths are grade 6 and above, and they end up oversubscribed, they will only take the grade 7s and above. I would imagine they might also prioritise students they already know who they know to be conscientious students.

CosyMintFish · 14/08/2025 06:26

It won’t be a lottery at this stage. If she has a conditional offer, and she gets the results, she needs to phone the school and accept the offer.

if she hasn’t applied yet and is hoping to arrange a place on results day, then yes, it will be a lottery. But presumably she has a conditional place at her current school?

Original poster
LittlePickleHead · 14/08/2025 07:18

She has an offer, and the email says:

"Oversubscription

We have been subject to exceptionally high demand for Sixth Form places starting in September 2025, receiving well in excess of 1,500 applications. All applicants are reminded that in the almost certain event of more places being sought than are available, our Sixth Form admission oversubscription criteria will be applied.

Then it lists the criteria

OP posts:
JanFebAndOnwards · 14/08/2025 07:25

If they have criteria it’s not a lottery?

JanFebAndOnwards · 14/08/2025 07:25

If they have criteria it’s not a lottery?

golemmings · 14/08/2025 07:30

For college enrollment you have a booked appointment. Do schools not do that?

And surely you only enroll at one - which ever of the offers you accept, assuming you meet the conditions.

Original poster
LittlePickleHead · 14/08/2025 07:37

"1. Children in public care (looked after children) orchildren who were looked after but ceased to be sobecause they were adopted (or became subject to a residence or special guardianship order) i.e., previouslylooked after children (PLAC) or internationally adopted previously looked after children (IAPLAC). See Note 6 of Admission Policy.
2. Where professional evidence indicates that there areparticular psychological, medical or social needs which the school’s learning support faculty agrees only Kingsdale has the capability of addressing or meeting and significant difficulties would arise were the applicant to attend a different school.
3. Students will be ranked by their average point score for their best five qualifying subjects for the course they wish to study.
4. Random allocation. This process will be supervised by a person not employed by or independent of the school (see Note 10 of Kingsdale’s Admission Policy).

OP posts:
Original poster
LittlePickleHead · 14/08/2025 07:38

She does have to go in person to both, you are right

OP posts:
Original poster
LittlePickleHead · 14/08/2025 07:38

But she just turns up between 9-4pm on Thursday or Friday

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Original poster
LittlePickleHead · 14/08/2025 07:39

And kingsdale are well known for their random lottery admissions!

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TeenToTwenties · 14/08/2025 07:39

Enroll at both.
Then if get preferred make sure she withdraws promptly from second choice.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 14/08/2025 07:41

This is the problem with school sixth forms - don't have tge capacity in courses and young people end up on courses they didn't choose. It's madness. I'd go for a sixth form college.

tennissquare · 14/08/2025 07:49

golemmings · 14/08/2025 07:30

For college enrollment you have a booked appointment. Do schools not do that?

And surely you only enroll at one - which ever of the offers you accept, assuming you meet the conditions.

But you might want to study a popular subject economics where there is a teacher shortage and you enrol and get informed at enrolment that there is a waiting list for economics etc. This is why it's fine to enrol at more than 1 place to ensure you get the subjects you want.

mumonthehill · 14/08/2025 07:53

Enrol in both and then see. Ds applied to another school sixth form and a college. We went to the school sixth form with his results and one of his subjects was over subscribed so they did not confirm there and then. He accepted the college offer that day and by 5pm on results day the school sorted out the timetable and he was then offered a place. He turned down the college offer. It can be a bit nerve wracking!

kateandsam · 14/08/2025 08:05

LittlePickleHead · 13/08/2025 21:50

Hi, I am confused. Will call the school in question tomorrow but thought someone here might know!

DD gets GCSE results next week. She has offers at two sixth forms, one is her current and one is a conditional offer at a different sixth form.

She'll definitely get the grades to get in, however the email sent from the school about enrolment states that they are always oversubscribed and if courses are oversubscribed after results they will apply criteria to decide who gets a place (after EHCP/looked after it's basically a lottery).

I understand DD will have to enroll at one school and turn the other one down. But what if she enrolls at the school that is oversubscribed and doesn't get a place?

Can she enroll at both in this circumstance to make sure she has a place in case this happens?

Hi, we're in the same situation.

At a meeting I attended before the end of term we were told to enrol at all the sixth forms we received offers for, because of this.

They said that we will be told if our child gets a place sometime on the Friday. At that point we should let the other places go.

Also, if you look at the policy for over subscription on their website, it says that the criteria you quoted further down only applies to external candidates.

I was also worried when I saw that email but feel a little better (although still a little worried).

Hope that helps!

Original poster
LittlePickleHead · 14/08/2025 11:30

kateandsam · 14/08/2025 08:05

Hi, we're in the same situation.

At a meeting I attended before the end of term we were told to enrol at all the sixth forms we received offers for, because of this.

They said that we will be told if our child gets a place sometime on the Friday. At that point we should let the other places go.

Also, if you look at the policy for over subscription on their website, it says that the criteria you quoted further down only applies to external candidates.

I was also worried when I saw that email but feel a little better (although still a little worried).

Hope that helps!

Show quote history

Thanks @kateandsam - my DD is external so we do need to take it into account hence the worry/confusion! I'm going to get her to enrol at both and keep fingers crossed

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kateandsam · 14/08/2025 13:34

Good plan! Good luck for next week

Ivyfanclub · 28/08/2025 08:14

@LittlePickleHead @kateandsam I just wondered how you got on with 6th form enrolment in the end?

The admissions system that most schools are using now (Applicaa) only allows for enrolment at one school, so I was surprised the 6th form you applied to were suggesting that.

DS applied to his school 6th form and a college, he enrolled at school on GCSE results day as the college enrolment wasn’t until the following week. Then when he enrolled in the college (preferred course) he then declined the school place. So I think you can only enrol in one.

Original poster
LittlePickleHead · 28/08/2025 08:18

She ended up staying at her current school and not enrolling at Kingsdale, the risk of not getting on her chosen course put her off. I’m still confused about it all to be honest!

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