To think asking for 6 level 7 (A) GCSE grades to enter the schools sixth form is a bit intense !

[firefly400]

DD is year 10 and to get in to her schools sixth form requires 6 level 7 ,and 2 level 6 GCSE's this is equivalent to 6 A and 2 B grades on the current grading system. I think this creates unfair pressure on pupils who most probably left to their own devices i.e not have to have 'sleepless' nights would achieve.

The school has problems with some girls suffering from Anorexia , Bulimia and self harming . The school should have a more reasonable (though appropriate expectation for A or level 7 grades in just the A levels required for study).

This alone would reduce the 'fear' and concern on my own daughter. Do they want to make their own 'very' bright pupils anxious for some kind of power race with over schools !

'We have more stringent entry requirements than you ' though our girls are always afraid of not getting an A*

Secondly getting 8 A at GCSE does not always equate to 3 A at A Level similarly as demonstrated by my Nephew getting no A at GCSE (only 4 A grades) does not mean you can't get A A level he got 2A and 1 A. The 2 A were in English and Chemistry ( Chemistry Dept did not think he was up to it since he only scraped a A at GCSE)

The final point what a pupil is at 16 is not comparable to the pupil at 18 !

That sounds tough. I've just checked and DD's school ask for a minimum of five As for the sixth form.

But op, they are clearly not going for " perfectly acceptable results" like your old school and nor do they need to.

Of course some parents will be disgruntled if they feel their children will struggle with stress trying to achieve it, has the school changed the entry requirements for sixth form recently so this was unexpected?

I'm not sure what you want people to say. An over subscribed school that is aiming for excellent academic results will have stringent academic selective criteria, if your daughter is predicted to achieve those results without mental health issues there is no problem, if it's too much for her, then maybe another school with easier requirements would be a better option, irrelevant of where her friends go. There is no easy answer.

As for the eating disorders etc, sadly this happens in all schools, it's not uncommon in teenage girls where you will find a small minority suffer these things, it's awful but it's not exclusive to strong academically focused schools.

My son is predicted to have all passes in his GCSE's but he has a fully funded EHCP. The school are delighted to have him in Sixth Form. It's a great school, with pupils going to Cambridge and Oxford yearly. Sixth forms should be inclusive and understand that a lot of changes do take place in those vital two years.

His sister, my 2nd daughter, had 8 A* and 4 As. She got an ABBC in her A levels. Though she did get a first from the University of Manchester, (Modern History and Economics).

I think I know which school you are talking about. My dd went there.
Bums on tge seats count too. In the end they will not accept the lowest scoring students. Most of the girls will stay in.

GCSES are easy when compared with A levels. For pupils at a super selective, getting nearly all A grades at GCSE should not cause massive stress and worry. Rather than getting cross with the school, why not reassure your daughter that she will be fine as long as she does her best. Support her with her school work and teach her healthy ways of dealing with pressure and high expectations. A levels will be much harder and more stressful, then university and adult working life. Learning to be grounded, to cope with pressure and find ways of relieving stress (sport, time out with friends, pets....) will help her succeed in all her exams and in adult life.

You have to work for the grades. Don't put in the work, you don't get the grades. It's a work ethic instilled from Yr 7.

Pupils should never rely on the fact they are bright. Everyone has to work to make the grade.

Oh and one last thought. My 2nd daughter had serious issues with a teacher in sixth form, we tried to solve the problem but it was a 'personality class' issue. It blighted her results somewhat. These things happen. (Plus she is a summer born child).

Clash not class.

Super-selectives in our LA get 85% A*-A grades at GCSE.
Is it really likely that she won't get the requirements?
They're so over -subscribed that they can set whatever they wish as entrance requirement, they'll still be full.

Also my 2nd daughter was disappointed not to get 12A* at GCSE. Such was the competition at the all girls school (different to her brothers, which is all boys with a mixed sex sixth form).

Does anyone know how the new "difficult" GCSEs compare with the immediate-post-O level GCSE? I did GCSEs in 1988, in the first cohort. I later did a language GCSE at night school and it was much easier than the language GCSE I did in 1988, dictionaries allowed etc.

GCSES are easy when compared with A levels

A levels will be much harder and more stressful

I disagree with this. Most people do subjects they like and are good at at A level whereas at GCSE you are generally forced to do quite a few subjects you don't want to do and/or are not so great at.

I didn't do that brilliantly in my GCSEs (good but way down the pecking order at my grammar school) but I got 3 As at A level and was one of only four people at my school to do so.

hey are the same entry requirements for new pupils and those who have been at the school since year 7 .

Have the school told you this though or have you got the information via the web? I didn't know that entry requirements were lower for pupils already at the school until DD was in year 11 and the school told her.
Unfortunately, I think problems with anxiety and eating disorders etc are often higher in high achieving pupils and grammar schools therefore perhaps have more of a problem with this than comprehensives regardless of whether they themselves exert pressure.

There are no Grammar schools in Surrey (may have a Surrey post address but not Surrey).
You would be surprised how many young people from all kinds of schools are seeing CAMHS - and this is especially worrying as often the only way to get an appointment is a suicide attempt. (And some parents at some private schools prefer to go private - friends of mine see a lot of girls from certain private school).
There is a crisis in mental health for young people - but it is not all the schools fault. The media takes a far greater interest in exam results than back in my day (all those photos of jumping girls on results day etc. etc.). The government keeps changing the exam system - including changing the grade boundaries - sometimes after the exams have been set (a calculator SAT paper having to be taken without a calculator or the year my DS took his GCSEs - pupils from Wales had an easier pass mark than those from England). Teachers are highly stressed. Oh and the far higher expectation that students will go to University.

Much as I am enjoying all these posts about how super duper all the posters' kids are and all their A*s I think the basic premise of the post is right - that is a high expectation for Sixth Form. But equally, the school is within its rights to specify those grades if they feel they will fill their places that way.

I live in a grammar area, and, as far as I am aware none of them ask for A*s for 6th form. A couple ask for an A for Maths specifically. And there are some that, while you will get in with a B as an internal candidate, it is known that the competition for outside candidates is such that you are unlikely to get in without As. (This is also a backhanded anti s consort modern tactic, but that is for another thread!)

I think asking for A*s is a bit bonkers, frankly. But they probably won't enforce it- they want bums on seats as much as anyone.

My daughter's school had an inclusive sixth form, all pupils were expected to reach their full potential, whether it be A levels or BTEC. However, I do agree with the OP, simply putting such expectations on pupils at GCSE means an echo chamber in Sixth Form and that is not good for life beyond A levels or university. It's not a great indicator for what is a vital two years.

What is the grammar school backhanded anti consort tactic?

Ok : well Kingston and Wallington are not education authorities under Surrey council.

Kingston and Wallington are London not Surrey !

"What is the grammar school backhanded anti consort tactic?"

Nothing to do with not letting Prince Albert in! Should have read anti secondary modern.....l,,l

I agree that the current climate - pushed by consecutive governments - is extremely stressful for our teens and is at least one of the causes of the dramatic rise in MH issues.

Have to agree with Bibbity and other posters on this - you chose to put your DC into the selective school system, this is just the next stage.

All schools/colleges have different requirements as we found when DD was applying. It makes the "League Tables" completely disingenuous - for example our local comp requires at least A's in most of the academic subjects - no wonder they get better A'level results than the schools that require B's or even C's.

If you feel that her current school is too pressured for her, then look at others

Completely agree that the stress we are putting our teens under is a disgrace! Poor kids.

DS's "bog standard" comp has a policy of not excluding anyone from their proposed 6th form study on the sole basis of their GCSE results.

But I bet their results are not as good as OP's DD's school.

If you don't want selection based on academics, don't choose a selective school surely?