Late applications for sixth form

[tiggerkid]

Morning everyone,

Does anyone have any experience with late applications for sixth form? We applied to 2 schools in November 17: one my son's current school and his place in another was subject to getting the right grades. The second school refused a place on the basis of predicted grades, which were lower than they expect. Although they suggested calling for a place again after we get the GCSE results, I am not sure there will be one even if he did get the grades they require.

Although we can stay in the current school, I would like to understand what other options there are and if anybody actually would consider any late applications for Sept 18 at this stage.

I know it probably was very stupid of us not to apply to more places but where we are...

Thanks in advance for any experiences you could share!

I work in a sixth form college and although the admissions process is quite far advanced, students could, in theory, turn up on enrolment day at the end of August and still get themselves slotted on to a course. In fact, I'm pretty sure they could come during the first weeks of term and get a place - we've had students transfer from other sixth forms that late. The fuss about deadlines etc is for the benefit of the college, because they want to finalise numbers as far as possible for timetabling/rooming/finance. If everyone applied in August it'd be a nightmare! But there's definite flexibility and I'd doubt very much that any student apart from those who are obviously going to be an out and out liability would be turned away even late on - and even then they'd try to find some sort of provision for them.

TheFifthKey thank you so much for your prompt reply and, of course, the reassurance! You give me some hope that we may still be able to find a place :) Thank you again! Much appreciated.

Depends where you are, but if you're in the London area St Francis Xavier 6th form are still open for applications (they make a big song and dance about it).

depending where you are in the UK there may be lots of options:

Broadly speaking these include school 6th forms, FE Colleges, 6th Form Colleges, Apprenticeships, Study Programs and employment with training.

Qualifications available include BTEC, A Level, NVQ etc

Has he had a careers interview?

some will allocate places early others will allow you to enrol in Sept and some have ongoing enrollment

enrolling late often limits your options though to courses with spaces left

Sixth forms aren't subject to as many limitations as schools re headcount.

Obviously if they don't physically have room in the course wanted (especially anything requiring lab equipment etc) then they may say no, but late applications are totally normal in the school I am governor at.
And students who applied on time change their mind about what a levels they want to do regularly after GCSE results and so switch from maths to biology etc and that's also fine (assuming they get the minimum required grades).

So definitely nothing weird or unusual about late applications.

And don't forget some (most?) students hold offers for more than one sixth form place - and sixth forms know this.
they are either genuinely undecided (my DD) or have a preferred and a back up (my DCs school suggest this - school sixth form and a more vocational back up).

Thank you so much, everyone, for your responses! Very reassuring :)