Living in student accommodation 6th form

[Bloomsburygirl]

My DS wants to be a fashion designer. He has his sights set on Central St Martins (CSM) and wants to go to Hamstead Fine Arts College (HFAC) for sixth form because they have a strong track record of getting kids into CSM fashion courses. The problem is we don't live in London (we're three hours away) and do not know anyone there. He would have to live in student accommodation. I called HFAC and asked them if many sixth formers lived independently in the student accommodation. They said yes, but only the international students. DS has always been incredibly focused, ambitious, and determined (he secured himself work experience with an up and coming designer at this year's London Fashion Week (he's only 14 and he organised it himself and is designing his first collection). The only other option he is interested in is King's Ely as they have a strong fashion and textiles offering. However, his first choice is HFAC, despite the fact that DH and I would prefer King's Ely as he can board. DS is mature and sensible, but I feel 16 is too young to live in student accommodation, especially in London, even though I left home at a similar age to go to a college (30 odd years ago). AIBU to say HFAC is not an option due to the accommodation issue, or am I risking him resenting me by holding him back? Thank you for reading.

Home boarding is probably an option.

i worked at a school that took international students from 16. They boarded with local families.

No specific advice but hats off to your DS, he sounds incredibly driven and focused and deserves to succeed.

Yes, I thought about this option. I know a couple of sixth formers from the North East who did that so they could go to sixth form at one of the performing arts colleges in London.

Personally I’d be contacting CSM themselves and asking their advice about the best route in. Do they have open days you can go to?
Just because someone in fashion on the internet or HFA themselves say they are the best route in, it doesn’t mean it’s true 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sorry haven’t read everything but my child is planning to live on a campus college/uni from 16 and I think it will be amazing. They have seperate rules for the under 18 students like curfews and no opposite sex students allowed in, is there anything like that at all? I know a campus is different to a city but I think it will be amazing for my child to experience independent living at that age

I know someone who goes to a performing arts sixth form in London and they live 5-6hrs drive. I think he lives with a host family rather than totally alone in student accomodation, but it’s quite normal at the place he goes to.

They do summer schools, why don't you see how he gets on with one of them, it's much shorter and gives you an idea of what he would be like alone in London. He sounds very focused tho, tell us more about the collection?

OP I have housed 16 yo foreign students for the last few years, although not in London. I do their washing and provide a daily family meal and general parenting as required. The students came from an agency who organise foreign students coming to the UK. I have had 1 or 2 students at a time (foreign language students tend to stay singly to make sure they are speaking English, others don't mind doubling up.
if my 16yo was going like yours, I would want them housed like this.
try Barnes Education - they organise the whole thing but they may be prepared to assist solely with accommodation. There are other agencies who do solely accommodation but I don't know the ones in London.

I lived in halls at 16 - but we were all 16-18 on the same course

If you can afford it and he's keen then I don't see why not. In Scotland up until fairly recently at least kids often went to university at 16 or if not 17

Personally I wouldn’t allow this. I don’t think 16 year olds should be living alone. They need parenting still however talented and sensible they are.

Have a look at a company called Gabbitas. They seek accommodation in family homes for this exact situation. A friend of mine was in the same situation and he is now staying with a lovely family.

My DC did similar - the course they wanted was a four hour drive /train away. They were weekday boarders and came home Friday to Sunday evening. Some weekends they stayed at friend's family homes. They were 14 when they went and developed a great deal of independence and personal development. It was hard on us as DPs but was best thing they did and what they learnt there and friendships made have been great. Only drawback we found was when they went into Higher Education they were a lot more mature than some of their peers.