St Swithun's 6th form

[rainbowday01]

Hi,

1st time posting here hope i will get some help. DD is considering full boarding at St Swithun's 6th form. We visited the school and generally liked the feel, appreciate any feedback from parents of current/ex students about the school in terms of how well they prepare the gals for university application, pastoral care, and what kind of help is available when students are struggling. We are overseas and DD will be there alone as an international student. She is bright but needs to be pushed to work hard as I feel she lacks motivation. We are aiming for a top university but unsure what course she wants to study, just planning to study STEM subjects for A-levels. She is sociable and makes friends relatively easily.

Hi, my DD started sixth form in September. We are happy with the school, advice on universities to apply for, pastoral support all good. My DD comes home at weekends but there are girls from overseas who stay in every weekend. If you haven’t already register (we did this a couple of years in advance). Places are oversubscribed (generally less than 20 places available I believe) and it is quite competitive. To study for example maths/further maths at A level the girls are required to achieve an 8 or 9 at GCSE. Your DD would sit an entrance exam in her 3 or 4 A level choices and be interviewed. My DD is self motivated so I cannot answer as to whether the school would ‘push’ your DD. Hope this helps.

@Fishpie7 Thanks you for your reply, DD has accepted offer to start 6th form next year. How often are the girls given test/assessment? Do you know how the teachers determine predicted grades? I'm a bit worried about the short time DD has to prepare for university application, on top of adjusting to her new life in boarding. I hope the school/her peers will be a positive influence to inspire DD to work harder!

Hi your DD doesn’t start applying for university until the start of the second year at sixth form- predicted grades will be based on many things but will include her exams taken at end of first year.

teachers are great and there is a parents evening at the end of the first term. If you can’t attend then check the guardianship company you choose offers attending parents evening and feeding back to you. There are many to choose from - always choose one recommended by aegis. I know Brightworld guardians offers parents evening included as part of their guardianship fee and are already guardians for some international students currently studying at st Swithuns.
hope this helps