6th Form - back into state

[DorsetCamping]

We moved DS to a local independent school in Year 9 as he is dyslexic and was really struggling, coupled with severe school anxiety.

All has generally worked well and he settled well.

However we only ever envisaged him staying to Year 11 and then move back across to our local 6th form college.

Our dilemma is:

Stay at private school:

Tiny class sizes (likely less than 40 students in year 12).
Excelled pastoral and academic support,
£££££,
reasonable choice of subjects
I worry for him socially; although DS has settled well, He's not particularly close to the majority of highly academic, driven students. Rarely spends any time outside of school socially with them.
The school is almost like a cosy bubble and very limited opportunity for them to 'spread their wings' which to my mind is really important at that age.

Move to 6th form college

Excellent subject choices,
Lots more scope for variety of activities and making loads more friends/good social life;
much bigger class sizes (which may be the overriding factor as my fear is he will quickly sink mentally and academically);
reasonable pastoral support
Obviously no financial outlay (hooray!)
He already has friends from his old school intending to go.

WWYD? On one hand I want to give him as much support as possible, which private would give, but I also want to him to experience 'real life'. Also he is a lazy bugger and I do wonder why the hell we should keep paying if he's not putting the effort in

What does he want to do?

Sorry should have said!
He's not showing a preference either way

I think only 40 students in a sixth form year group is very small, and if he’s not particularly friendly with any group, then unless there’s an intake of new students into sixth form that’s unlikely to change.

Against that, how have each dealt with learning during the lockdown and since the reopening? Anecdotally, many private schools seem to have managed learning better than many state (for many reasons, including better funding so not a bashing of state schools).

But ultimately at 16/17 your DS needs to be involved in the decision, and to understand that he will need to make the choice of school/college work for him. And that he will need to work hard to get his best grades.

How is each school in terms of grades at A level? Have you looked up their performance tables? For example if 85% score a C or higher at the private school, but only 57% at the state school that would be a factor to consider. Do you have any information as to the schools areas of excellence? For example some schools are known to be better at teaching computer science and maths, while others have really good classics and history. You want to get the best teachers for the subjects he will be taking and that could be in either school.

Coincidentally both the college and his school are new - only having opened in the last couple of years.
I'm trying obtain exam results for both but i don't have those concerns for his current school. Looking longer term DS doesn't have career plans as yet and university may not be the best path for him.

Lockdown provision was excellent and another motivator for DS to stay put, especially if schools close again. Full time online timetable and daily pastoral contact, which was a life saver for him; I can only imagine what mess he would be in now if he'd stayed at his old school.

However, a large part of me feels that if he is doing subjects he enjoys and gets sufficient support, he has the potential to thrive at college. I loved those 2 years, it really felt like a huge step in independence. However I don't have DS's learning difficulties or MH concerns

Given that you’re already thinking university might not be the future route, has your DS looked at the vocational BTEC qualifications? These don’t preclude going on to university, especially if he can do an A level alongside. But might be a better choice if he’s looking at work or apprenticeships at18.

I would move them to state and then find a tutor for each subject so they have one-to-one. Socially it sounds like he will be much happier and the range of courses sounds more interesting. I would also pay for a private careers advisor. All of those will cost you far less than paying fees and sounds like it would suit his personality more - happy child = happy parent!

Neither place offers vocational courses - the nearest venue is miles away.
We did look at alternatives to A levels but he hasn't shown any interest on that route either and to be honest I think apprenticeships are going to be scare for the foreseeable (and what is on offer is likely to have 1000s of applications).

Now if A levels in gaming were on offer!!

So what happens locally to the students who won’t suit A levels? They must go somewhere

There is a college but it's miles away and nightmare to get to.
Would happily work out a solution if DS wanted to go down the vocational route but none of the courses have really grabbed him

@flourandeggs

I would move them to state and then find a tutor for each subject so they have one-to-one. Socially it sounds like he will be much happier and the range of courses sounds more interesting. I would also pay for a private careers advisor. All of those will cost you far less than paying fees and sounds like it would suit his personality more - happy child = happy parent!

Where can I find a reputable careers coach? When I Google I just get a list of national companies. Be good to have a recommendation

Let me ask my neighbour she is using one with her year 12 and he is helping him with personal statement. Will get back to you.

@DorsetCamping I have got the details of the person my neighbour uses but not sure that helps if area specific but he might be able to help you do a search? She said her son’s private school although they have done some good careers stuff have not been good on helping with personal statements and with deadline looming she wanted some better help. PM me if you want his details. X

@flourandeggs have PM'd you!

You could ask the school/college if they would support a combination of traditional A' levels and something like this, which is online:

inews.co.uk/news/teenagers-video-gaming-pearson-worlds-first-esports-btec-423254

Doing one subject that he loves, might help him complete the 2 A' levels.

If he already has friends outside of school, then I think that is a great positive.