Why is 6th form thought of more highly than attending FE college ?

[Summersunshinee]

I can never understand why if you say that you attend 6th form at school you are thought of more so than if you attended FE college.

I would feel that if anything it would be more impressive to attend FE college as you made the decision to go somewhere else and try something different /

@pointythings Life is cruel and we can`t protect kids from it.

Never heard of this. College always sounded cooler to me. Tho I stayed at school for 6th form.

@Fairislefandango I`m just putting that as a possible scenario which could well happen depending on location, choice etc.

Yes but it doesn't make the point you seem to think it makes. You are posting as though you're trying to make out that everyone else is saying that students should have to do only academic subjects and that vocational ones aren't important or that students shouldn't be able to choose them. Literally nobody is saying that.

We are advocating for choice. You are advocating for removing it. The only argument you seem to be putting forward for academic students to be forced to do a vocational subject they don't want to do is 'Well at least they'll learn what failure is!" That is no argument at all. They will all have learned what failure is, in minor ways, throughout school. Nobody is good at everything.

I can't help thinking that there's an element of inverse intellectual snobbery in your suggestions. As though you want to take some stereotypical clever, academic, impractical types down a peg or two by watching them struggle with manual skills or 'real world' subjects.

6th form usually has higher academic requirements to stay on. College of FE usually more for vocational/less academic subjects. Different products. Not a bad thing.

I can't help thinking that there's an element of inverse intellectual snobbery in your suggestions. As though you want to take some stereotypical clever, academic, impractical types down a peg or two by watching them struggle with manual skills or 'real world' subjects.

@Fairislefandango exactly this. Inverse snobbery, resentment, chip on the shoulder the size of Manchester. @Summersunshinee you put words in the mouths of the people of this thread that they haven't said. We have all said we are in favour of choice, and would like there to be more choice. You're the only one here who wants to solve the problem by taking away choice.

So you had a bad experience at school? That's sad. Wanting to take revenge for it on a whole cohort of young people who don't even know you exist? That's mad.

@Summersunshinee I agree that I would love to see more vocational/hands on subjects at GCSE level but I don't understand your thinking that some students should have to take them so they can fail (because they are more academic learners). That's an utterly bizarre idea.
I am wondering how much you know about modern education as you don't seem to know that schools still teach RE they do - although usually called Religious "Studies" rather than "Education" these days. It's compulsory as a subject but not compulsory as a GCSE.

@Fairislefandango So you think forcing some students who are not that academic to do academic subjects is right and have them fail is ok then ?

@Needmorelego I guess the teaching of religious studies can vary dependent on location also in recent years attitudes towards religion have changed so I wasn't sure if it was still widely taught ?

@Summersunshinee what do you mean about RE teaching varying "depending on location"? It's a national curriculum subject.

I guess depending on your location different faiths will take precedent.

@Summersunshinee it shouldn't do because they have to follow the national curriculum. If it's a faith school (ie a Catholic school) they will have specific things like assemblies with the local priest etc but even then they have to follow the curriculum for Religious Studies lessons and learn about all the major world religions and belief systems.

@Needmorelego Ok I think were getting side tracked about religion.

@Summersunshinee yes we are a bit.
It still makes me wonder how knowledgeable you are about modern schools though.
A lot of schools these days offer vocational qualifications (ie Btec) at both GCSE and A-Level so the choice is out there already.

@Needmorelego So why dont more kids do them, why dont more parents encourage them ?

@Fairislefandango So you think forcing some students who are not that academic to do academic subjects is right and have them fail is ok then?

I think all students should do English and maths, because they are a basic requirement in lots of jobs. I don't think it's unreasonable to add science to the core subjects, but I'd be in favour of students being able to choose just one science. That's it for compulsory subjects. What else do you think they are being forced to do?

@Needmorelego So why dont more kids do them, why dont more parents encourage them?

The kids who want to do them do them. The kids who don't want to... don't. Why should parents encourage kids to do them if the kids don't want to? Kids should choose the options subjects they like and want to do! I didn't tell my dc which subjects to do for GCSE. They chose themselves.

@Fairislefandango Yes I agree English and Maths are a basic requirement.

If you cant read, write or add & subtract you wont get far in life.

Science is something I have always wondered why there is such an emphasis on it as most people aren't going to do too many scientific experiments in their life.

@Summersunshinee I think quite a lot of children do take vocational qualifications (if their school offers them).
I have several teenage relatives and most of them did at least 1 Btec alongside either GCSE or A-Level. It's quite normal these days.
A lot of schools for example PE is offered as a Btec rather than a GCSE.

@Summersunshinee science isn't about experiments though. At its core it is about finding out how the world works. A basic knowledge of chemistry, biology and physics will help you run a household in terms of cleanliness, safety and cooking. I agree that not everyone needs triple science, but no science at all isn't wise either.

My DC also chose their GCSE subjects. I had nothing to do with it. I did talk about it with DC2 because their options were a bit more complicated, but the final choice (drama) was his.

I work for a construction company who employ plumbers, welders & electricians all of whom went to college for vocational courses or did day release as part of their apprentiships.

A decent knowledge of science is VITAL for all of them. Without it they would never have become qualified plumbers or electricians etc.

@pointythings ok I'm just saying i don`t generally use a Bunsen burner in my kitchen or use the periodic table at work.

If were going to have a class about how the world works etc. Bring in more food technology, a class where you learn things like home maintence (minor electrical work, have to tile a little wall etc.

Also in Maths get rid of stuff the Pythagoras theorem etc which have no relation to the real world.

Instead have lessons about how interest rates etc work and bring the game of soft tip darts into the classroom to test arithmetic.

@Summersunshinee schools already do Food Technology (ie cooking) and basic electric stuff would come under DT I assume.
(Not sure why schools need to teach how to tile a wall? )

I don’t use trigonometry, volumes etc in my everyday life either. Because I work in the accounts department.

but the engineers & plumbers I work with use this stuff every single day alto Nt with a lot of physics and chemistry. Food tech is very science based too.

@Summersunshinee do you know who needs to understand Pythagoras and use it?

Builders.

Everyone should know the basics of the Periodic Table and the essentials of chemistry - there was once an episode of Casualty where the disaster happened because a cleaner did not know you should not combine acid based cleaners with bleach. That's chemistry.

For safe electrics in the home, you need the basics of physics - ditto for DIY.

Darts arithmetic is primary school stuff.

They have to calculate volume, load, pressure, and use angles for gas, electrical and water installations or their could be disastrous consequences.

@Needmorelego That was just an example.

Ok so some basic car maintence then.

Although some people in here are anti-car judging by previous comments.