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 /

And that was how long ago? My youngest was in 6th form in 2021... Things change. Teaching methods change. The curriculum changes. The world changes.

I have no doubt that there are 6th forms that are very school-like. That will suit certain types of students, so this is a good thing, alongside those 6th forms that treat their students more like the young adults they are. There are 6th forms that are strict on uniform. There are also those, like our local one, that have no uniform at all. Not all 6th forms are the same. Not all colleges are the same.

My job for 15 years was visiting schools and colleges and specifically working with post 16 students.

I can categorically state that in many 6th forms the teaching differed from the teaching taking place lower down the school.

And in those 15 years I could be visiting 4-5 schools a week!

So in one corner we have @DollyTrolly who has seen dozens if not hundreds of 6th forms in action and in the other we have @Summersunshinee who has seen... 2.

I know who has the more representative sample here.

Oh and I worked in two schools which had 6th forms for 3 years, specifically with year 11s and post 16 students so saw the differences in teaching methods and styles first hand.

😂😂
It's one of the few things I happen to know a lot about!

@DollyTrolly So which is better School or College ?

Also which do your kids attend ?

One isn't better than the other. It's not as simple as that.

There are multiple factors to consider. Such as:

• what provision is offered locally? Where I live now there are no schools with 6th forms so young people will either go to a local FE college or the 6th form college. If you happen to go to school in the neighbouring county then schools typically have a 6th form so that option is available to young people.

• reputation of the provider. Some colleges are great others aren't so great... same goes for schools and sixth forms.

• what suits the individual student? What do they want to study .... all of this will play a part because not all providers offer the same qualifications or subjects.

-entry requirements, each provider sets their own entry requirements which will have an impact on a individual's choice

My child is still in primary school so we're not at this stage yet but I have a number of nephews and nieces and they've chosen a range of options based on the above factors.

Dear god @Summersunshinee are you really still harping on about this? Since April? Do you usually get this fixated on random topics?

@KiwiMum2023 we shall have no peace until we agree that college is always better, for all young people, in all circumstances.

However ridiculous that position is. And it is.

This post is why 6th form / A levels are regarded as more prestigious than FE College / vocational qualifications.

@Summersunshinee so you went to college and studied Business.
Why didn’t you do a vocational subject?
As you are so obsessed with them?

OP.
What evidence do you have that your views are right and that everyone else on this thread is wrong?

For example, can you link to a study showing that those who stay in school 6th form do less well at university, or are less able to transition into adult life.

Or is it just that you are right and everyone else is wrong?

@DollyTrolly But I guess you would send your child to 6th form.

@Madeintheshade Care to elaborate ?

@Needmorelego MY course was vocational and included work based learning and work experience.

If i had my time again I would have done a trade too, I could still now, i`m not dead yet.

@DollyTrolly But I guess you would send your child to 6th form.

Why are you making those assumptions?

If he goes to secondary school in the area that we live then he won't go to sixth form because there aren't any........

It will also be his choice what he chooses to do post 16.

@Summersunshinee ok so you could count Business as vocational if you want.
But you do realise many 6th Forms offer Business as a subject /qualification.
The main choice for many teens often isn’t between 6th Form or college- it’s the place that offers the course or qualifications they want to study.
It’s not where you study - but what you study. That should be the most important thing.

Well I would get rid of history as it`s already happened so what's the point ? RE as religion is becoming less relevant these days.

😂😂
Why is anyone still taking part in this discussion?!

@SoTedious it’s addictive……we can’t help it.

@DollyTrolly The way you talk, your son will be in 6th form.

@Needmorelego The course/courses i did were vocational. 6th form would only teach A-level Business studies which is different to what I did.

Do you consider yourself intelligent?

@DollyTrolly The way you talk, your son will be in 6th form.

And you call US snobs! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

The way you talk, your son will be in 6th form.

Brilliant!! You are sooooooo wrong.
I'm a qualified careers adviser so believe VERY strongly in impartial advice and the young person choosing the right option for them.

@RetinaRouge Relatively yes.

@DollyTrolly Lets come back in 10 years and find out.

Do you mean to be so offensive?

Not only are you suggesting I would be a shitty parent and force my child into attending an education provider he either didn't want to attend and/or might not be suited to, but you're also suggesting i'm unprofessional and hypocritical.

Right now my child tells me he wants to join the army ...... make of that what you will

Oh and for extra context .... my PhD was on how young people make educational choices and heavily criticised people (parents and teachers mainly) for pushing young people into choices that weren't suitable for them.