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Original poster

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

1000 replies

Summersunshinee · 09/04/2023 17:24

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 /

OP posts:
pointythings · 07/07/2023 11:15

Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 11:08

@Needmorelego

Benefits of college over 6th form.

Generally you will meet new people.
Greater range of options for study.
No uniform requirements.
Different tutors.
You will be meeting more people your own age an older (no younger kids hanging around).
Colleges generally have better equipment than schools.
If you want to go to university its a good stepping stone between school and university.

All of those things are purely a matter of opinion, since all colleges are different, and all 6th forms are different. Nonsensical sweeping generalisation does not make a debate.

In any case you do not need to debate with your children. You are there to support them and enable them to follow their dreams, hopes and passions. Realistically, of course. Beyond that, you keep your opinions out of it, let them make their own choices and have done. Anything else is second rate parenting.

Original poster
Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 11:23

Ok @pointythings and @TeenDivided

List for me the advantages 6th form has over college ?

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 07/07/2023 11:24

@Summersunshinee how many different 6th Forms have you experience of?
I can only think of one where I live that has a uniform - and that’s an all girls convent school (state school).

Original poster
Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 11:25

@Needmorelego the 6th form`s attended by my sister, cousins and friends did.

OP posts:
DollyTrolly · 07/07/2023 11:27

Generally you will meet new people.
Yes, this is a benefit BUT school sixth forms often have an influx of new students so that isn't completely unique to college.
Greater range of options for study.
Depends what you want to study
No uniform requirements.
Some do .....and some school don't.
Different tutors.
Why is that an advantage? Plus some schools have staff that only teach post 16

You will be meeting more people your own age an older (no younger kids hanging around).

Most 6th forms have dedicated areas for 6th formers so not necessary an issue.
Colleges generally have better equipment than schools.

Not necessarily, The FE sector is on its arse financially. I would actively avoid working in FE at the moment...it's woefully underfunded.

If you want to go to university its a good stepping stone between school and university.

Yes it can be and is a big advantage

Needmorelego · 07/07/2023 11:29

@Summersunshinee why don’t you get it?
NEITHER has advantages over the other.
They are ALL DIFFERENT.
You won’t find two 6th Forms the same.
You won’t find two colleges the same.
6th Form is NOT BETTER.
College is NOT BETTER.
They are what they are.
Arrrrrrrrrrgh.

pointythings · 07/07/2023 11:40

Well, speaking for my local 6th form:
Meeting lots of new peers (because it took from 5 different local schools)
No uniform requirements
New tutors (majority taught only at 6th form)
Wide range of subjects including many new ones
Excellent facilities and equipment (new building planned for the purpose)
No younger kids (except for those who volunteered to mentor younger students outside their core school hours, which my DS did)
Great route to university.

Get it now?

DollyTrolly · 07/07/2023 12:02

I don't understand why we have to decide that one is better than the other.........

There's no need!

pointythings · 07/07/2023 12:18

DollyTrolly · 07/07/2023 12:02

I don't understand why we have to decide that one is better than the other.........

There's no need!

Agree absolutely. It's about what is best for each young person as an individual. OP seems to see young people as a homogeneous blob with no individual needs, wants, skills and talents. Nobody is ever a tabula rasa.

bruffin · 07/07/2023 12:53

Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 11:25

@Needmorelego the 6th form`s attended by my sister, cousins and friends did.

None of our local schools have uniform in 6th form

TeenDivided · 07/07/2023 12:54

Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 11:23

Ok @pointythings and @TeenDivided

List for me the advantages 6th form has over college ?

I have done this many times before.

There are pros and cons to both types of institutions. What you choose depends on the individual and the local offer. It really isn't that hard to understand.

Go back and read my previous posts.

6th form in a school

  • smaller, maybe more nurturing which some 16yos will need
  • no time wasted settling in
  • already know the teachers and they know you
  • may be closer with easier travel
  • may offer courses not offered at local colleges
  • opportunity to stay with existing friends if you want to

colleges

  • larger, possibly more opportunities if relevant to individual
  • more 'adult' environment as no y7s around
  • new teachers with different ideas
  • may offer courses not offered at current school
  • opportunity to meet new people if you want to
Original poster
Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 14:55

@DollyTrolly It`s just a debate.

@bruffin Most do though.

@TeenDivided That is a very balanced list.

I just feel that staying at school lacks ambition.

OP posts:
MrsAvocet · 07/07/2023 14:59

Of course there are pros and cons, and even those depend on your perspective.
Take "You will be meeting more people your own age an older (no younger kids hanging around)" for instance. I would view that more as a disadvantage than an advantage, though I acknowledge it will suit some students not to have younger ones around.
But there's a lot to be gained from different year groups interacting - isn't that more "real world" OP? At our school the 6th formers can be quite heavily involved in the lower school if they wish, as prefects, subject coaches, peer mentors, organisers of clubs etc. That is a big help to the younger pupils as well as giving the 6th formers the chance to develop leadership skills and so on. My DS is currently a prefect and a subject coach. He also helps coach one of the sports teams, runs a club and he's recently been instrumental in organising Sports Day for Years 7,8 and 9, all of which may well be very helpful to him in the future. For him being in a mixed age environment is definitely advantageous.
You know, it's almost like people are individuals with different strengths, weaknesses and needs and thus will thrive in different environments...

TeenDivided · 07/07/2023 14:59

Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 14:55

@DollyTrolly It`s just a debate.

@bruffin Most do though.

@TeenDivided That is a very balanced list.

I just feel that staying at school lacks ambition.

You have said *countless times) you think it lacks ambition.

You seem unable to realise that the benefits for a specific individual may outweigh the drawbacks.

If someone's 'ambition' is to be an architect and the only place nearby that supports the required maths, physics, and art A levels is a school 6th form, then it doesn't 'lack ambition' for them to choose it.

Are you incapable of understanding that different people have different skills and interests and limitations and therefore may require different settings and courses?

DollyTrolly · 07/07/2023 15:05

I just feel that staying at school lacks ambition.

That is so wrong. You can't generalise like that.
A young person would be better off staying at a high performing sixth form than attending a low performing FE college.

TeenDivided · 07/07/2023 15:09

Furthermore, to have 'a debate' needs you to do more of the heavy lifting, not just bat back all our detailed responses with glib one liners.

You are the one advocating for lack of choice. For everyone to go to college not school 6th forms. You need to come up with better arguments than 'I think it lacks ambition'. You actually need to counter the arguments in favour of school 6th forms.

Needmorelego · 07/07/2023 15:12

@Summersunshinee to be honest if I had known what my “ambition” was at 16 (as in I didn’t know back then but I daydream about it now) neither 6th Form or College would have been better. Learning on the job and gaining experience would have been a better route.
I did a year of each. They were both a waste of my time really (looking back with an adult view point).

Original poster
Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 21:55

DollyTrolly · 07/07/2023 15:05

I just feel that staying at school lacks ambition.

That is so wrong. You can't generalise like that.
A young person would be better off staying at a high performing sixth form than attending a low performing FE college.

What if a bright student who would on the surface be more suited to 6th form actually goes to a lower performing college and performs better there that they would at 6th form ?

OP posts:
pointythings · 07/07/2023 22:00

Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 21:55

What if a bright student who would on the surface be more suited to 6th form actually goes to a lower performing college and performs better there that they would at 6th form ?

Show quote history

You can't know what 'would have happened'.
If that student wants to go to that college then they should be supported in that. If they want to stay for 6th form, they should be supported in that. They should be allowed to make the choice and take responsibility for it because that's real life.

DollyTrolly · 07/07/2023 22:02

What if a bright student who would on the surface be more suited to 6th form actually goes to a lower performing college and performs better there that they would at 6th form ?

How would we ever know? It's not an experiment we could ever carry out ethically so it's a bit of a pointless 'what if'.
We should just focus on supporting young people to make choices that are right for them.

mastertomsmum · 07/07/2023 22:34

Needmorelego · 09/04/2023 17:38

Only on Mumsnet world does anyone apparently think "less" of college vs school.
In the actual real world I have never met anyone who thinks like that.

What ? Studying hairdressing is better than A levels?

Needmorelego · 07/07/2023 23:16

@mastertomsmum wow you’ve quoted something I said in April!
Studying hairdressing is not “better” than A-Levels.
Doing A-Levels is not “better” than studying hairdressing.
Both are perfectly good choices depending on what the person wants to do with their life.
If they want to work in the hair industry then they will need to do a course that teaches the skills needed. That usually is via a college or apprenticeship. Do you never go to a hairdressers? I assume you would want one that’s qualified and knows what they are doing. You can make a lot of money from the beauty industry but you’ve got to start by doing a qualification at college.
However…..
A-Levels are good.
Btecs are good.
Can’t comment on T-Levels cos they are new.
Other Level 3 qualifications are good .
Apprenticeships are good.
Getting a job straight out of school is good.
It’s ALL GOOD !!
None of it is better or worse.
What is important - that the 16 year old is happy in what path they have chosen to follow.
And what I think I probably meant back in April is no one really cares about what other people’s 16 year olds are doing.
Any conversations will pretty much be -
”Timmy is going to do 3 A-Levels”
”That’s nice”
”Sally is going to college to do a car mechanic btec”
”That’s nice”
No one thinks one is more or less than the other out here in the real world.

Original poster
Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 23:38

@Needmorelego What you say is very true.

But why then is there still a snobbery and stigma attached to vocational subjects when compared to academic routes ?

@mastertomsmum That was throwback

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 08/07/2023 05:39

Summersunshinee · 07/07/2023 23:38

@Needmorelego What you say is very true.

But why then is there still a snobbery and stigma attached to vocational subjects when compared to academic routes ?

@mastertomsmum That was throwback

Who says there is? It seems to be mainly you saying this....

Needmorelego · 08/07/2023 06:36

@TeenDivided exactly 🙂

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