Sixth form- worth going private?

[Yogatoga1]

Dd4 is currently in a good state secondary. Generally happy with it.

she suffered during the covid years, never really getting in a pattern of study/learning. Disorganised etc.

last gcse year and far too late she’s realised if she puts her head down she’s capable of doing well. She’s going to get a set of grades veering between 4’s and 7’s.

i have enough saved to pay for two years of 6th form. It would mean extending my mortgage for a couple of extra years but that’s manageable.

is it worth it? Would she even get in? We have one co-ed and one girls nearby with decent reputations. I think the added structure and demands of private will suit her.

i’ve had people say it’s not worth it at this point as a couple of grades increase may be wiped out by the contextualised offers between state/private.

wwyd?

A lot depends on what you are comparing.

My parents sent me private for sixth form because my town only had one sixth form college and it was shit (my mum worked there so she knew).

Do you have good state options? What will the private add?

I did slightly exotic a levels which not all sixth forms offered.

She'll probably need to get 7's in the subjects she wants to do.

Well the basic entry requirements should be on the school website - my DCs required at least 6 x grade 7s at GCSE, but also entrance exams in 2 of their a level choice subjects, a critical thinking exam, an interview in their 3rd subject and a general interview.
More importantly, this was all completed before Christmas so you may well be too late to apply.

It depends what you are comparing.
Some state school sixth forms are very school like, and some sixth forms are big colleges that rely on a lot of student self motivation. I think private will likely givebmore support to those that need a bit of motivating still..

Im terms on contextual offers - you need to look at this carefully. Uni's dont just go "oh all state schools need one lower grade" they are very course specific. They normally involve a very low performing sixth form and/or living in a certain type of postcode.

Contextualised offers look at where you took GCSEs (which is why there is no point moving from private to state for A levels if that is the reason).

It's hard to say what private sixth form will offer - what about it appeals? What do you mean by added structure and demands? Do the private sixth forms require more homework, have a longer day with enforced study in free periods?

Class size is unlikely to be a plus as IME state sixth forms have pretty small class sizes in general - for my DC the biggest class was 18.

I think you need to first find out if you are too late; then what GCSE grades are needed and will your DD attain those; then interrogate more deeply exactly what the private school offers that state sixth form does not - and is that what you and DD want?

The contextual thing is very unlikely to be an issue unless she has other ‘markers’. Most dc from state and private alike get the same offers.

It might be worth looking at whether any private schools or sixth form/FE colleges near you offer a one year GCSE course. If her GCSEs are weak, depending on the subjects she chooses, she would be starting from behind for A-levels, and the teaching will be focussed on the A-level syllabus. Another year on GCSEs might give her some better grades and prepare her better for A-level.

If she wants to do subjects like sociology where you're not expected to have done the GCSE, this would be less of a concern, if she does genuinely have ability. However there may still be requirements she needs to meet to be accepted on the course.

Thank you, some great points to consider.

my only experience is I went to private school from 7-12, then state. I found the better work ethic amongst students, smaller class sizes, and general environment led to better learning. I went from top of my class in private school to a distinctly average set of GCSE’s and a levels. I found it too easy to hide amongst the masses at state.

i do take the point that 6th form may have fewer differences with regard to that though as kids will want to be there. We do have excellent state provision, I’m thinking private may hand hold a little more which I think is what she needs. Especially as the Covid disruption seems to have derailed any focus.

i may fire off a couple of emails and see if it’s even an option.