Sixth Form Oversubscribed

[OneGladHedgehog]

Hi - any advice would be very welcome please 😊

We have recently moved house (July 24) from out of area for the 2 local 6th Forms. My DD is 17 and just finished an apprenticeship. She would now like to do her A levels at college having been home schooled for GCSEs due to a serious eating disorder.

DD is now recovering well, thankfully. We have applied to the 2 nearest 6th form colleges and been rejected from both due to having a late application (closure was Jan 24 but we were not living in the area) and that they are both oversubscribed. She has the GCSE grades to do the courses she wants.

I'm trying to work out what options are available and whether it would be worth appealing against their decisions. Or if they are oversubscribed, is that it - no chance to apply? The next nearest college is 18 miles away and it would take 1.5 hours on the bus each way to get there. It is also mainly an agricultural college with only around 150 students doing A Levels.

Time is now running out and we are both worried about how DD will have a chance to do A Levels...

Thank you 😊

Are there no other further education colleges in the area? What was her apprenticeship in? I think it's relatively unusual to go from an apprenticeship to A levels. They're generally seen as an either or.

Hi @Lougle - Thanks for replying - the further education colleges do not do A Levels around here so I don't think it's an option. Her apprenticeship was in equine groom L3 which she did whilst she was recovering from her eating disorder. She was unable to go to mainline school whilst she was unwell, hence the home schooling then apprenticeship.

Are there any schools with 6th forms?

Its like it here too - admissions lady told me they had loads moving from the private sector.

Does she specifically need A-levels for what she wants to do afterwards? If she wants to go to university it doesn't always have to be A-levels.
Could she look at other qualifications (btec etc) that will be available at colleges.

Which area is this.

A level 3 apprenticeship counts as 2 A level passes already.
I would check with UCAS, but your dd may qualify for some university foundation courses now on the basis of the apprenticeship.

And if she already has a level 3 qualification, is she actually entitled to essentially 'do sixth form' again now? Would the college get funding for her to do this, regardless of whether there were places on the desired A level courses?

Thank you for all your replies.
@MiseryIn unfortunately not, all the secondary school feed into the 2 6th form colleges.
@Needmorelego and @catndogslife she's wanting to do medicine after all the care that she's received so yes, she does need A Levels unless she waits until 19 to do an access course. She's missed so much social interaction and has really no friends after home schooling and this is another reason she wants to do 6th Form.
@Muchtoomuchtodo and @feelsbadouthere we are now in Winchester, Hampshire.
@MarchingFrogs I hadn't thought about that. Neither of the 6th Forms have mentioned it as being a reason not to though. They both said she needs to start now so she can be finished by 19 when funding stops.

I've contacted both again just in case but otherwise I'm not that hopeful tbh...

Have you looked at colleges further afield, but accessible by train - like Queen Marys in Basingstoke (an excellent school) or Farnborough 6th?

I am not sure a Further Education College would get funding for a second level 3 qualification pre 19. Although it might depend on the size of the qualification as is she is only 17 (level 2 and 3 usually takes 3 years). I am assuming she has GCSE Maths and English? (you don't mention these). College/Sixth form will consider 'job done' and you are unlikely to get a place.

Could you afford private school for 2 years?

Could she board near a college?

Have you tried Barton in Eastleigh? Easily accessible by train from Winchester.

Have the said if there’s any chance of a place becoming available next week, I know lots of kids who had places at QMC and PSC and were waiting until after results to decide. It may be they account for that in deciding numbers anyway?

Often lots of movement in first weeks sixth form. Get on wait lists

Yes get on waiting lists.

She might be able to take the Access course at 18. My nephew had a Level 3 in Sports Science and then wanted to become a physiotherapist which meant he needed to either take A level in Chemistry and Biology or Access to HE Science. He preferred the Access course as it was 1 year rather than 2 years for the A levels but he was 18 at the start of term. I contact the awarding body for Access to ask. They said they were fine at under 19's taking an Access course if it was the right choice academically. He did a letter (bit like a personal statement) with his application to the local college and was accepted. He has just completed his Physio degree and has a job with NHS. I would contact the FE colleges and see if your daughter can have an appointment with the careers adviser to look at all the options.

Hampshire is a Sixth Form/College only county and there are lots of them. I'm really surprised that your 2 closest (presumably PSC and Barton Peverill?) wouldn't take a late application - there always seems to be a lot of shifting around even in early Sept. It's not unusual for kids to travel an hour or so to College - have you tried some a bit further away like HSDC in Havant or Alton, QMC in Basingstoke or Farnborough Sixth Form?

Will the council get involved at all? It seems unfair if there's no provision for kids moving into the county and trying to access post-16 education.

I would appeal their decision and make a lot of "noise" about it, complain to the Council, tell them what your DD's plans are and be firm. I hope you succeed. Your DD's future career is important.

We're in Dorset, Weymouth area, and DD has been attending Weymouth College. She was home educated too until that point. She went in with just Functional Skills, did her English & Maths GCSEs there and a L3 course. She's now got a place at University.

I would definitely look at QMC, it’s an easy walk from Basingstoke train station and there are quite frequent trains from Winchester.

I live very close to you. So have Barton Peveril and Peter Symonds both said they're full?

Just to add, my DC has just this week rejected a place at Symonds, so as per PP there is definitely movement.

Having said that, I know at the taster days the students were told there were some courses that were full and if they changed their minds on their subject choices the options would be limited.
You need to find out whether it's a general thing or whether it's specific courses with no space.

Thanks again for all your replies. And good news today! Barton P emailed earlier today and have said they will accept a late application and DD has a meeting with them tomorrow 😊Such a relief! So as you say, there is movement, it's just last-minute!
The advice on this forum is great - I've never posted before but you've all been very helpful.

They did both originally say they were full but today BP said they will consider a late application. PS haven't replied yet