Looking at 6th forms, Autumn 2018 start

[lljkk]

Anyone fancy a chat?

Just curious what you'd say, Splat! Might be useful for anyone torn between 2 similar choices to ponder.

Do you allow your kids to take more than 3 A-levels, Splat? I feel slightly irritated at DD hearing so many neg. comments about 4 A-levels. 4 is right for some kids.

I feel like DD is an over-excited horse & I'm just along for the ride, at the moment.

So we've seen both sixth forms now and dd is leaning towards the sixth form college that's further away. She would have to get the grades.
I think for two reasons a. She could do the subject combinations she wanted and that's looking unlikely at current school and b. It was so busy and upbeat.
The school was just a bit boring and more about making sure you have lots if choices if your gcses dont pan out. Even going to see the subject teachers was a bit flat.
Both are oversubscribed so neither has to 'sell' themselves.
So she's going to apply to both and see what happens and work hard to get the grades she needs. It's certainly motivated her though!

Just took DS2 to his second open evening. They started with the speeches, which were fine; the head girl's speech was very good.

Individual departments then held 'Why you should do our subject at A-level' talks. These seemed mostly aimed at internal candidates, who made up the majority of the young people there.

I had to stand through both sessions as there were no seats left even though we arrived several minutes before the start (this has happened in DS2's current school, for example at information evenings about school trips, but a student always stands up to offer me their seat).

DS2 already knows what subjects he wants to do at A-level. We were not offered a tour of the school, so he has only seen the hall and two classrooms (we gave up and went home after the second subject talk).

On a positive note, both of the teachers giving the individual subject talks seemed engaging and enthusiastic.

So DS2 now has:

Plan A: Current school, great sixth form, guaranteed offer, perfect for him, high grade requirements.

Plan B: School further away, great sixth form, might get offer, slightly lower grade requirements.

Plan C: Closest school, good sixth form, very likely to get offer, high grade requirements.

splatattack

Could you help with Pros and cons of big and specialised sixth form college vs smaller (but good) sixth form in a school.

Splat: what do you make of the EPQ? At one 6th form we're considering, it's compulsory.

I really like the EPQ..students get to research something they are genuinely interested in, they pick up great skills and universities are really starting to take notice of it. I have seen some universities give lower offers based on the EPQ. However, your child will need to be an independent worker and really reflect on the process to get a decent grade. I've been an EPQ supervisor for a couple of years and I love it!

Iijkk - we encourage our students to get three really good grade A-Levels rather than pushing them for 4, and we are a really good school. Universities are not asking for more than 3 so there really is little point doing more than this unless you are really bright and able and need tonne stretched and challenged. Many L6 like to start with 4 (esp if they are trying new 6th form only subjects like economics or psychology) so that they can explore new A-level subjects and still have the freedom to drop one if things aren't what they seem. It is a HUGE jump from GCSE to A-Level so this can help a little...

Here's one for you, Splat :).
DD's applied for 6th form.
(Maybe 1 week ago, not saying it was ages ago, there is no application deadline).

DD's mate applied to same 6th form 3 days later.
Mate has had confirmation from the 6th form, maybe an invite to interview.
DD has heard nothing in reply.
How long do we leave it for DD to send a follow up query to the 6th form?

Thanks!

ps: we are touring posh private 6th form on Monday... I think. They didn't send a clear confirmation message. I don't feel like I've had a clear confirmation that they expect us. Hmmm

Iijkk I would give them a quick call if you are concerned. Remember it is them trying to get your daughter in their school/college just as much it you trying to get your daughter in. The private college should have a decent admissions department who will be able to answer your call straight away.

We've looked round 2 last week and have 2 to look round next week (1 of which is her current school). Problem here is lack of realistic choice. Despite the fact that all dc now have to stay in some kind of education or training until they are 18, 6th forms seem to be closing .

dds options are all selective, or a vocational college, or stay where she is.

We don't have much choice either really and all realistic options are a journey

What options do you wish there were, Back4Good, that your DC doesn't have?

Our DC don't really HAVE to stay in education or training. If they don't, nothing happens except mailshots & phone calls from the council. I speak from recent experience.

DD feels a bit torn as diverse yr11 friends talk about going off in all directions. One lad leans on her emotionally. He'll be disappointed if they go to different 6thF (don't worry, she will do what's best for herself! Just wondering how to still support him, too). She can be a great friend. :)

I'd like to see more 6th form places for dc that achieve around the mix of 5s, 6s, and 7s at GCSE. The selective 6th form option here realistically only offering places for mix of 8s and 9s. dc who get 6s and 7s should still be able to study A-levels IMO.

Are all 4 of the 6thFs you're looking at selective, B4G?

Does a single selective 6thFm cream off all the most able kids which makes the other 6thFms get much lower results so they look rubbish on paper?

There is her school (non selective) and then there are the 3 others we've looked at which are selective. However, that is the problem - we are struggling for other options. Two other local schools have recently closed their 6th forms, two more never had them, one other we tried doens't do the subjects she wants to do (Sciences, so not a weird combination), so there aren't the choices for us to look at - it's not that we have only chosen to look at selective, there just aren't the comprehensive 6th form places there used to be.

Maybe it is just where we live? It just seems odd that 6th forms are closing / places are getting fewer at a time when they want more people to stay in education whether they follow it up or not.

I wonder what other kids with your DD's range of results will do. What have other parents told you, or does the school know?

We have an problem I’d love advice from you wise people if possible please.

Currently live overseas. Moving back to England next year. DD is 16 and has just done igcses. She’s pretty much done with school, too many changes and MH issues, and it’s amazing she’s made it this far, to be honest. Another change may be one too far but we have no choice with our return.

Are there time scales to applying for a 6th form place? Same with a college? We will be pretty rural when we return, public transport is awful.

Will anyone actually notice if she doesn’t go to school any more? Only half joking here, it’s been a very tough few years.

Just on timing - individual sixth form have their own closing dates so you have to check the websites. Further education colleges tend to keep enrolling into the first couple of weeks of the academic year (and longer in some cases) so much less of a panic!

We went through it all last year for DD16 - she moved to a Grammar 6th form which has been fab for her.

DD15 is looking at either staying on at her perfectly good comp - entry requirements are 5 x grade 5 at GCSE with 6 for most subjects, 7 for maths.

Or moving to the grammar 6th form her sister is at - 5x grade7 with 7 for most subjects, 8 for Maths or Music.

Alternate I am going through the same process. DD and I have just been back looking at sixth forms and registering for our favorites. Loose is right on timings some of the top private schools have closed now the ones we are looking at (day selective private) are January. Our state back ups are later February/March. I actually fully believe no one would notice if my DD didn’t go to sixth form she is not in the UK system we don’t claim any benefits for her . I don’t believe the systems are in place to monitor attendance yet. My dd has also had a number of changes (3 secondary schools in 3 countries)and was not looking forward to another move but looking at the schools last week (we are purposely are targeting smaller sixth forms as they suit her better)she is much more positive

The sixth forms at our local schools have application deadlines in December/January. The application forms are available on their websites. Historically, they have also had a few spaces open up on GCSE results day.

Can I join?
Feel like a fake MNer on this because it’s for DN not my own DC. She’s looking at a career in social work so we were discussing last night 6th form and her potentially not staying at the current school she’s at and moving schools for their 6th form (which looks far better actually).

Looked at Sociology, Psychology A level and then maybe Btec in Health and Social Care.

What are people’s thoughts? She’s expected what was B/C’s (don’t know the number equivalents )

She thinks she wants to go to uni and I need to look at alternative options if she didn’t and still wanted to go into Social Work, not sure if that’s possible.

Any advice / guidance would be appreciated. I’m pushing her to go and visit the 3 other 6th forms in the area.

I have the added decision of what course to choose as ds’s current school offers the IB programme and alternative school A levels.
Going to open evenings next week so hopefully that will give us more insight into which course is best suited to him.
Both schools are equal distances from home.