Attending sixth-form open day as a parent (without DC)?

[NewYear12UserName]

I have a DS currently in Year 8 (so will be in Year 9 when the next round of open days are for sixth-forms). He attends a state school in Hackney. He sat the entrance test for the Latymer grammar school for entry when he was in Year 7 - he did well and was on the waiting list but just missed out as the list did not go as far as where he was placed that year.

He enjoys school and we like his current school but, if am totally honest, he has always felt as though he missed out by not gaining acceptance at Latymer. And he is already asking about his chances of getting a place at sixth-form there. He is only Year 8, is a good all-rounder and is nowhere near coming to any decisions as to what his A-Level choices might be. His KS2 SATS scores were high so he is placed in top sets for all subjects at secondary and is on track so far in all assessments.

Anyway...my question is...

I know he is only Year 8 but I am already looking down the road a few years, especially as he does mention from time to time about applying for Latymer for sixth-form (several of his friends from primary go there who he is still in touch with).

I am less keen than he is on the idea of applying for Latymer for a sixth-form place but, of course if he still wanted to when the time comes then I wouldn't stand in his way. But I would also like to demonstrate to him that there are other options available - and not to put all his eggs in one basket.

We are only looking at state schools - private is not an option for us. Of course am aware that schools can change over time but I have made a list of about 7 possibilities for sixth-form and I am thinking about attending their open days - as a parent without DS for the next round (November time) just to get a feel of the different schools.

Would this be really frowned upon - attending without a DC I mean? When I looked around secondaries for Year 7 entry, I did something similar. I went to lots of school open days when DS was in Year 4 and discounted some which I was really not keen on before then going again with DS in Year 5 to a smaller selection. But obviously it is different when choosing a sixth-form place as the parent (I guess) has less of a say.

When you/your DCs went to sixth-form open days, were there any parents without DCs?

I might give it a year on the Sixth Form thing. Do you have his name down in case there is a vacancy in his year group?

Thanks, no, we don't have his name down. I guess there's no harm in asking for his name to be on an in-year admissions list. I don't think I would tell him that though - as it might get his hopes up when I know realistically the chances are slim to none. I am happy with his current secondary - he just seems to be struggling to let go a bit. A sixth-form place might bring some kind of closure - or he might be over it by then - or he might apply and be rejected again of course! What I was hoping for was to be able to show him all the other equally attractive options that are available to him - but he has to get the grades, of course. He works hard at the moment and is motivated - am just hoping that continues through the trickier teenage years.

We attended some open days without DC as we decided we wouldn't be taking him to any we didn't already like. He then went to the next ones with us having weeded out ones we weren't keen on.

There were quite a few parents only groups.

I had to attend 3 without my dd a couple of years ago as her school had arranged the foreign exchange trip over the week they were all held.
I didn't notice any funny looks at all. In all honesty, I don't think hardly anyone noticed I was there without a dc - on the ones when I did go with a dc, they go off and talk to students etc., so anyone I talk to didn't really have a clue if I was with anyone or not.
If they had, I presume they just assumed my dc couldn't make it that night. No issues.
Except I think Yr 9 is peaking a bit early.

There will be tonnes of parents at Open Day and if its a day time, you could just say you didn't want to take him out of school. I've heard of children to join a school in Year 9 if a place opens up. Its never too early to plan ahead. Entry rules change every year.

Many thanks all - you have reassured me that I won't look like a loon. DP on the other hand seems to think I have lost the plot.

I really wouldn’t. Sixth Form should be your child’s choice.

And your ds is in Year 8. It’s far too early to be thinking about Sixth Form. Your child hasn’t even made their GCSE choices year so how can they possibly think about post G C S E options?

They have to start thinking about GCSE choices in Year 9 anyway. Looking at what the GCSE's lead to might be quite motivating. Open days are often all in the same week, it can sometimes be impossible to go to them all. and its a great idea to go to them early when you don't have the pressure of making an actual application. They can be so crowded and long winded. She can eliminate the ones she knows are not suitable. Its not so much about making A level choices too far in advance as about getting a feel for the difference between a secondary sixth form, or a sixth form college and seeing what is out there. Also if she's thinking of applying for bursaries, she needs to find out early so that they can prepare the track record that bursaries often ask for.

I went to one without my daughter, mainly because I was feeling nosy. No-one batted an eyelid - I just told them she couldn't make it and I was gathering information on her behalf.

Year 8 does seem really early, though.