Esher college

[dontknowwhatimdoing04]

DS currently in year 10 at a private school and looking likely he won't be able to stay there for 6th form, should pass 9 gcses but none of them likely to be strong enough to do A levels in at current school as 7s required and also actually not sure the subjects he would like to do are there (doesn't know what he would like to do!). He has no idea what he wants to do in the future as a career. Going to see Esher on 1 July at open day but have heard mixed things about it. Results look ok but have heard there is a drink and drug problem there (to be fair that seems London wide and at current school!) but he's definitely not self motivated with his work -anyone out there who's kids have been there with first hand advice?

Most students who aren't self motivated struggle at college, due to the hands off approach compared to schools and sixth forms. Are A Levels the best choice for him? Look at other qualifications for post 16 if he's unlikely to get at least 6s and 7s

Thanks point8 but where’s he going to do these other qualifications? Colleges seem most likely you need to be self motivated 😬

If you are close to Esther then I'd also look at Brooklands (for vocational qualifications) and Woking.
All schools and colleges have drink and drugs. And Sixth Form has a lot of 18th parties.

Three years ago now but Esher was great for my DD, but she was motivated. The college policy seems to be pretty tough if your DC is not achieving though, being thrown out after poor results (and warnings!) is usual. Very good support into uni, not great if that’s not your path.
Lots of well off students, partying hard.
A lot of freedom, not ideal if your DS is likely to be distracted. But who knows, he might thrive!

My dd has just finished at Esher. Agree that it is pretty much like anywhere else in terms of parties etc. There are hundreds of students in each year so a bigger variety of people than you get in a school. My dd found that a lot of people went with a big cohort from their secondary school and stuck together (as did she) so not sure how it is socially to turn up there not knowing anyone. No problems with drink or drugs that I have heard of in the last 2 years but it's not in any way the same flow of information as at a school - you are very detached and you don't hear about this sort of thing unless your child is involved or it's something really major. I agree that Esher is quite strict about students turning up to lessons and handing work in. Some of the teachers are excellent as they specialise in A level so really know what they are talking about. The entry requirements are not particularly high but a lot of students seem to have much better GCSE results than the minimum and to do very well in terms of going on to university.

DD is currently at Esher and enjoys it very much, coming from a private boys only school. Not much of a struggle as his school got him into the habit of discipline, respect and hard work, not much partying either. There were a few from his school but they are all now in different streams and he made lots of new friends. He didn’t do particularly well at GCSEs so currently doing BTEC + 1 A-Level. Teaching seems generally good.

If he's not self motivated, Esher might be a hard place to be as it is huge and all the onus is on the student to get on with it. Less cosseting than school. Have you looked at Hinchley Wood sixth form? Not far at all form esher College and much smaller and more nurturing.

Might Hurtwood House be a possibility? They are much more relaxed about entry requirements for the right kids and the A level results they get show great value added.

DS1 has applied here for next year. Is the teaching good and do they have fairly low staff turnover?

I have DS there, and would NOT send him there again. The school is very-hands-off, parent interaction is low-to-zero and drugs (including a 2016 pupil death) available. We complained that their safeguarding was insufficient but got the answer that since they are an academy, then the law does not apply to them. Be aware that the previous college was a 6-form college, the previous-college was a school , and it was that school got a good OFSTED rating (12 year ago), and there as been no OFSTED inspection of this academy at all to date. Teaching? DS went with 12 good GCSE and prospects of Cambridge, now it is B's and perhaps Leeds or similar. Disappointing, too late to move, just got to get it over with.

I really would not recommend Esher College unfortunately. Unless your child is a grade A student who is able to sail through their a-levels with no additional support, then this is not the place. Pastoral care is terrible!! Counsellors are nice enough, but the actual support they are able to offer is minimal to none. College offers no leniency whatsoever when a child is experiencing mental health difficulties. My daughter went from 5 A*s at GCSE to Ds and Es at end of first year (resulting in her eventually having to drop out), all because the college were unwilling to support her with something as common as anxiety. Despite being presented with a doctors note recommending that her a-level examinations were deferred for a year (giving her a chance to work on her mental health), the college refused to offer my daughter a place for the following year. It seems the college saw her as a liability to their results, and would rather just get rid!!