Alton College v Peter Symonds

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If we were to move to Alresford, which 6th form college would DC go to?
Any experiences of either would be grateful.
Thhavkyou.

Probably PS from Alresford I would think by default, but DC could apply to both. If you look on respective websites you should be able to see travel routes etc. Even if you live in Winchester you don't have to go to PS if you prefer somewhere else.
(Haven't had dc at PS myself though did look round and friends kids have gone there).

You can apply to a number (Barton Peveril is another) and decide as late as August

Exactly. DD1 applied to PS, BP and Brock.

People go to PS from a vast catchment area, but ultimately it’s what suits your child.

I’ve heard of PS, but what sort of dc would suit Alton?

OK, I have just done a very very quick look at Alton. It seems to provide a mix of A levels and vocational T-levels/BTECs. PS is more A levels with a v. few non-A level courses. My guess is Alton is smaller than PS (mainly because PS is giant).

So who would suit Alton better?

• anyone wanting to do the courses Alton offers that PS doesn't.
• anyone wanting a smaller college for any reason
• anyone for whom the travel to Alton is easier than to PS
• anyone who wants to do the A levels Alton offers (haven't looked, guess PS offers a wider range, could be wrong)
• no idea who has better pastoral care

OP. What you do is in y10 you go to the open days (autumn or spring or summer) and you look round with your DC. They get a 'feel' for the different places and see what courses are on offer. Then you go again Autumn of y11 before putting in applications.

How old are your DC?

Many friends’ children have attended these colleges over the past fifteen years and, apart from the subjects on offer, their choice was based on whether they favoured the smaller Alton or the larger PS, which (like Farnborough Sixth Form) is more like a uni campus than a college -if you know what I mean. Alton can seem less intimidating to those from smaller schools.

However, I’d say the other main difference is that PS has students from a much wider area (even if you don’t count the Falklander boarders!) because of its reputation and place in the league tables. Although -if Oxbridge is on your radar - I wouldn’t necessarily be too swayed by the “number” of pupils getting into Oxbridge -as a percentage of pupils it’s not really any higher to comparable colleges in the area.

As a postscript: friends living in Alresford have tended to go to BP.

I think they are both very good. DS applied to Alton, but went to QMC in Basingstoke, mainly because transport was easier and they offered three different history courses. He really liked Alton too.

Which is easier to get to? Alresford only has the steam railway so it would be bus?

My (second) cousin went to Oxford from Alton. A running friend's kids are at/have been to PS and seem to be happy.

Barton Peveril is miles away!

maybe not that far - but PS or Alton would be nearer

What subjects does he want to Do? Different 6th forms vary in what they offer so it may be worth looking into this as a deciding factor.