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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Is it true that clever people go to 6th form and people who aren't go to college

469 replies

thistimeiknowitsforreal · 21/06/2022 21:08

Evening all,

It was always drummed into me that after GCSE`s that if you are intelligent you went to or stayed at school and went to 6th form depending on your previous circumstances.

But if you weren't good enough you went to college instead.

Whats your experience in this area ?

OP posts:
Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 28/10/2022 22:31

pointythings · 28/10/2022 22:23

I am indeed. I am also very proud of my other two children who took (oldest is a graduate) or are taking the academia only route. They are all working very hard to follow their dreams and nobody is making them do bloody bricklaying when they do not want to do this!

Why not they could have built themselves a nice garden feature or done something around the house ?

OP posts:
titchy · 28/10/2022 22:37

Why not they could have built themselves a nice garden feature or done something around the house ?

Better to have paid someone though and enabled that person to earn a decent living.

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 28/10/2022 22:45

titchy · 28/10/2022 22:37

Why not they could have built themselves a nice garden feature or done something around the house ?

Better to have paid someone though and enabled that person to earn a decent living.

I`m talking about making a little rockery in the garden not building an extension so you can have a utility room.

The skills do something little like that could be empowering as opposed to say doing further maths ?

OP posts:
pointythings · 28/10/2022 22:47

How many students living in house shares do you know who are in a position to build garden features? As for doing stuff around the house - they already do.

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 28/10/2022 22:51

pointythings · 28/10/2022 22:47

How many students living in house shares do you know who are in a position to build garden features? As for doing stuff around the house - they already do.

You raise a good point there actually.

House shares, HMO`s etc people living in situations like that.

Skills like that could give them the confidence to get out of those situations, get a house that maby needs to work and be able to do bits to fix it up.

OP posts:
titchy · 28/10/2022 23:08

Skills like that could give them the confidence to get out of those situations, get a house that maby needs to work and be able to do bits to fix it up.

Gosh you really are determined to make sure that people with vocational skills must never ever make a living using them aren't you.

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 28/10/2022 23:11

titchy · 28/10/2022 23:08

Skills like that could give them the confidence to get out of those situations, get a house that maby needs to work and be able to do bits to fix it up.

Gosh you really are determined to make sure that people with vocational skills must never ever make a living using them aren't you.

When have i said that in this thread ?

OP posts:
titchy · 28/10/2022 23:12

Your entire plan to give academic kids vocational skills will mean those who specialise in vocational stuff can't earn a living cos they dont have a skill that is in demand!

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 28/10/2022 23:18

titchy · 28/10/2022 23:12

Your entire plan to give academic kids vocational skills will mean those who specialise in vocational stuff can't earn a living cos they dont have a skill that is in demand!

I somehow doubt that we will need people with vocational skills forever.

I somehow doubt we will become a race of people who are a hybrid or Stephen Hawking and Edd China

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 29/10/2022 06:34

I don't know why I keep getting sucked back into this ridiculous thread.
However for some reason I feel obliged to point out that people can learn additional skills, or indeed take additional A levels, as and when they want to later in life.

My DF studied engineering at Cambridge. He knows how to fell trees, build brick walls and, aged 92, has just removed a basin from a wall and fixed a plumbing issue .

If you aren't going to give teens free choice at 16, when are you going to?

red4321 · 29/10/2022 07:58

I don't know why I keep getting sucked back into this ridiculous thread.

I hear you. It's one of the most frustrating threads I've seen on MN. There's two controversial sentences with unsubstantiated claims lobbed in and never any supporting argument. It's not worth engaging (with or without your academic or indeed your vocational qualifications...).

red4321 · 29/10/2022 08:02

My DF studied engineering at Cambridge. He knows how to fell trees, build brick walls and, aged 92, has just removed a basin from a wall and fixed a plumbing issue .

Yes, my husband, an economics graduate from Durham, has fantastic skills in taking apart and fixing electronic devices. He's also put in two en suites from scratch, installed numerous bathrooms, is an excellent wallpaper hanger, can tile etc. Not bad for someone with economics, history and geography A levels.

TheMoops · 29/10/2022 08:11

@thistimeiknowitsforreal I really think l you need to leave giving careers advice to the professionals.

Some of your comments are absolutely ludicrous and show a complete lack of understanding of the education system and the labour market.

Vocational qualifications should be done by those who are passionate about that job or particular sector - not as an add on to someone going on to study medicine.

If people need or want to learn practical skills then they still can. It doesn't need to be a qualification or in place of another qualification that they might need for career progression.

HelpMeLoseIt · 29/10/2022 08:19

In my area it was the opposite. The 6th forms all had a poor reputation and we had some UK leading colleges in the area so if you were academically intelligent you went there.

TeenDivided · 29/10/2022 08:24

HelpMeLoseIt · 29/10/2022 08:19

In my area it was the opposite. The 6th forms all had a poor reputation and we had some UK leading colleges in the area so if you were academically intelligent you went there.

I'm not even sure whether the OP has worked out if they are ranting about 6th form v college, or A levels v Vocational qualifications.

bruffin · 29/10/2022 09:39

OP in our area all schools have 6th forms and there is one college with two campus. 6th form tends to do A levels and some BTEC .
College does vocational courses

Next county, only one 6th form so nearly everyone goes to college to do both Alevels and vocationals
DS went to 6th form did a mix of A levels and an engineering BTEC, so there is some more vocational courses.
I think there was even an experiment of sending the less academic 14 year olds to do some vocational courses at the college for a while, but dont know the outcome.

DD stayed in 6th form tried to do 5 Alevels/btecs failed so went to local college to do Health and Social care , went to a Russell Group that was top in the country for her course and got a First, now a professional health care worker.

I was quite sad at the low expectations of the college. She was out of the country when she got her results for her BTEC. She had completed it a term early so she could work abroad for summer.
They called up , not bothering to find up if she passed or failed and asked if they could help with clearing or what to do next. It wasnt a mistake , it was just an automatic phone call because they had low expectations of her students.

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 29/10/2022 10:41

Ok i give up.

Everyone is against my idea.

Perhaps academic and vocational/practical should not mix.

OP posts:
bruffin · 29/10/2022 11:18

thistimeiknowitsforreal · 29/10/2022 10:41

Ok i give up.

Everyone is against my idea.

Perhaps academic and vocational/practical should not mix.

what are you going on about.

Calandor · 29/10/2022 11:39

No. I went to a sixth form college which was both lol.

But either way lots of smart people go into the trades through college because there's plenty of money in it, easy to get work and they don't want to work behind a desk or have loads of debt.

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 29/10/2022 12:24

bruffin · 29/10/2022 11:18

what are you going on about.

Show quote history

Well everyone on here is of the opinion of never the twain shall meet.

OP posts:
Fingernails4Cash · 29/10/2022 12:28

I did academic a levels at a college, not 6th form. My personal circumstances led me there. But I didn't want to be at school any more for sure.
I got 3 As and now I'm a lawyer 🤷‍♀️

TheMoops · 29/10/2022 12:46

Well everyone on here is of the opinion of never the twain shall meet.

No, people are against making vocational education compulsory.

If someone wants to take a purely academic route then they shouldn't be forced to pick a vocational subject just for the sake of it.

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 29/10/2022 12:57

TheMoops · 29/10/2022 12:46

Well everyone on here is of the opinion of never the twain shall meet.

No, people are against making vocational education compulsory.

If someone wants to take a purely academic route then they shouldn't be forced to pick a vocational subject just for the sake of it.

And not against making academic compulsory ? funny that

OP posts:
titchy · 29/10/2022 13:09

And not against making academic compulsory ?

Confused No one wants to make academic compulsory for 16 year olds. In fact academics aren't suitable for some younger kids either - no one is arguing they should be forced.

TheMoops · 29/10/2022 13:38

And not against making academic compulsory ? funny that

Nobody has suggested making academic subjects compulsory!

However, You have suggested multiple times that young people should be forced into vocational careers or training.

YOU are the only person suggesting that people should be forced to study particular things.

The rest of us believe young people should be able to choose based on their interests and abilities.