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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:
bristolpities · 29/10/2022 15:12

southlondoner02 · 21/06/2022 21:15

Schools didn't have sixth forms in the area I grew up at that time so everyone went to college. I think it was a good system to have a mix of people in the same place and was also much more independent than a school would be, which was good for the transition on the university (for those who went) and to work, I think

Same experience here. No sixth forms in the town so a choice of agricultural college or "regular" college for BTEC or A levels. We pretty much all ended up there whatever qualifications because they guaranteed an offer to anyone in our school.

TheMoops · 29/10/2022 15:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

titchy · 29/10/2022 15:20

IceMagic · 29/10/2022 15:08

By "they plan to make cuts" I mean the government. With crap news sites as their mouthpiece softening people up for further cuts affecting young people

Rumour has it the extra bit of funding unis get to cover the higher costs of providing creative arts courses are to be targeted next. Sad

Daftasabroom · 29/10/2022 15:21

Sixth form is outdated. College all the way.

bruffin · 29/10/2022 16:04

Daftasabroom · 29/10/2022 15:21

Sixth form is outdated. College all the way.

Depends where you live!
As said above our local college doesn't do A levels

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 29/10/2022 17:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I`m not a troll and i object to you calling me stupid.

OP posts:
pointythings · 29/10/2022 18:19

You may not be stupid, but you seem unable to grasp the concept of choice and why it matters.

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 29/10/2022 18:36

pointythings · 29/10/2022 18:19

You may not be stupid, but you seem unable to grasp the concept of choice and why it matters.

I do understand choice.

It gives you the opportunity to do what you are interested and passionate about

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 29/10/2022 18:39

thistimeiknowitsforreal · 29/10/2022 18:36

I do understand choice.

It gives you the opportunity to do what you are interested and passionate about

Show quote history

Good.

So we all now agree that students should be able to choose the establishment and courses they feel best suit them at age 16?

Super.

wonders what the last 400 posts have been about

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 29/10/2022 18:42

TeenDivided · 29/10/2022 18:39

Good.

So we all now agree that students should be able to choose the establishment and courses they feel best suit them at age 16?

Super.

wonders what the last 400 posts have been about

Show quote history

But still have to do something practical from a list of possibilities.

Is that still having a choice Yes/No ?

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 29/10/2022 18:48

No that's not having a choice.
That is forcing people do do something they don't want to do and because the time is finite, it also means they have to not do something they do want to do.

You haven't made your case at all as to why that should be beneficial.

Now if you set up a different thread saying that at GCSE level (where remember G stands for General) kids should have to take a practical subject as a BTEC alongside GCSEs, you might find people are more likely to at least consider it as potentially beneficial. (Even though just like making an MFL compulsory it won't be liked as not all students would be suitable.)

namechange085 · 29/10/2022 18:54

It is funny this thread has come up. Me and DH went to sixth form and then onto University due to this attitude (early 2000s). We both regret it and DH in particular wishes he had done an apprenticeship

TheMoops · 29/10/2022 18:57

But still have to do something practical from a list of possibilities.

Is that still having a choice Yes/No ?

Not really. What if you don't want to do something practical?

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 29/10/2022 19:02

TheMoops · 29/10/2022 18:57

But still have to do something practical from a list of possibilities.

Is that still having a choice Yes/No ?

Not really. What if you don't want to do something practical?

It is still a choice.

You can do different things.

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 29/10/2022 19:03

namechange085 · 29/10/2022 18:54

It is funny this thread has come up. Me and DH went to sixth form and then onto University due to this attitude (early 2000s). We both regret it and DH in particular wishes he had done an apprenticeship

I agree that all options should be presented to y11s.

This is where I mention the Hants system where everyone has to make an active choice about where to go next, so people don't blindly just stay on at school and do A levels without thinking or because they want to 'stay with their friends'.

inthemiddlepiggyinthemiddle · 29/10/2022 19:05

I was told if you wanted A levels you went to 6th form, wanted to learn a trade or vocation - college. Mind you this was in the 70s. Can't believe they are still saying this!

TeenDivided · 29/10/2022 19:09

OP. As I said earlier I did Maths, Further Maths & Physics for A level.

If I had had to do <random practical course> then I would have had to not do FM or Physics. If I hadn't done FM I wouldn't have been able to do the maths degree I did. Physics supported that degree, or I might have decided to do engineering or computer science with those A levels, though I wouldn't have been able to do the engineering quite possibly without the Physics.

So by forcing a practical course you will be reducing choice as to what the student can then go on to do at university.

TeenDivided · 29/10/2022 19:10

inthemiddlepiggyinthemiddle · 29/10/2022 19:05

I was told if you wanted A levels you went to 6th form, wanted to learn a trade or vocation - college. Mind you this was in the 70s. Can't believe they are still saying this!

They aren't really saying that. You can do A levels at a college in lots of parts of the country.

TheMoops · 29/10/2022 19:32

It is still a choice.

You can do different things.

Young people already have a choice. We don't need to make vocational education compulsory.

pointythings · 29/10/2022 20:07

Is that still having a choice Yes/No ?

No, it is removing choice. It is forcing someone to do a course they do not want. Honestly, I despair.

DorritLittle · 29/10/2022 20:10

A lot has changed since most of us went to school. In my area barely any schools have a sixth form. The few colleges are mostly exceptionally good.

TheMoops · 30/10/2022 11:02

I agree that all options should be presented to y11s.

Schools have a legal obligation to make sure their students are aware of all available options. It's called The Baker Clause and it's something that Ofsted will check as part of their inspection.

Original poster
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 30/10/2022 13:16

TheMoops · 30/10/2022 11:02

I agree that all options should be presented to y11s.

Schools have a legal obligation to make sure their students are aware of all available options. It's called The Baker Clause and it's something that Ofsted will check as part of their inspection.

So why not have more vocational offerings ?

OP posts:
TheMoops · 30/10/2022 13:20

So why not have more vocational offerings ?

Like what?

TeenDivided · 30/10/2022 13:21

What more vocational offering do you want?
There are loads. These are just off the top of my head:
Plumbing, Bricklaying, construction
Hair & beauty
health & Social care
Animal care, Equine
Agriculture
Business
Computing
Engineering
Motor mechanics
Sports / outdoor pursuits
Uniformed public services
Travel & Tourism
Childcare
Hospitality & Catering