Open Evening in College/Sixth Form - what to ask and check

[Thesunisshining888]

The title says it all.
We are going to visit sixth forms and colleges for my DS alevels.

It is my first time and no idea what to ask and check.

Can anyone give me tips to have a successful visit?

Hi,

It's quite hard to give an answer which isn't 'it depends'. I think the great thing about post-16 is that you have a much better chance of finding provision to suit the individual.

So, for example, DD is a confident and fairly extrovert high-achiever who is hoping to do medicine at university. For her, she wanted somewhere with the chance to make new friends, have lots of opportunities in terms of trips, enrichment etc and also support and experience with medical school applications. She's at a large 6th form college doing the IB.

DN1 is very bright but has had difficulties with exam-related anxiety and isn't especially self-confident. She has ended up at a large school sixth form (not her original school), with really good pastoral support and excellent music facilities (her passion). It feels like a good fit for her, but actually she ended up there mainly because the 6th form college couldn't guarantee she'd be able to do one of her subjects.

DN2 is smart, but not especially driven. He's a creature of habit and likes to stay within his comfort zone. He's thriving at the very small sixth form attached to the school they all attended - I think there are around 30 kids in his year, including his group of close friends.

What I'm trying to convey with that, is that what works is going to depend on finding a good fit. So, the 'feel' is important. I'd also want to know about the flexibility to switch subjects in the first few weeks, pastoral support, class sizes, support with university applications and support with alternatives to university. How much independent study you're expected to do, and how you're supported to transition to that way of working. Also, if it's a school sixth form, what the shape of it is - is it mostly people who've been there for years, or mostly new intake, or a mix. Enrichment/extracurricular opportunities (again this is likely to be individual). How long the day is and what the options are for free periods (if you do 3 A Levels there will be quite a few). Transport - costs/frequency/options if you don't want to go in first thing or have an early finish.
Staff recruitment/retention is important at the moment too - I think especially if doing STEM subjects, but possibly applies to other things too.
I'm sure there's more...but that's some initial thoughts

imo You are trying to check 2 things

1. Will the courses themselves suit the DC
2. Will the institution suit the DC.

So for 1 the DC needs to be checking what is taught and will it be interesting. Some subjects such as History may have loads of unit options that the department has to choose, so check whether eg it is Tudor History or 20th C. Check how it is examined etc etc.
If it is a new subject eg Philosophy check the content, look at any revision guides or student work and think would this actually be interesting, or is it only bright and shiny.
Also entry criteria for the subject.

For the institution think about things like:
Travel (incl cost, buses), Extra curricular, EPQs, start with 3 or 4, Pastoral care, Support for uni applications, Timetable & Rules (uniform, dress code, trapped time, allowed off site etc), visibility to parents (can you see attendance, test scores, do you get a parents evening)

Do they e-mail students and/or parents well in advance of their mocks?

Do they have a chance to improve their predicted grades in October of Y13 (from reading on here some schools don't do that).

Do they recommend lots of super-curricular activities, videos, lectures, reading lists etc specific to your future studies? Do they bother to know your future study interest early on?

Do they ask well in advance who is an early applicant, what they want to study and inform about different extra tests required by some top universities or for specific university courses?

Do they have a dedicated careers' service?

Do they give work experience dates and links or insights events for degree apprenticeships and local companies? (There are grammars where you have to find everything by yourself and ask you the last moment about any tests that you must have figured out by yourself if you should sit them while at the same time there are comprehensives which have great industry links, know all the big companies virtual insight events, apprenticeships coming out etc)

Do they have a list of questions they will be asking their students in order to write their references? Will students be able to have the list in advance so they know what they should be doing outside of school?

Do they allow 4 A levels (if that's what you want to do)?

Do they force the 3-A Level students to take up an EPC? (I have no idea if it's any good, it might give you research abilities and knowledge to talk about in your PS but most universities don't take it itself into account).

thank you so much. This is so useful

@Thesunisshining888 I would want to see the results for the A levels he wants to take. Plus their track record for any career he might want. Try and judge quality of teaching because that’s what matters most. You might get differences in exam boards but if you don’t get a well taught syllabus, it will lead to lower results.

Look at other dc there. Does the place feel purposeful? Are Dc like your DC? Does the school/college aim high? If a school, what are GCSE results like? What GCSE grades does he need to get accepted? Being happy matters but you need great teaching too.

How involved do they expect parents to be

Are they required to stay on site during free periods

How many free hours per week

How many contact hours per subject

How many further hours of study on top are expected

What sort of clubs are offered and are they open to all, or is the Drama production initially only open to to those doing Drama/performing Arts subjects

Are they required to take extra curriculars

Do they have tutor groups

Can students park on site

Do they offer catch up classes/revision sessions

If your dc is struggling Will their teacher be available to help

Go to each subject and listen to the teacher's talk. They will most likely cover the topic itself (for history for example there are huge varieties in the three 6th forms we saw), give an idea how many exams they have to do and how they expect the student to work.

Ask about coursework, DD decided not to do English as that would have meant three subjects with coursework.

See how the teacher is interacting with the visitors and also the 6th formers in attendance. It says a lot how the class vibe will be.

How many lessons per week and how much is expected to be done at home/during free periods. DD has 15 lessons in school and is expected to do the same during her free periods/at home.

How many mocks and when?

Dress code

Trips, are they expected to go, during school days or during holidays?

If the school is single sex and 6th form co-ed, what is the percentage in the school in general and in each subject? One of DD's friends decided against a boy secondary as the STEM subjects were quite male-heavy, around 75% are boys and she felt she would be more comfortable in the girls' school 6th form.

Can students park on site?? What an amazing privilege! Can you imagine 300 6th formers all having cars? The mind boggles.

They could at the agricultural college my DD was at.

Is an agricultural college a 6th form for A levels? That was the question. Many schools don’t have enough parking for teachers!

Ask about the likelihood of being able to do particular A-level combinations. A couple of my DC's friends were only informed after applying and accepting a place that their chosen combinations weren't available. They would have applied elsewhere had they know.

They could at the state sixth form mine went to as well! It's actually only year 13s that do so given year 12s won't have had time to become 17 and have lessons and pass tests. And many year 13s won't drive, so not that many really.

I’ve never ever seen a school with enough parking for pupil’s cars. They do have pupils who drive and they clog the roads near the schools which annoys neighbours. Obviously schools in rich areas have pupils with cars but it’s not desirable to encourage car use.

I really would not make parking for pupils a high priority when choosing a school though. What matters is quality of teaching. Every time.

Unless you live in the arse end of nowhere and your kid has no option but to drive (or be driven), in which case the teaching can be amazing, but if you can't get there it's a bit pointless.

Some excellent advice here. I would also ask about combinations of subjects and whether there are restrictions on this. I know the college my dc went to was so large they could pretty much accommodate any combination of subjects, but this may not be the case in a smaller college.

Also ask about support for uni applications, apprenticeships etc. What is the process the college use, who writes the references, are there workshops and talks on the options post A level.

A-Level results can be irrelevant if they are very selective. As a pp mentioned will there be a timetable clash for DS's choices?

I think an awful lot of practical info like UCAS and careers advice is on line via a 6th form info tab. Many of the 6th forms near me provide a detailed prospectus on subjects and advice they give. Smaller 6th forms may well have combination restrictions and have a smaller choice of subjects. I’ve seen quite detailed info on how subjects are grouped and chosen at 6th forms. We don’t have huge 6th form colleges where I live so no one gets lots of niche subjects anyway. I would look closely at results for subjects too. Don’t choose something where a A or B is a rarity!

@TizerorFizz my son's sixth form is in a commercial office building, not on a school site. It not only looks incredible, it really is incredible. Glass walled class rooms, quiet study spaces, massive banks of desks with computers, chatting areas with tables and chairs for socialising and a mezzanine with more classrooms up there. It has a gym too. There are probably 200 car parking spaces, staff only and entry is through security for the site so no students taking spaces up.

Believe it or not it is a state school with low entry requirements of 5 x grade 4 and obviously very sought after due to both the uni application stream and the apprenticeship/job stream boosted by their connections with local businesses which lead to jobs. Emphasis on the individual. Great transport links too with both train and bus stops very near. Lots of kids don't want it though because they won't let you wear ripped jeans so that is their priority. Academically it performs well.

@Thesunisshining888 I would be looking closely at entry grades for subjects and what the usual projection is coming out the other side. Maths typically drops 2 grades so a 7 at GCSE would probably be a C/D at A level. What support is offered to students? Both academic and pastoral/mental health. My son's sixth form has a free counselling service, it is a very caring place in terms of looking after the children whatever their situation.

Also how often are they assessed for progress and what information is given out to parents about their child in terms of performance, attitude to learning etc. Ours is hot on nipping things in the bud fast, so not completed homework? More what can we do to facilitate you completing it rather than punishment for not doing it. There is intervention time timetabled in for this to support students.

Ask what was last year's pass rate at different grades. Will the teachers at Open Evening be the same ones teaching your D's next year? How many hours per week is taught for each A level? How many hours of self directed study do they recommend per subject? How many students are in each subject class this year? It's usually similar numbers each year. Will your son have opportunity to do Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in addition to A levels? Do they do DofE? Which specification for each subject. Write answers down as you go. Which text book do they use? If your son wants to go there then buy the text books so he can read ahead.

Let you dc take the lead, it's their choice. Obviously accompany them but really there's nothing you should be asking, they should be checking what electives are available on modules and whether their chosen combination is likely to be viable

I was just going to post about permitted and available combinations.

From bitter experience, DO NOT take their word for it at the open day or during interview. Insist on an email from the college Principal / Head, including telling you what will actually happen if your DC turns up for Day 1 and that combination is, for some reason, no longer permitted or available.

A 16 year old really doesn't need to be hearing, 'oh well so-and-so shouldn't have told you that'.

Good luck and the all the best!

@AutumnCrow it's strange, isn't it? The colleges, even the very good ones, largely seem focused on slotting students in. For lots of DC if you really wanted to do Maths/French/History at St Cakes, then the next best thing might not be Maths/German/RE at St Cakes, but Maths/French/History at Bog Standard Comp.

DC1 had a nerve-wracking experience on her induction day when they announced that she had a clash, and would she consider a different subject. Luckily this was sorted out, but it was a horrible wait.

Well, DD didn't have had a clue about 6th form at the first school we visited.

No idea how A-Levels work, no idea about things like coursework and combinations.

I think as parent it is my job to help her ask the right questions.

At open evening no. 2 DD was already more clued in and but unfortunately the teachers weren't interested in talking to the potential students. It was like getting water out of a stone.

Yes, they need to take initiatives but they also need to know what questions to ask and maybe get a helping hand/nudge from a parent.