Grammar school vs comprehensive for 6th form

[Catscakeandcoffeee]

Anyone got any thoughts on grammar vs comprehensive for the 6th form
with a view to study Medicine?

I think it will depend on the actual schools.

The grammar may have higher entrance requirements which may mean a more capable peer group on average which may be good for an aspiring medic.

Some schools have different rules on 4th A levels, EPQs too.

You need to look at quality of teaching but also how the 6th formers are treated. Eg do they need to be present all day, are they Subject to rules like asking permission to take a jumper off, wear uniform etc etc.

Also travel time, support for uni applications.

It will depend on the schools themselves and how much support they can provide.

My DC went to single sex Grammars that had many go to Medical School. Of DD's main friendship group 6/8 are medics. Both schools provided lots of support for med school and Oxbridge.

However as an observer although the academics are very important the DC also need experience of working in medical environments. DD's best friend volunteered in a care home, another did St John's Ambulance.

Compare the results and go to the one that gets the best.

Something it may be worth looking at is leaver destinations for each school.

At an extreme, one school may have a significant cohort of Medicine applicants each year, and the other may have one every few years. Or they may both have a trickle, in proportion to their overall results.

If one school has a ‘conveyor belt’ of large numbers of Medicine applicants, they will be very well geared to helping such applicants and your child will have a supportive group of peers sharing the same experiences. Whatever the ‘type’ of school, that specific school will probably be s better and easier experience for an aspiring Medicine applicant.

If both have a trickle in proportion to their overall results, then go with the one which you and your child prefers overall. Good schools are good at supporting their pupils to apply to their next destination, whatever it is.

Thanks @whiteroseredrose do you know what sort of volunteering your daughter’s friend did for St. John’s Ambulance?

Hi. I'm not sure. It was just their youth programme I think.

My DD found herself a volunteering role in NHS. She is starting soon (once the DBS checks are done) her role as an exercise class volunteer 2 hours a week, in the physio unit of our local community hospital. Another example - one of her friends approached their dentist and asked to volunteer.

Re: schools, worth looking at science A-level results and asking about early applications support (medicine, oxbridge etc). My DD's comp school has very few Medicine applicants, however there is one teacher who is the go to person for such applications and he is wonderful.

It depends a lot on how well you think your son or daughter will do in A-Levels at each school, as wellas how happy they'll be, but it might also be worth bearing in mind that the comprehensive might feature on some medical schools' contextual lists (see, for example, https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/study/documents/Aspiring%20State%20Schools%20and%20Colleges%20for%202025%20cycle%20-%20England%20and%20Wales.pdf and https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/medical-school/applying-to-medicine/entry-requirements-five-year-programme - Use of contextual data), which might affect selection critera and/or conditions of offers.

Bristol have lots of schools on their contextual list. Worth a look. Failing that the one with the track record for dc going to uni for this course. Where gives best support and advice? A level results and quality of teaching will matter too.