How to choose a 6th form

[ifonlytheydlisten]

My DD has several options if she gets the grades but we are torn over which. She has ADHD and I think she need’ll more support that she realises to make the step up. She doesn’t see it and wants to go to the college with little SEN support, total freedom & that has a more fun reputation. Can any one share any insights on whether it will be ok or I should still try talk sense into her??

Her choice, assuming practical matters such as getting there are similar. Are either of them likely to be oversubscribed? If not, she could probably switch early in year 12 if she got there and found it didn’t suit her after all. I work at a school with a small sixth form attached and there are often some late transfers to or from other sixth form colleges.
I think if she thinks she can do it without the extra support, have confidence in her and encourage her. My DS is autistic and went to a special school for secondary but chose a mainstream college rather than stay in special education. I think it was really good for him and the fact that he chose it meant that he owned the decision. In his words, he wanted to mix with ‘normal’ people and not just those with SEN. He got on fine and came out with a qualification.

Thx! Not much in it distance wise - both by bus. Both are huge and also hugely over subscribed but I also think surely loads must drop out / change minds / change courses etc. One just has much better support for all types of SEN. Even if she chose not to access it much.

Is she wanting to do alevels or another pathway? Does that impact the level of support at each place?

What support has she been getting from her school?
If that has been good, perhaps discuss with her how having that removed will impact her.

6th form is a big step up. Will she have a longer journey? A levels are a huge step up from GCSEs. Having to learn to self-study. It is exhausting as first - will that impact her ADHD?

I worked at a college with outstanding sen support. Many students with sen failed their A levels and courses elsewhere and did well with us. It just delayed their journey by 2 more years. It’s always best to go somewhere that can support her, as A levels are hard work.

Thanks all. Current school is short walk. Both colleges are a bus ride. College A (freedom) is easier as way more buses but college B (structure & SEN) has a direct bus and a variety of other ways to get there.
She wants to do STEM A levels and a semi vocational degree course

College B (structure ) sent her a survey to fill in about what help she’d need and or like… college A (freedom) sent or asked zero.
At school she had time out pass, Senco support, quiet place to go if needed, was allowed flexibility re needing to go home occasionally if overwhelmed but mainly a lot of support, patience and understanding. Possibly too much as she was popular and liked to get involved in lots of extra things so mixed messages a bit. Her attendance by the end was poor regarding subjects she’d lost interest in.. plus extra time in exams.
ironically she thinks she’s good at self study as kept opting to stay at home and not attend school - only GCSE results will tell us if she was right (left it all to the last minute)

I can absolutely see this happening. At college B is common to stay in college to study in free periods. High level of monitoring and close links with parents and parental expectations are clear at outset. College A only engage with the student and few attend if no lessons according to everyone I’ve asked

That's what university is going to be like, though she's going to have to manage on her own at some point.

I think she’ll mature a lot in two years though. And is thinking of a gap year in middle. ADHD children are emotionally immature v peers

This may well be totally unhelpful as my dd is neurotypical but she has chosen to stay at her small sixth form (90 in year) compared to very oversubscribed popular college (1000 per year) for the fact she wants extra support from teachers she knows well, who know her, smaller classes etc. Alevels fly by being only five terms of study.

Thanks @makemineadecaf that is another option (bigger but familiar) but she wants to move on as so many others are The colleges here are around 4000 students

My ADHD girl has just left Y13 and is awaiting A level results. She finished on (I hope!) a high, but boy did she need plenty of support and understanding in the first 2 terms of Y12. Combining the step up in study expectations with the new environment and new crowd was a lot for her - so much more challenging than any of us had expected, after she’d taken GCSEs in her stride. There was several occasions on which she had to leave school early having had some sort of physical or emotional collapse due to overwhelm.

Thankyou for sharing @JessyCarr
I can also see this happening. I need to somehow get her to acknowledge / understand this. I think they are too quick to assume they’ll just move up easily

Where will she be happy?

I was forced to attend a VI form that had a uniform, was at an RC boys' school.

I was miserable and it affected my health both physically and mentally. The mental ill health is still with me and I am about to turn 60! Oh and I was absent so often students who were in lower VI when I was in upper VI didn't recognise me when I met them at a friend's wedding.

Although the first college sounds like it isn't supportive, have a look and see what it is really like. If she has breaks without study and can come home when she has finished her lessons she might not need the pass to leave a class and there may well be quiet spaces she can access.

I have worked in a variety of colleges (as well as schools) and often there was a 'chill out' area or a common room. One college had two common rooms, the main one would be heaving with students playing pool and quite lot of noise, but they also had a 'senior common room' that was for students over 21. If either college has the same a reasonable adjustment would be able to use this room.

Now you know your daughter but both of you do your own research.

Really it is her choice.

And it doesn't have to be her final choice, often there is some movement between colleges in the first term.

Tbh once in and settled shed be happy at any as in reality she makes friends easily. It’s the threshold of going that’s the barrier

@sashh she refuses to research it properly. She’s too imature. She’ll barely engage properly and thinks it’ll all be easy enough so why bother

How did she get on? Been reading threads on results .. must see if I can see you on there! Makes GCSE seem so less important. Luckily the uni course DD wants currently doesn’t need A stars etc. She’s interested in a few more practical careers

@Ethelspagetti would you mind a couple of sentences on what support was needed most? I’m treading on eggshells here a bit as DD is having a bit of phase of denying she needs help (despite a summer of evidence)