Move from Wimbledon high school to 6th form college

[Lotty32]

My DD has recently decided she wants to leave her v high achieving school where she is doing super well to go co-Ed to a six form college but as she is in year 11 has missed the official boat.

So any suggestions for top sixth form colleges in London ideally SW. I am judgemental and assume they are for dropouts etc but am sure that is not the case.

DD says she is v unhappy (most of her friends are leaving) but equally she is bad at change so we are super unkeen to move her! We will go and look round a few 6th form colleges but would love some recommendations thx

Hi OP , if your DD is still in Y11 then I don't think it's too late at all other than for massively difficult sixth forms to get into (Brighton College etc). My DD is in Y11 and at a very similar school so we've just been through the process albeit the Surrey side but schools which are easily accessible from Wimbledon - feel free to PM me if that would be any use.
I don't really want my DD to leave either but she's absolutely adamant!

GottobeFree, your comment about being judgemental is quite ironic! You've managed to return the insult to both parents and kids ('buying' their results? really?!)

There is always some movement from WHS at 6th Form as many of the girls have been there since Reception and fancy a change, KCS and Westminster etc.. poach the highest achievers to boost their own A-Level results, others want to study subjects WHS is unable to offer, some just want co-ed for a change when preparing for university, and other parents quite fancy not paying fees any more when there are such excellent 6th-form options in the state sector (with some, like Esher College, outperforming indie 6th-forms when looking at the proportion of students who eventually gain 1sts/2.1s at university).

I'm sorry your DD is sad about her friends leaving but once she gets to 6th Form, she will be in a Tutor Group with Y13s, enjoy all the responsibilities and opportunities the girls have in the 6th Form and befriend some of the new girls who join - there's a lot more time spent with people studying your chosen A Levels than at GCSE, too, and of course all the co-curricular clubs, sport, music and drama (plus Enrichment) are really sociable as well.

As PPs have said, you have missed the boat for state sixth forms but there are bound to be a few indie's who will have unexpected places for students with great predicted grades (some parents accept their child's state 6th form place but don't give notice to their indie in case things don't work out so they still have a place to go back to - one term's fees is a small price to pay for peace of mind. So when the student doesn't turn up to the indie in September, there is technically a place for someone else!)

Thx Schmedz hopefully she has decided to stay fingers crossed it was a storm in a teacup! Know it's the right decision for her x

Lotty32 YOU may not want to move her but SHE wants to move. My DD was the same (she was at Lady Eleanor Holles) She preferred doing her A levels at co-ed and went to Latymer Upper but this was a good few years ago. Not a college but OTOH others in her year went to Esher College.

It is worth giving LU and Kingston Grammar a call. Possibly also the Harrodian and Ibstock. You may have missed the deadlines, but there is a lot of movement and it is not unknown for people to be told to call again once results are out.

To some extent interest may depend on subject. German, Latin and Greek would be an appealing combination as classes are unlikely to be full, whereas the chemistry lab might well be.

DD changed indie for sixth form last September and is really happy. LU and UCS may reconsider your DD on results day with grades in hand - that's been the case for the last couple of years. Westminster took one girl last September who'd been rejected in their selection process but called on gcse results day with straight 9s in hand. 5 more girls joined DD in her new sixth from after term had started in Sep 19, so there's still lots of movement and opportunity. Those families who decide to move after results days often have to pay two sets of autumn school fees which want an option for us.