My first visit to Mumsnet Higher Education - where have the years gone??!! Any thoughts/top tips for A level choices/ university process please

[fuschia2000]

Any of your advixe/ thoughts/ hindsight guidance most appreciated, son doing GCSEs soon so we are looking at A levels subjects, including maths, Further maths, computer science, whether to head to independent school for As or stay at grammar, uni options oxbridge, London or other.......

Any thoughts insights most welcome!

Quite a broad question.

Are you within striking distance of Kings Maths School (or Exeter)?

If so worth adding to the mix. If he is a strong mathematician the priority will be to find a school with a strong maths department: regardless of whether private or state.

Thankyou for yourreply 🙏, yes I am looking at sizes of A level maths/ computer science entries and results in various sixth form options that we have .

If you’re near a maths school look at that. If not look at the standard progress made by students, not just results. What outreach do they access? Work experience? Can he do an EPQ or Maths Challenge?

What does he hope to do at uni and what are his predicted GCSE grades?

Grammar or private probably won't make too much difference so I would go with where he will be happier. He might prefer the stability of staying where he is with his current friends assuming the grammar school is a good one, rather than take the risk of a new school which might end up being a worse school. It sounds like he is good at maths. If not, be careful with maths. My sons' school made a huge issue over maths -far too many boys were pushed by parents into it where the boys were not very good at maths and who got much worse A level grades than had they picked economics or geography or history. Of course if you are really good at it then no problem and he might well get A*.