Independent to Hills Rd for sixth form?

[BellaVida]

Currently have a DS at independent school in Cambridge and considering Hills Rd for sixth form. Has anyone done this? How did your DD/ DS manage the transition?

Those at Perse Upper and Stephen Perse are possibly more likely to stick with the sixth form settings of their current schools. However, because Hills is one of the top sixth forms in the UK there is a lot of traffic out of the independent sector and into Hills.

Having left the independent sector a while back, the revelatory moment when we realised how good the state sector was is behind us

Seems a bit like cherry-picking the best parts of the state system when you feel like it to me.

bringbackfonzi, I totally agree. Several folk were snooty and looked down on us when we left an independent setting in Yr5 but I’d be unsurprised if some popped up in the 6th form

Students accepted from Hills Road are counted as state school students by universities even if they have spent the majority of their school years in the private sector. They then count towards the university's quota for state school intake.
In addition, Hills Road is selective. I think if you have spent most of your education in the private sector, you shouldn't take a place at a fantastic school for the 6th form that would otherwise go to a state school pupil.

Fonzi I totally agree. It's a bit like laundering private school pupils for two years in the state sector, then Oxbridge can feel great about improving the percentage of state school students they accept.

Everything I hear about Hills suggests it's fantastic for able, independent-minded kids who can work sensibly without spoon-feeding. If a child has needed small classes and lots of support from a private school to scrape together the entrance grades, then it might not be the place for them. If however they are able and self-motivated it could be ideal and would save you a lot of needless spending of ££. A part of me resents people doing this and then claiming a state education for university entrance, but another part thinks fair play, if they've shelled out £15k a year for 11-12 school years just to end up with a good set of GCSEs they could have got from any of the city state schools, then let's not begrudge then that last £30K they save!

So what about if your child is at a selective state school such as St. Bedes? Should preference for entrance to Hills Road be given to non-selective state schools? Also for those of you who are judgemental, remember the state school system does not suit all children.

In answer to your question BellaVida, Hills Road seems to suit those students who are motivated and independent.

But St Bedes doesn't select based on academic performance.
As for the state system not suiting all children, what if it doesn't suit your child at all, but you can't afford to go private? Only richer parents have the choice.
And finally, if the state system doesn't suit your child and you can afford private, why would you send them to Hills Road?

St Bede's doesn't select on academic ability. And I actually agree that state school may not suit every child, but sadly not every child can afford an alternative. And if a child struggles with the size and pace of state school then Hills Road may not be the place for them either.

I know St. Bedes doesn't select on academic ability but it does select on religion. Is that really any different to selecting on academic ability? Essentially most non-christian children are excluded so a very different demographic to the average state school. Also, as I'm sure you're aware the system is played by many parents to ensure their children gain entry.

I do agree though - it's not fair that some families have the choice to send their private school. The same as it's not fair that some families don't have equal access to selective state schools. My child has just moved to the independent school after 7 years in a state primary. Their experience there was not great and downright miserable at times (bright but socially behind and possible mild SN). I have two other children at the same state school who thrive there and fit in well.We made the choice to send this child private as I didn't want to seem them struggle in secondary too and so far they seems to be happy. We won't necessarily make the same choice for the younger two. If St. Bedes was an option maybe we would have sent our child there but we didn't fulfil the criteria for admission.

@bringbackfonz in answer to your question "And finally, if the state system doesn't suit your child and you can afford private, why would you send them to Hills Road?", well children change massively from age 11 to 16. What suits them starting Year 7 may not suit them starting A-levels.

Despite what may appear to be my view, I don't have a big issue with private schools for those who want to use them. Each to their own, really, and I do see that they can be right for some children who struggle in mainstream for whatever reason. But they are different, and the ethos is different. By the time you get to 6th form the differences probably aren't so noticeable because everyone there has qualified on the strength of their grades and presumably wants to be there, so in all likelihood a new 6th former from an independent school wouldn't feel much of a difference. Perhaps Hills Rd should consider a cap of say 10% from the independent sector (since independent education accounts for 7% of all children in education), which would seem fair to the state applicants. If I ever get to be Director of Hills Road then I will implement this (!) but in the meantime I'm sure OP's child would be fine.

Hills is stuffed with private school pupils anyway (and a fair few home-ed, never darkened the doors of any school, pupils, who seem to do OK), so I wouldn't worry.

DD does claim to be able to spot a Mary's Girl at 20 paces, and a Perse Boy even more easily. Make of that what you will.

Oh, and I have one who likes it, one who loathed it, and one who did sixth form elsewhere, so no bias either way.

Thanks for all of your replies. We moved from overseas and went private as the only places available were in inderperforming schools and he needed extra support with English. We are definitely not rich,