UCS sixth form

[Hector1203]

Hello, DC has been offered a place at UCS, would appreciate any thoughts about the school including pros and cons, particularly with bursary students. is the support good? Is there any stigma or bullying?

My DD is now in upper 6th there. Doing very well and very happy. Supportive teachers and mostly very good quality teachers.

She does not know who the bursary students are as not discussed unless another student chose to tell her.

She suspects a few of her friends might be on bursaries but also informs me her suspicions are based on how clever and hardworking they are! She’s not aware of bullying in the 6th form (doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist).

She was at a super selective girls school before and we’re so happy she made the choice to leave. It’s been a really positive move for her.

Hello, my DD has been offered a place for this year. She is incredibly bright and is predicted outstanding grades, however she is slightly concerned about her music grade, which unfortunately is at a 6 right now. If she were to achieve her predicted grades in her GCSES (grade 7s and above) but ended up with a 6 in music, would that compromise her place at UCS? We are aware of the 7.0 grade average as the criteria for the conditional offer but does that mean that all her grades must be at a 7 or over? She doesn't want to take it for A-Levels but she's still afraid that it may mean that she misses her conditional offer. Please help me to motivate her again!

Hello,
I wouldn’t expect a 6 would impact if your DD has been given an average grade offer. It would definitely matter if choosing as an A level.

Thank you so much! I'm assuming that there are other offers based off of your response, I wasn't aware of that. Do you mind if i ask what grades your DD got?

@cerise1975
The 7.0 average requirement is literally an average (mean) requirement. So if she got (say) 777777776 then the average of those grades would be below 7, but if she got 877777776 then she would meet the requirement because the average would be exactly 7.

Be aware that they are strict about meeting the conditions of the offer, which is not a particularly stringent offer for pupils with the ability to pass the entrance exam. (Those with maths/science A-levels in their choices tend also to be required to get at least an 8 in maths). We have known girls who unfortunately missed their offers and had to scrabble around for alternative sixth forms on results day.

Anyway, the message is: don’t worry too much about the music, but keep pushing on with other subjects which will bring high enough grades to cancel out the music. It’ll be worth it, as it’s a great school.

@cerise1975 @JessyCarr
I’m afraid I don’t recall the exact offer but I think 8’s were expected for A’Level subjects.

Agree that it’s always sensible to have a “backup” offer if possible.

It’s a great school for those who get stuck in and join all that it has to offer. My DD is blessed with enthusiasm so it’s suited her very well

Hi, this is slightly off topic but I was wondering what the maths requirement was for a single science? DD is planning to take biology as her only science for a level and the rest humanities, she is expected an amazing grade for it, the subject booklet states that a grade 8 in maths is desirable but required if taking two or more sciences, would I be correct in assuming that since she’s only taking one, a grade 7 at the minimum for maths would suffice? I’m not sure if i’m correct in assuming that English and Maths should be at a 7 regardless of options

@JessyCarr
Hi, this is quite a late and irrelevant question but i wanted to ask a question to give my DD some reassurance, my DD wants to change her final options for September, and she is quite paranoid about one particular subject. The subject form states that receiving a grade below a 7 is not a suitable foundation to continue studying in that subject and the school can refuse admission for that particular course, if her GPA were to be above a 7.0, then that clearly must mean that she can simply change her subject on results day if that were to happen rather than her spot being fully revoked, right?

We live quite locally. Several friends’ kids and friends of DD have gone there. Never heard anything negative about it

@Hector1203 If she has firmly decided to change subjects then I would recommend asking them for the change now, so that there are not difficult conversations to have on results day. It’s not just about grades, it’s also about whether there is space in a particular subject.

Certainly there were girls in 2024 who missed their 8 in maths (required for maths/science A levels) and were not permitted to change to non-scientific A level subjects. But then they had failed to fulfil one of the conditions of their offer, so not quite the same as what you are looking at. Bear in mind that they will have a waiting list and they are willing to go to that waiting list (which may include students with “perfect” results), rather than doing significant renegotiations on results day with those who have had disappointments.

PM me if you like.

I didn’t see this post until today, but it has confused me. The conditions of your DD’s offer will be set out in the offer letter, and you shouldn’t need to work them out from the subject booklets. Or is she hoping to switch from a non-science choice to Biology?