Is there any point appealing a private school sixth form refusal?

[Nivvers2001]

DS is currently in year 11 at a fairly academic school and is predicted 7,8s and 9s. He should meet the academic requirements for sixth form entry, however, the head of sixth form told us in February that they will not be offering him a place due to his behaviour. The school is very strict and DS has racked up a number of behaviour points over lateness, uniform, having his phone on him and in one case missing detentions. I am not that worried about DS staying there as he has other sixth form offers and not convinced it's worth 10k a term to stay put, however, DS has lots of friends at school and is happy there so would at least like the option of staying. My question is whether there is any point in appealing the decision given that independent sixth forms can decide who and who they don't admit so it may be pointless even trying. Thoughts?

This sounds the most sensible solution

Thank you SO much. Yes, it's extremely upsetting to come here seeking advice and end up being attacked for literally everything. I think your advice is spot on - maybe an informal conversation to gauge their thinking and for me, even if he leaves, I think it's really important to put on record the lack of process to make sure it doesn't happen again. Or maybe I just leave it as I don't want to cause any ill feeling.

I don’t think it’s going to be worth your or the school’s time appealing, OP. The energy and life we have is finite and in your position I’d honestly redirect your focus to supporting your son on his next step forward.
I would say though that punctuality is important in most jobs, so it’s worth working on this for your son.

Hi all 👋

Just a gentle nudge from MNHQ - please do keep our Talk guidelines in mind. We know temperatures are rising (in more ways than one 😅), so maybe step away from the keyboard, grab a cuppa or something cold, and come back when you're feeling a bit calmer. We'd rather not have to keep deleting posts, as there won't be much of a thread left at this rate!

Thanks for keeping it in the spirit of the community.💙

If he has ADHD they could fall foul of the Equality Act. He shouldn't be treated less favourably because of his disability. Worth a try? I would write a letter and run it thorough chat GPT.

Um, no. You will get a conditional offer, which will be firmed up based only on your actual grades on results day (Oversubscription will be decided by objective criteria...anyone with EHCP/looked after/distance).

Under the admissions code a state school cannot use behaviour/attendance/references/attitude/interviewsfrom current school at all. There was a very recent case confirming this.

So anyone applying to state Sixth form who is predicted to meet the entry requirements will get a conditional offer...regardless of anything else. The school has no choice.

No, I don't do any of those things and have good relationships with all his teachers.

But you're not going to accept my answer are you? You're going to twist it around into something negative to suit your own narrative. So why ask? To stir up trouble? How nasty.

Oh my god, I am SO sorry I forgot to state the word "CONDITIONAL". I thoughts I was being attacked for using the word OFFER so only addressed that point and didn't state the glaringly obvious point that it's a CONDITIONAL offer. Thank you for your addition. You are so amazing for pointing this out. Well done you. Pathetic.

Have you decided what you're going to do OP, what does your son want to do.

I wasn't attacking you. I was just clarifying that state schools cannot use behaviour/attendance/references/attitude/interviews from current school at all.....
So anyone applying to state Sixth form who is predicted to meet the entry requirements will get a conditional offer...regardless of anything else. The school has no choice.

And I was pointing this out because you seemed to be saying because he was great because had offers from state schools.

They had no choice.

That is not to say he is not great. But offers from state school say nothing about him.

You are wrong about state school 6th forms they do not have to make an offer to existing students. Everyone has to apply….they don’t have to make offers ti anyone and when they do make offers they are very clear of the basis of which the offer is made etc. The very very good state school 6th forms often have higher requirements than a lot of independent schools.

My question is why would you want your child somewhere they are not wanted and why would you pay that pleasure?

It’s not easy to get into DDs state 6th form. You have to have 6 6s there’s a phone interview and if you were a pain in the lower school forget it. Hordes of former private school kids there. They are strict once you’re in if you’re not working or messing about you’re out.

This sounds like a good idea, and if more did it, might go towards behaviour improving in schools.

my nephew is 18 and in Norway, and he had 3 marks on leaving school. An exam mark, a behaviour mark and an attendance mark. I can’t remember what the consequences were but severe as I remember he was very very close to getting a bad behaviour mark, and my sister said his behaviour instantly improved as it’s bad news - can’t get in to uni or something I think.

Ok, so in that case, why were posters attacking him saying other schools will not accept him because of his behaviour?

I didn't say they did have to make offers to existing students. It's other posters claiming they do.

You obviously dont know how state school sixth forms work nowadays, they absolutely dont offer it to everyone. Many now are quite selective for sixth form and conduct interviews and turn down applicants.

Oof.

OP it is tough that he isn't being allowed to progress to sixth form, but I'm not sure that appealing it or shouting at strangers on the internet is going to help. Just chalk it up and move on with one of the other options he has.

He does need to recognise that it is his own behaviour that has led to this though - so needs to address this wherever he goes next.

Exactly pragmatist. It IS an achievement to get an offer. It’s quite hard to get into DDs state 6th form. Chock full of former private school pupils. If you were a pain in the lower school and don’t get the grades you can forget it. Several of DDs friends didn’t get in.

The boots on the other foot and families who were disdainful of school and whose kids were a pain to teachers get a nasty shock at 6th form. They assume their child can just automatically stay on like they did for the other years and move up automatically but they can’t.

If the issues really as minor as you've said, and your son wants to stay, it sounds like it's worth it to ask them to reconsider. Maybe not in a formal appeal, but just to ask for a conversation. If your DS is very motivated he could always sign some kind of behaviour contract to demonstrate he takes it seriously?

On the other hand, what if he can't keep it up & is then formally excluded? I think I would go for a move personally in your situation.