Suddenly need to apply for a sixth form - Barnet or Herts

[whyamibothering]

Son in partially selective Barnet school - predicted 10 Grade B and above for GCSE's. Automatically assumed he would stay on or AS Levels.

Horror of horrors - application form for choice of subjects is set into lists where you have to choose one subject for four or five lists. All subjects son wants to study for a prospective career are listed in the same list - even his reserve subject. Absolutely gutted. And this is a school which says they pride themselves on a course for everybody.

Suddenly looking at local 6th forms - most quite rightly give precedence to their own students so won't have too many places. Son is an Olympic hopeful one day, but needs not to put all eggs in one basket and wants to study sport management at uni. Was hoping to study AS / A Level PE Studies, Biology, Psychology and / or Business. No hope of any of this at current school and local college does not offer PE at all.

Very miserable 16 year old.... Any advice?

Are the subjects he wants to study absolutely fixed? Does he need those specific A-levels to get onto his chosen course/Uni?

Sorry, also meant to say what a shock for you,

I would actually approach the school and ask them what they can do about this.The subjects your son wants to do are fairly standard type of subjects that someone looking to do sports management or similar at uni would do. So this sounds like poor planning by the school
There is usually some give in the way they work out the subjects so ask. At elast give them the option of saying no we cannot change at which point you know how much they value your son staying on at the school.

I will definitely be discussing this with the school. The lists do seem to be pretty firmly fixed with regard to timetabling. Subjects like Maths, English, English Lit are in all four lists, enabling students who do well in those subjects more of an element of choice. PE and Business are only in one list, the same one. Pyschology is a possibility from another list but clashing with Biology. These are the subjects that are most useful at uni, PE and Biology being vital.

Son is also doing a Grade 8 music exam this summer and GCSE Music. Music is in same damned list as the PE and Business so stumped there too.

Very unhappy with this. Will be speaking to head of sixth form - just wondered if anyone else has come up against this and succeeded in getting school to compromise a bit - or have to change schools completely.

Have you looked at Mill Hill County?

Looking at their options the choices you want are available.

Open even was last night but you could still get the prospectus- PE, Biology (3 pools) and Psychology(4 pools) all possible together . Only clash seems to be music and PE. Worth talking to the sixth form

Great school and fantastic sixth form results

Is it also worth looking at the private sector?

They may have better scope for flexibility, and one which is not out and out academic, but sporty might well offer PE. (I just looked and Harrow does.) The prospect of a bright Olympic hopeful who is a genuine all-rounder might well make the bursar feel generous, especially if it is a sport that the school offers.

Some of the boarding schools (Millfield, Plymouth Colege etc) might also be worth an initial phone call.

We are from Mill Hill County High and I've emailed them to say not happy.

Biology you need A Grade's for, son has B Grade and predicted another B Grade rule that out.

PE and Business clash
Music and PE clash
Music and Business clash

Forced into this thing called CoPE

I suspect the reason for this is that the school is guiding students towards taking only one of the subjects you mention. For many academically-orientated students this would be good advice, as some universities will not regard those courses (apart from Biology) as acceptable for mainstream academic degree courses. So I can kind of see where the school are coming from on this, although having psychology and biology timetabled against each other is a bit odd.

If talking to the school doesn't achieve anything, then you will have to look elsewhere -- Fortismere has a big intake at 6th form, and ought to cater for non-traditional subject options since it's a big school. Otherwise Woodhouse College is highly regarded (and does offer PE). Have you looked at Finchley Catholic High? They are a business college and take sport seriously, so might be worth talking to them also. City and Islington college is also meant to be good, though obviously not a formal school-y kind of place.

Thanks Larissa

Applied to Woodhouse tonight but don't feel hopeful being that it is the designated 6th form to Friern Barnet and places limited.

Will now consider Finchley Catholic High - hopes the Catholic part won't be a problem and also take a look at City / Islington College. Hadn't heard of them - advice very gratefully received.

FCH definitely take non-catholics at 6th form level -- there's a proviso about needing to have 'sympathy with the ethos of the school', which is fair enuff really.

Lots of kids from schools other than Friern Barnet go to Woodhouse -- freeing up places at other local schools, lol. Talk to the schools, as some may have had their open evening already, and point out that your ds is unable to do his chosen subject combination at his current school. You could legitimately put that on your applications to other 6th forms, as a reason for giving his application priority.

If his current school really won't budge I'd also be leaning heavily on them to suggest alternative schools and maybe have a word with the admissions departments of prospective schools to put in a good word for him.

I'm sure you'll find somewhere, but it must be a worrying time.

It is a worrying time but thanks to your suggestion to look at City Islington College - I notice from their course list that a BTec Nat Diploma 3 in Sport Studies could be as valuable as tradtional A Level route. Very interesting. Will consider that and look to see if that qualification is offered slightly nearer home.

I definitely intend to list that reason for applying to alternative schools, and as for putting in a good word that's the least MHCHS can do. 100% attendance and representation in music and sport should count for something after 5 years.

You've been most helpful Larissa, thanks so much x

Do sympanthise - sorry didn't realise you were already at MHCHS. Have you spoken to the sixth form yet? As only a few seem to take PE at A level maybe there is room for manouever? Such a great PE department I'm sure they would want to help if they can.

I know they won't compromise on A's at GCSE for science subjects - could your son retake the B he already has - is that a possibility?

On a positive note we were really impressed with Woodhouse - and I know they take B's for science subjects. They do get oversubscibed but only 40% come from Friern Barnet or Compton. Know lots of people there who are very happy and their results are very good.

Don't know enough about it but what about barnet College - what do they offer in terms of Sport Studies?

St Michaels also takes boys and non catholics into their sixth form - might be worth exploring?

Do hope you get something worked out; worrying I know.

They havent replied to my email.

Music teachers are pretty upset by it - rush to Grade 8 now before July because that was a dream to acquire Grade 8 music whilst at school. They used to accept Grade B in science. I think it's just that so many have an A or A* they obviously don't need the B Graders, and no, not really time to re-sit bear in mind the other GCSE's, Grade 8 music and training for England squad - likely to be called up in Feb/ March.

I've applied to Woodhouse, thanks, and waiting for MHCHS to complete reference now.

Barnet College a definite no for sports - The BTec Extended National Diploma is an ideal qualification I've found - probably St Albans, Watford, Stanmore. Actually probably more suitable than MHCHS sixth form.

It's just in my wildest dreams I didnt think that we'd be in this position. Waiting for application forms now from 2 colleges for this BTec qual - its equivalent of 3 A Levels but slightly more vocational

Advice from here has been amazingly helpful. It's got us out of a sticky wicket fast. Stanmore or West Herts college application ddeadlines aren't as near. This would be aabsolutely ideal for Stanmore as can team iit with A Level Business it would appear.

Thanks for help Jessie x

Sorry but your son needs to look carefully at the grades needed for Sports Management at uni. The courses I talk to a student about recently all needed 3 As at least. Will he get the grades?

Who knows? He's pretty determined to and without the pressures of doing subjects he doesn't want to, it may well be possible. He knows he has to work hard. Does help to have an incentive in life.