Quandary about sixth form

[northangerabbey]

DS is in yr 11, so GCSEs partially completed.

His actual results are good, mainly As for sciences, English, (so that's 5), and Bs for humanities and Maths.

His predicted grades, however are not that good, as they're based on work he does in class, homework etc.

He's one of those people who coast when they can but work hard for exams and coursework. Essentially, therefore, the predicted grades of 2As 6Bs and 2Cs are only just enough to scrape through the bare minimum requirements to get into the sixth form attached to his school. We went to the open evening last week and there were at least 500 pupils there, and only 120 places. The offers go on the basis of the predicted grades, and it's opnly on 25th August that we'll know whether he's going to get in or not. I think he'll end up with 4As & 4Bs, the min. reqts are 2As and 6Bs, but even if he does, he may have been refused a place based on predicted grades which are worse than what I and he realistically think he'll get.

Soooo, time for a plan B. There are a couple of other grammars but boys only which don't really appeal, or a sixth form college which, by their own admission (I know the admissions officer), don't push pupils but expect them to get on with it. Knowing that ds is one of those people who needs pushing, I suspect he won't get such good grades at A level as he would if he stays at grammar.

The main quandary is about whether to apply for two at the same time, or even whether you can do that? If he applies to the sixth form college, they'll ask the grammar for a reference, and therefore the grammar may push his appln even further down the list?

Does anyone have any ideas?

i would have thought the GS would have to have published admissions criteria they would have to stick to.My DS's GS takes existing students first as long as they meet the minimum requirement.I don'tthink they will punish him for having a plan B.

Thanks PP. I'll get a prospectus for the sixth form college today.

I've known several students have sixth form places at their own schools and local sixth form colleges, and a few who even applied for scholarships to Public schools as well. No problem with that.
Sixth form colleges do tend to offer less support.

DD had applications (and acceptances) to four different sixthforms.

The sixth form college offering less support may be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your POV. At some stage your DS has to stand on his own two feet and, if he doesn't work, suffer the consequences. He can either do this in Y11 or SFC, when he will be at home for you to pick up the pieces, or he can do it when he is away at Uni and you cannot help him (because he is too far away, and assuming that he even tells you!) Spoonfeeding Supporting them too much can backfire.

However, are you sure that the Grammar will be as harsh as you are fearing? They have their reputation to protect so they must do some pastoral work with the kids. Also, is it just a case of using the mocks to scare them into action?

Around here (West Kent) you can apply for as many sixth form places as you want. ds1 applied to stay on at school as well as the local girls grammar which takes boys in the 6th form and a comprehensive.

It was difficult for him to find somewhere that did all the subjects he wanted so each application was for a slightly different combination. The bigger schools had option blocks so his choices were more limited. In the end he got a place at all 3.

Would your ds be able to follow all his subjects at each sixth form? I don't think the grammar can put you further down the list because you asked for a reference. You are only be realistic seeing as demand outstrips supply and you don't want to be left without a place. Surely they would understand that?

Thanks all. I don't think there'd be a problem getting thesubjects he wants, they're all traditional (Will do 5As, 4A2s if stays at grammar, which will be bio, chem, physics, history at A2, with maths at As). I think the SFC will only let him do 4AS, 3 A2, but that's fine).

I definitely don't spoon feed him, don't even proof read his coursework, but the school are all over his back every time he gets anything short of an A. This could be a good thing but he gets annoyed because all his coursework is A or A*, and all actual modules A or occasionally B, he just didn't work at all for his mocks.

Fri "ds is one of those people who needs pushing ..."
Mon "the school are all over his back ... but he gets annoyed because all his coursework is A or A*"

Does he need pushing or not?
What is his preferred learning style? Has he 'outgrown' the Grammar school and is already on his way to University-style independent study?