Changing school for 6th form HELP PLEASE! Recommendations needed

[TeenageWildlife]

DS doing his GCSE's. His school have been put into special measures and have failed their second ofsted since that happened. He really wants to go elsewhere for 6th form.
There is a possiblilty that I might be able to send him to an independent college but I don't know where to start. London is a possibility. He is not used to an academic environment but should get about 10 GCSE's at A and B. I don't know where to begin. He is a shy boy with not much confidence and extremely lazy with a poor work ethic - he has had no homework for his 5 years of high school, so can't really leap into anything too pushy.

Well done for making the move before it's too late. Wouldn't normally suggest this but you might want to consider a tutor this term, maybe twice a term to get him used to harder work and then put him into a summer school to get him up to speed. As long as he has some time off over the summer to muck about, he won't be able to complain too much.

Where do you live? Helps, for schools recommendations.

Bucks, just NW of London so chiltern rail or the tube is fine for London. If I suggest a tutor he will refuse - have tried this...

Have you looked at neighbouring schools to see if any might suit him? I assume moving to a different area with a better school is not an option for you?

I can't move - definitely not an option. Have absolutely looked at all neighbouring schools. 6th form college or an independent is the only option. And then if I don't get any finance I am screwed!

When is he doing his GCSEs and when would he start the sixth form/A levels. If this summer and Sept 2011 then it's late to get started and you will have to contend with having missed some deadlines eg for scholarships. If for 2012 then you have the luxury of being able to look around and plan. In which case, how about seeing if he can get a scholarship and/or bursary for a boarding school - he could be what he needs to bring him out of himself and get the work ethic in more structured surroundings. Don't be afraid of aiming high eg Eton have 6th form scholarships - getting As and Bs when your school is bad will obviously speak of a bright boy with real potential.

Expensive but will do the trick not only on the results but creating the work ethic for Uni.
www.mpw.co.uk/lon/a-level.asp?scW=1280
All the people I was there with have CV's that no longer need to mention that year.
Nuf said.

Dusty - he is currently doing GCSE's so the rush is on for entry 2011 - he's not Eton scholarship material,as much as I wish he were!

TalkinPeace will check out your site.

Wow MPW seems very full on high power academia! Whilst this would be right for DD I'm afraid that DS would be overwhelmed. Perhaps an open day visit might be best.

Was thinking of something alternative perhaps.

TW, I know this is easier said than done, but it's your choice whether he has a tutor or not, isn't it? He can't just refuse. If he and you both know it's a sink school and he's keen to change, then sell it to him as a compromise - your way of making amends to him for having had to put up with a poor education so far, so that he's in with a chance of better grades at GCSE. A tutor can help him with revision technique, which is valuable at this stage. And the right tutor could be great for his esteem. They're not all crusty old blokes in tweed jackets. Lots are young and great role models.

Thanks for the suggestion, however it's really advice on what to do about 6th form that I need.

There isn't any way of seeing how good or bad those are - I know from looking at what's available in my area that some are listed but none are worth going to. Recommendations would be really helpful.

Bumping this and hoping to get the Monday crowd!

If you were able to find the funds, I would highly recommend CCSS in Cambridge. It has a complete mix of academic abilities, small classes and really helpful teachers. It also runs the standard sixth form extra curricular activities.

Why London, TeenageWildlife? And which part of Bucks?

You need to buy the Good Schools Guide, I think. You can subscribe on-line, if that is easier. And I think you need to do it quite soon, and sit down with a cup of coffee and a map, probably a train map.

Forget the non-academic school thing - a good school just is going to be fairly academic - certainly more so than the one he sounds as though he's been at - it will certainly have home and coursework. It'll be degrees of full-on-ness - it sounds as though anything is going to be a bit of a shock initially - but only for the first term.

Most state schools open their 6th forms at A level - so it'll be down to what grades he gets - that means grammars are an option. There are lots of state schools that are v. good at 6th form.

I'm afraid I can't be of more, specific, help, because Bucks isn't my area - hence the recommendation of the Good Schools Guide.

Animula London because he can get the tube or Chiltern rail in quite easily. Schools wise we are familiar with all the ones he can get to from here - either grammar or not, and he has applied to a grammar but I doubt they will take him because he is in a sink school and they don't want to risk messing their league table position.

He is interested in a 6th form college rather than a school and I suppose they would all be new together rather than him being a new boy coming in - ifswim.

lily cambridge not accessible as a commute from here. We are in South Bucks.

I think the issue with a grammar is that they have very few places on offer as the majority of their pupils remain there.

My son's school (South Bucks grammar) had a few new pupils for the 6th form and they seem to have just become part of the group, it is as if they have always been there.
Are there any local schools that you would consider? are you near enough to the Herts border to have a look there?

Nothing available locally that is appropriate, he will need to travel.