State to 16, private for 6th form?

[AlexandraMary]

Possible? Our local comp is decidedly (below) average, and only goes up to 16, so children leave to work or one of a load of local 6th form colleges. Very little chance of getting into any of the schools that do have sixth forms as we're well out of catchment.

We have always anticipated going private, but it has occurred to me that another option is to stay in the state system until GCSE then go private. We would consider boarding.

I would be grateful for any experiences or thoughts. Thanks.

Regarding boarding school, the issues I would be most concerned about is that fellow pupils are willing to accept someone from a state school. I say this because I changed schools and went from one boarding school to another at sixth form. Another girl in my intake went from a state school to boarding and a couple of the established girls were very mean to her. She ended up leaving after two terms with little confidence, her education in shatters and had an awful time when she went to the local 6th form college.

I can't really advise about private/boarding schools, but I would say that it's not necessarily a bad thing to change school at 16. I went from a comp (no sixth form) to a 6th form college and the change was fantastic. There was a much wider choice of subjects, a whole new group of people and it operated more like uni and less like school (so good preperation).

Have you looked at how good the 6th forms are? My school was very average, in a borough of very average schools, but the 6th form was ranked something like 4th (out of all London 6th forms state and private). Just because the school isnt great don't write off the college.

Around here most people do the opposite, that is private until 16, then a lot transfer to State (one fab comp and a great local sixth form college). I have known a few move the other way, but there is also movement between private schools (usually girls to mixed/boys schools).

My DD moved to indie boarding this year to a v well known but relatively easy to get into school. The 6th form is 50% already there plus 50% who join for 6th form and there have been no integration issues at all. Lots of independence ( own washing, snack making, organising self to plan activities and study periods self regulated but cracked down on when grades slip). She is loving it so far and we are v pleased with it. She was at local indie day school before and she says that her peer group is much more diverse than at old school- nearly all her friends at new school are either forces kids or kids from state comps on scholarships etc.

Around here there is a lot of movement at sixth form.

Many students move from one independent to another (particularly if they've been there since 4), and there's certainly some movement between state and independent. The local CofE school rids itself of lots of students whose parnets moved hell and high water to get them in at 11, only to make space for girls (not in catchment and not religious) from an indie that only goes up to 16. I always think that's unfair.

I dont know about private 6th but where we are there is also a lot of movement at the end of GCSE. DD1 is applying to a completely different school just out of the county. Interestingly the 6th form she is aiming for isnt a separate college but has a massive 6th compared to the rest of the school.

It has quite a large intake from the local private schools which have small 6th forms and therefore limited choice.

It is well worth looking at all the schools within travelling distance. Just the right place may be just over the county line (but no catchment issues in 6th).

Also consider that there may be more children attending 6th form when they have to stay in education until they are 18. I can't imagine there being that many fantastic apprenticeships for them all to go to.

My son went to state school until 16, then moved to state boarding school (Wymondham College in Norfolk) for his A levels as he wanted to do subjects not provided in local 6th form college. Fees were for boarding only and the education was superb. He achieved 3 'A' levels at A grade, and it was good preparation for university. Now in final year at Sheffield and has had a great university experience. There are several state boarding schools, my advice, give them a look.

I did this very thing. What a disaster. I love my private sixth form for the people and life experience but because I the crappy comp I went to I was in no way able to keep up. I intend to send DS' private through secondary and sixth form.

DS has just done this very thing and it is not a disaster at all! State until 16 then a selective private school for 6th form.

We chose it because his school had no 6th form and there were no real stand out choices. He went for an interview and loved it and got offered a place. With this school it really was the interview that counted - and it was quite intense, but fun too - they had to prepare a speech on a given subject for eg. The offer was 6 Bs at GCSE, but in reality the ones who apply are high flyers.

Anyway, DS loves it. Intake was probably 70% those who were already there and 30% 'outsiders'. But he has made loads of friends, is in the 1st 11 for cricket, is really appreciating the small classes and individual teaching and for the first time in his school career is actually working, a) because A levels are bloody hard work and b) because at this school it's actually cool to be clever.

He is keeping up with the work because his teachers are making sure no one slips through the net and he is doing subjects he is really interested in. He had a 'good enough' education up until 6th form, but now he is really honing his skills and being properly finished off. He's got some massively posh friends and most non-posh.They all seem to rub along very well. It's def working for him.

Thanks all - this is all really interesting. Merrylegs - what was your DS's old school like?

It was a good state school (11-16), certainly not failing or below average - I think their GCSE statistics this year were something like 82% A-C passes. However there was an issue with overcrowded classes and some very poor teaching. We definitely had to keep our eye on the ball.

In fact DS2 is in Yr 10 there now and has asked us to find a french tutor for him as he says he'll never pass it without one -he says the teacher spends the whole time writing people's names on the board (30 in the class). So yes, it definitely took some 'outside influence' by us.

In contrast, DS1s private 6th form is totally on the ball when it comes to kids slipping through the net. They also expect that most, if not all, their pupils will go on to university, which DS1 wants to do, and he has said 'this school will help me get to where I want to go.'

I have to say, he chose the school because of lots of things- the choices at A level, its reputation for sport, its location (it is right in the city and after being at a rural school he wanted to be in the thick of things). It also just happened to be fee paying (thanks for that!)

Interestingly he also got a place at Wymondham College, mentioned further up the thread, which is an excellent state boarding school. You pay boarding fees but the education is free. But DS didn't want to board and didn't want to be so far out of town (it is a trek for us!)