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Secondary education

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Should I move to a new sixth form?

9 replies

burningsermon · 04/06/2012 18:39

I am currently at a comprehensive school in year 11 and will be going into sixth form this September. I have been offered a place at a grammar school and I don't know whether I should go or not?

Regardless of where I go, I will be studying maths, further maths, physics and chemistry. I?m predicted mostly a*s and a grades for my GCSE results and so far exams are going very well (half way there!). The grammar school is selective and therefore has much better results at a-level, yet my school is probably the best comprehensive school in the area.

I don't know if I should accept the offer or not? I know that I can do well where ever I go as I am good at studying by myself and am very dedicated/motivated with regards to revision; plus all my friends are at my current school. I also know and have the support of the teachers at my current school, whom I have gotten to know over the past 5 years. At the new school I would be just another student with no connection with any of the teachers.

Would going to a grammar school be more impressive when it comes to applying for university? The UCAS support at my school is excellent, but would universities favour a grammar school student?

I don?t want to regret this decision for the rest of my life, I have no idea what to do. Have you moved sixth forms? Advice would be much appreciated, thanks a lot!! :--)

This is my current school: www.johnwarner.org.uk/

This is the school I have an offer at: web.latymer.co.uk/

BQ: Do you have any advice for doing well at sixth form?

OP posts:
Kez100 · 04/06/2012 18:50

What are the practicalities of getting to each from where you live?

burningsermon · 04/06/2012 18:52

My school at the moment is a ten minute train journey north (2 stops), the grammar school is a ten minute train journey south (3 stops). Take about half an hour to get to each.

OP posts:
ClaireBunting · 04/06/2012 18:59

I think it is good to stay put. The teachers know you and you will be able to hit the ground running with your A-level courses.

You will also be able to take on responsibilities at school, and perhaps even be head girl.

gettingalifenow · 05/06/2012 09:23

It sounds like you'll do really well, whatever you decide.

But I would say, take a careful look at the results which both schools get and see if it's u usual at your current school to get the grades you'd like - Latymer has a good track record of getting high grades. To me, that indicates good and consistent teaching and also a good cohort of pupils with high ability. If you find yourself as one of only a very few with high ability you will be held back and not have the opportunities to engage with the subject which you would at Latymer.

Also, what is the track record f both schools in getting pupils into the subject and university which you are hoping for? I'd go with the one with the best track record on that.

If lots of children in your area change schools at this stage, if you do move, there will be lots of people in the sAme boat and you'll quickly make friends. And the teachers will be used to new pupils - in a big school, you may never have been taught by the A level teacher in any case.

Good luck !

difficultpickle · 05/06/2012 09:29

I would look at the results and the teaching support and go with your gut instinct - where do you think you will feel happiest. I stayed at my school for sixth form having done very well for my O levels (I am very old!). I didn't do as well for my A levels as the teaching staff were on the most part pretty disinterested in teaching - eg both of my history teachers were writing books and spent our lessons discussing their books which had no relevance to our course. I ended up having to teach myself for two of my A levels which was really demotivating. One of our teachers spent his lessons doing the Times crossword.

I had no idea the teaching would be so poor until I was actually in the sixth form.

SecretSquirrels · 05/06/2012 10:25

My son had exactly the same decision to make and is doing the same A levels as you.
He decided to choose the sixth form college instead of the grammar school.

  1. Their results are similar and like you he will do well wherever he goes.
  2. The 6th form is much bigger and offers a much greater range of enrichment subjects as well as academic ones.
3 . Socially, he thought the grammar school kids would have been together since year 7 and it would be hard to "break in". Whereas at 6th form his established friends would be going there plus students from all over town. In other words everyone in the same position.
  1. The grammar in our case is 25 miles away and would involve a lot more travelling.
WoodRose · 05/06/2012 11:24

It sounds as if you will do whichever you choose. Smile

If I were you, I would focus on how well each school prepares its 6th formers for university entrance. For example, if you are interested in Oxbridge, I would look at whether a school offers preparation for entrance exams and interviews. It is also worth looking at leavers's destination universities as there may be a connection between the school and your preferred college/ university.

senua · 07/06/2012 09:27

Look carefully at statistics because schools are very good at presenting them in the best light. How and why does the Grammar get the best results?
It could be simply because they attract the best pupils, who would get those results anywhere.
It could be because they have brilliant teachers, although rumour has it that some Grammar teachers aren't very good (they don't need to be in a school of motivated, well-behaved autodidacts).
It could be that pupils get good results because, if it looks like they won't, they get ruthlessly weeded out. Ask about the Grammar school's retention rate (jargon for what percentage make it through from Y12 to Y13).
It could be that the results aren't totally the work of the school - many, many students have tutors.

Again, be careful in looking at statistics. The Grammar may have a wonderful record in getting pupils in to Oxbridge/Russell Group but if they are all Arts or Humanities students then that is not much to you. What is the record (over time, one year might be a blip) in your specific subjects. Try not to generalise too much: if a Department gets most of its pupils an A grade then it does not guarantee that you will get an A grade. Conversely, if a Department never gets an A grade then you can be pretty sure that you won't either. You need a department that is capable of producing an A, and then make sure that that A is you.

Have you investigated in depth how they teach Maths? Some schools do Maths&FM at AS level in Y12 then the A2 in Y12. Some do the full AS/A2 in Maths in Y12 and then the full FM in Y13. Do you know what provision there is for STEP?

Bear in mind that many pupils find the jump from GCSE to A Level difficult. You may stuggle a little at either school until you find your feet. Some schools have tried to alleviate this by not sitting January AS modules, they take them all in the summer. Do you know both schools position on this?

I do feel that exams are very hard for your generation. In my day to get an A Grade was impressive, it meant something. Nowadays, a quarter of all results are A/A* and 12% of pupils get all three A2 at A Grade. It is much harder to stand out from the crowd now. Make sure that you have something else to add to your Personal Statement apart from exam results.

I would normally advise along the lines of carpe diem but, unless the Grammar was streets ahead of your current school (and it sounds as if it isn't, or else you wouldn't be asking), I would advise staying where you are: you know the system, the system knows you, you won't have to try to juggle two sets of friends, you are more likely to get honours (prefect, first team, lead in drama, etc) in your existing school.

Don't look at this as "a decision I might regret for the rest of my life". You are getting to the stage where your results do not depend so much on how well your school has prepared you, but on how well you manage yourself. A Level and degree grades are not so much down to good pedagogy by teachers but, instead, dedicated learning by students.

HTH and do come back to MN again: there are some people on here who are very knowledgeable on education.
Good luck with the rest of the exams.

iseenodust · 07/06/2012 10:24

Something motivated you to consider & apply for the grammar school in the first place. What was that and has it changed in the intervening months?

I changed schools from a very large comprehensive to indie for 6th form (many years ago) and have absolutely no regrets about that.

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