how would yo uichoose 6th Form for your academic child in SW London

[happyAvocado]

having done only visits to secondary schools ahead of my kids 11+ exams and applying for secondary schools I was able to see how little of the real school one sees when one goes on Open Days

we have number of Grammar schools with 6th form open to girls in Sutton area - but unless you are an insider - not much is to be gained from those prospectuses and great speeches done by the Heads

My dd is going to y10 this year and I feel I need to go for few Open Evenings to start gathering information.
She is likely to want to do English, Maths, Biology and perhaps Music or History. I want her to experience good teaching in English as where she is so far it was not (IMHO) outstanding as the reports for schools say.

So - how would you go about choosing 6th form? What is your experioence?

I have to say that for Secondary school I went against my intuition with my DD as we went for more local school than the next best (that is 15 walk rather than 45 min on the bus - but she often comments on quite poor teaching techniques as some are excellent and they obviously can compare), with ds - I think is spot on - should I trust my instincts again ;)

Shouldn't your DD be choosing her own sixth form seeing as its not a compulsory part of her education? I don't think I know anyone whose parents chose their sixth form, definitely no one in my family. Just my experience.

I agree she will - but there are ways to help her.
She has already some ideas but as with secondary school choice - parents should stand by their kids pointing out obvious and less obvious aspects and consequences of her choice.

So really you want to know how to help her choose?!
The only way you can is by how you've described choosing schools, Open Days, prospectuses, anecdotal evidence from friends of family etc.
Check Ofsted reports and focus on her chosen subjects. But at the end of the day instinct plays a part in any decision.

I'd also press home the point to her that actually, when it comes to A levels, the difference between success and failure is much more in the students' hands than for GCSE. Spoon feeding of information for regurgitation in exams is not the order of the day, and a self reliant and studious attitude is needed to succeed. I'd also say that being proactive in getting the help s/he needs from tutors/teachers is very helpful. If she chooses subjects that she is genuinely interested in studying, I'm sure she'll do well where ever she chooses to study.

I think she is old enough to judge for herself. The open evening should give her a chance to meet staff, see other girls and look at the facilities. Some girls might be interested in study areas, computing facilities, dress code etc - it all contributes to feeling comfortable. DD's school is near the area you mention and have nearly finished building their new Sixth Form area, which looks quite impressive.

Is Graveney too far away from you, in Tooting? It is simply the best school in the world. my dd arrived as a suicidal anorexic school-phobic and just got 5A*s 1A and maths - impossible to contemplate when she walked through the door. Coed and kids from literally every background.