Just how hard is it to get a 6th form place at an IS ?

[scattycow]

Hi Readers,
My daughter wants a sixth form boarding place at a mixed Independant school, (or even state would be fine) offering IB. She is by no means an A* student at everything, but has her strengths and weaknesses. I have visited and applied for 2 schools, Sevenoaks and Haileybury. The interviews with the registrars gave me the impression that places are extremely hard to get.

Are they keeping up appearances ? do we have any chance (we are bringing "overseas education and experience" with us which some say is a good thing) of getting a place ? or are we flogging a dead horse ?

Looking at 2013 entry, so if its the dead horse option, should I be looking elsewhere and quickly ? Are all IB schools super selective ??

Never done this before, so all advice most appreciated.

Thanks :)

If you're considering boarding - Oakham does IB (and a lot more besides) and isn't super-selective, though their IB results are excellent. Have a look at their website

scatty most sixth form colleges that admit new sixth formers only have a few extra places. Certainly at my DD's selective girls boarding school only 10 girls arrived in the sixth form. Schools usually select purely on academics as these days you have to hit the ground running. Schools that offer both A levels and IB often offer the IB to their more academic students although there are other reasons why students may choose A levels.

As a result any sixth form is often difficult to join due to numbers and this would be IME compounded if it was an IB school too by the fact that the IB is perceived as harder (more UCAS points allocated) and therefore schools are more academically selective.
Have you considered Ardingly College in Sussex?

Marlborough offers the IB and takes quite a few girls into its 6th form but it may be pretty selective and over subscribed but still worth a look at. Its only full boarding or day no weekly/flexi boarders.

Brentwood does the IB (and also offers A levels)- some boarding but mainly day pupils. Average of 48 points over 8 best GCSEs (8 B Grades.)

Thank you all for those useful replies. I shall cast my net wider and look at the other suggestions.

Just now starting to get a bit narked about all the individual entrance tests that need doing. IF i knew it was going to result in an offer, I wouldn;t mind so much ....

Did your DD take GCSEs? Five years ago my DD got a place at Oakham 6th form,without an entrance exam, on her GCSE results. 1 A* and a load of Bs - so not super selective. She loved it there and did well.

Should add that DD also got a generous bursary. Not saying that YOU need a bursary, but it goes to show that academic achievement isn't the only criterion for entrance

Try Bromsgrove School they offer both A Levels and IB. They have many students starting in Sixth Form. A very good school for my dc.