Farnborough or Alton 6th form colleges????

[hellenback]

Spoilt for choice - DC looking at humanties options - both colleges look great but would like an inside view. DC really not very organised - are the colleges good with feedback to parents for instance? Are class sizes OK? Are they happy places? How many parties/socials do they have and does it take a while to knuckle down to work? A yes in our case I'm sure :/

We went to an open evening at Farnborough and were very impressed by the principal there. Has your dc applied? Deadline was Sunday. Didn't sound like there was much feedback to parents there - lots of emphasis on growing up and being independent. They said the average class size was 18.

Haven't looked at Alton, too far for us.

Feedback to parents is limited at 6th form college IMHO. Feedback is direct to students as they are expected to take responsibility much more in prep for Uni and work.

Termly reports, parents evening, emails for absence without leave, phone calls for serious concerns after student has been warned eg about lack of homework. That's what we get.

Farnborough and alton both very good. Alton possibly slightly ahead but I know more families there than at Fbrgh so that might skew my views.

Godalming also very popular...

Meant to say, all 6th forms very social/parties/sports etc as far me and my friends have found with our DCs! Is like freshers year at Uni...lots of making new friends and branching out socially and academically.

Also pace of work is fast and a step up from school. They have to knuckle down straight away and it's a bit of a shock for some

Teachers will be thinking of predicted grades for Uni applications by the end of the first term so the students have to get on and prove themselves.

I was nervous for my DS as he is Summer born and pretty lazy, though bright. He quickly got the message that he needed to grow up a bit. And he did.

He was at one of the colleges mentioned, but I don't want to out him or me!

PM me if you want.

Thanks all we also have some SEN issue's to juggle - both colleges look great (very lucky) and stats more or less the same. Sometimes having no choice is much easier :)

These are my local colleges- both very good. Which is easiest to get to? Where are DC's friends going?

Just to say, Farnborough 6th Form College is a lovely college, but oversubscribed! According to Wikipedia, last year there were 3.000 applicants for 1,600 places. They take from their feeder schools first, the ones that don't have a sixth form.

Have you seen their admissions policy on their website? (Click on 'New Students' tab then choose 'Admissions' from the green menu down the left hand side, then open pdf 'Admissions Policy'

It isn't first come first served, or even the highest predicted grades. Unless you have a special circumstance, or are a potential music scholar it isn't a 'walk in'! Good Luck!

DD will be going to PSC
who constantly gloss over the fact that Farnborough whump them in some results
Alton is much smaller and a bit cuddlier

NB
the oversubscription thing is a bit of a red herring in Hampshire
in that every kids applies to a couple of colleges but only has one really in mind
its way over 95% getting into first choice in Hampshire

seriously, round here we have >6 to choose from (PS, BP, Brock, Tauntons, Totton, City, Sparsholt, Eastleigh) and friends in London are spitting at our options!

talk to the college - where makes you feel at home ?