Help choosing a 6th form school

[6thmum]

Hello all,
I would be grateful for any tips re choosing a 6th form school for my DS. We live overseas but he is currently in Yr 11 at a co-ed. He is bright but finds it difficult to knuckle down and get work done so his teachers complain of underachievement in almost all subjects. I'm looking for a boys only school (less distractions I think) with a reputation for coaxing average boys to academic brilliance. Any tips please?

I think you need to contact someone like the Gabbatis trust or Good Schools guide consultants. I know of very few schools which just have boys in sixth form, and none of those I know take boys just for sixth form (as far as I am aware). Also I assume you don't want to send him to a school which changes totally in character for the sixth form, some seem to just fill up with overseas students at that age.

So I think you would do well to get specialist help, especially as it is so late - my DD in year 11 state school is already applying for sixth form, and some tests/interviews start pretty soon.

Erm .... Just locally there's Dulwich College and Whitgift in the private sector both of which are boys only and both of which take new pupils into the sixth form. In the state sector wimbledon college takes new boys post 16 as does Ernest Bevin (which is technically co-ed at sixth form but the number of girls is pretty tiny). Further afield City of London Boys school also has sixth form entry plus the sutton grammar schools. I'm sure that pattern is replicated in other parts of the country too. Where will you be living or is it just your ds coming to the uk?

Thanks mummytime. How about schools that are all boys from first year please? Someone mentioned the ff schools to me - Abingdon, Winchester & Radley, but quickly added that they will only take the brightest- they are not really interested in boys with potential who can be nurtured to excel as my DS is. Does anyone have any views on this? I guess I would consider co-ed if I found one with that type of reputation. Just feel he will reach his potential faster without the distractions of girls. Thoughts anyone?

Do you mean a boarding school or are you planning on moving back to the UK?
Most sixth forms offer places based on a student's GCSE (or iGCSE) results - will he have any such qualifications or an international equivalent such as international O levels or Brevet?
In the independent (fee paying sector) most sixth forms would want top grades at GCSE which may not be attainable by a student of average ability.
Some schools in the UK (in the independent sector and international schools) do follow the IB system: so this could be a good bet for a student who has followed this programme lower down the school.
There is an all boys independent day school in my area that takes boys for sixth form (A levels) but it is a school with high academic reputation and may not be a good fit.

Just my DS coming to the UK so boarding is essential.

What is really most important is to find a school that has a reputation for consistently turning average/above average students into high fliers. The boys only bit is just me trying to eliminate distractions.

Dear crazymum53, it's just him coming we're not moving so definitely boarding. He's at a British curriculum school now and doing IGCSEs this year. I don't think the rigours of the IB will be for him so that may not be an option.

What are his predicted grades? The vast majority of independent schools will want pupils to have a minimum of an A in any subject they plan to take at A-level

Crazymum53 - what's the name of the boys school in your area that takes boys in the 6th form please?

I think schools like Abingdon. Radley (even more Wimchester) will be very selective for 6th form so will be looking for the highest grades. I suspect Whitgift is similar as it will be looking to boost its results.
Sherborne school is boys only and may be less selective.

Thanks. Will check Sherborne out.

I very much doubt that Winchester would take or be interested in "coaxing an average boy to academic excellence". They do take boys into their 6 th form but only if vacancies arise. These mainly come up because they've chucked out those who are bright but failed to get top grades in their (I) GCSE's!
Secondly if he can't cope with the rigours of the IB I doubt he would cope with the rigours of the significantly harder Pre U.
You may not find it easy OP to find a school many schools which at 13+ are not overly selective become much more selective at 16 because as said above they are looking for pupils to come into their 6 th form who are gong to boost their results.

According to their website Sherbourne want B's in the subjects to be studied at A level. If you offer 10 (I)GCSE's you have to have 50 points an A* is 8 points an A is 7 etc.
This may be the minimum requirement if entrance is competitive he may require more.

Have you looked at Warwick School? It is all boys and has a small boarding section. Warwick prides itself on welcoming a wide ability range and getting the best out of each child. It has a good reputation for nuturing its boys and all the people I know are very happy with the school.

There is a link with Kings which is the girls school in Warwick so boys get the benefit of some contact with girls without the distraction all the time.

If you are travelling from overseas Warwick is on a direct trainline from London or alternatively, depending where you live, there may be flights to Birmingham Airport which is about 30 mins away.

one of the problems is what you are asking would be very hard to find at sixth form since by that time in many academic schools new candidates are expected to come with high grades and good work ethic. Sixth form is seen as a time for developing greater independence and requiring more self motivation.
Schools like Radley and co might have worked well for installing a work ethic in your DS had they had him at 13 but would n't want him without evidence of that already in situ at selection for 16 (particularly as places are rare).
If your priority is the best academic results with the school drilling him there are boarding 'crammers' which specialise in getting good results out of retake candidates. If you want him to develop with the availability of good teaching and extracurricular opportunities then some of the less academic schools will do well but there are no guarantees that they can get a sixth former to 'knuckle down' without his cooperation.

Would you consider a catholic school? There are some boarding schools that are not hugely selective, but get 40%A*/A at A'Level. They normally have good pastoral care and high value added, but clearly are no good if you are an atheist. Usually are ok if you are another Christian denomination. Most are co-ed now.

I really do not think you can turn around academic results by banning girls. Many very good schools have girls in the 6th form and often the girls are more mature and work hard. Therefore I would definitely include co-ed schools in your search and perhaps look at ones which do not have the most stellar results. These could include Stowe, Pangbourne College and Bradfield College.

The only all-boys school in my area is a day school OP.
There is a co-ed boarding school which requires 6 B grades (minimum) at GCSE - but for some subjects (Science and Maths) the entry grades may be higher. It's this one www.cliftoncollege.com.
Some schools may possibly lower academic requirements if your son is good at sport. In most all boys schools though, sport is very important and so such schools may not suit a non-sporty child.

Dear all, sorry to be AWOL! This has all been very helpful. Think will now extend search to co-eds. Does anyone have any lowdown on/ personal experience of Malvern College please? I'm not very fond of league tables and such but how does it really compare to Winchester, Abingdon and Radley? I don't want to rely on gsg and tattler. Rather have personal mn opinions. Thanks

As you looking for full boarding then Bradfield, which is I'm told by a friends very good, is sadly no good for you as it's basically a weekly boarding school.
St Edwards? Full boarding lots of everything and the bright do well, results improving yr on yr with new head. Good pastoral care. Stowe also full boarding, friends had a rubbish experience there, but some on here rate it.
What are his predicted IGCSE results? Other full boarding schools are Kings Canterbury, Marlborough, both quite academic, and Uppingham. Oakham again popular on here a big school with a mix of day weekly and full boarders. There is at least one other full boarding school further North but it's way outside of my area and I can't remember it's name!
How do they compare to Winchester, Abingdon and Radley.
Three very different schools for a start. But at all those I mentioned above the bright will do well, all went good results including Oxbridge entry so will encourage any pupil who looks like they have the potential to do very well. But school can force a reluctant 16 year old to work, or turn an average child into a genius.

But noschool can force a reluctant 16 year old to work.
Sorry to early in the morning.

My experience of Warwick school is that they are very unkeen on lads who are bright but unkeen to work.

However, my experience is 20 years old now so things may have changed.

Let's face it most schools are going to be "unkeen" on bright (or average) children who are "unkeen" to work.
Many are increasingly over subscribed for 16+ entrance with many able students coming from abroad so schools can afford to be fussy.

Regarding Warwick I can only speak as I find. It really has a great reputation for motivating the boys to achieve the best they can. Things like emails home when boys have tried hard or done well at something.

The boys i know are a mixed bag academically (though not stupid) and like lots of boys want to do as little as possible unless it involves sport. To me a good school should get the best out of this type of child and Warwick does. It is easy for a school to get success with just the highly motivated academic kids.

It may not have enough boarding pupils however for some.

Winchester, Abingdon and Radley are three very different schools? How so please?