Move from Independent day school to boarding for sixth form

[harlowcar]

I'm thinking of moving my son from a private day school in London to boarding in his sixth form. This is mainly due to the fact that although he's likely to pass all his GCSEs, he won't get the stellar results needed to stay on at his school. I'm looking at Marlborough, Charterhouse and Wellington at the moment, but need advice on how it's been for your child, was it the right thing to do, will he even get in. He's likely to want to do music and history amongst his A levels. Not particularly sporty, but very popular amongst his peers and into music of all sorts.

Hi. I think the schools you mention here will be expecting a high proportion of A and A* grades at GCSE for sixth form entrants. Competition for these places is hot and they are looking for candidates who will boost their A level results tables. I imagine their attitude will be very similar to that of the school he is already at.
You could look at less competitive schools, but you have to then ask what you are getting for you money.
Have you thought about state 6 th form college? Free, great results and take many from the private sector.
I get really angry at stories of fee paying selective schools who turf students out at 16 because they are likely to get Bs and Cs at GCSE. These schools selected the students at 11/13 and happily took your money for five years. So unless there are special factors such as the student refusing to work, they should IMO stand by them to the end of theor school careers.

We have thought of state sixth form too - the only problem we have is finding somewhere which can offer him a great A level music teacher. At the moment we're looking at all options. BTW I agree with you re private schools sixth form policy, but many of them live or die by the league tables.

I would also consider St Edwards in Oxford (strong music) and possible Bradfields for weekly boarding. Both those schools would be looking at the other contributions he would make and would take a wider range of academic ability.

Any respectable independent will have sound views on where he can transfer that will bring out the best in him. They really should know him very well, and have pointed this out in the termly reports which tend to show exactly where he is in his year, for each subject. What do his house master and tutors say? Many of them will be parents themselves, and will have views, which may help you choose. London schools with strong A level music are not difficult to track down.

The music at Wellington is outstanding - all sorts of ensembles etc. However it does have high academic aspirations, although if your DS is genuinely outstanding at music then that will trump any academic weakness. I know people who got in because their musical/sporting/acting ability alone.

There is indeed no shortage of good London schools with excellent music departments, but the problem is that for sixth form entry they are looking for mainly A*/A at GCS, which I don't think my son will achieve. If he does well, he will be able to stay on at his current school which will solve all problems. I am looking round for alternatives at the moment to cover the worst case scenario. Temporary - thanks for the tips, I'll look into them. Halved fees - good to hear about Wellington.

Hmm, I bet you can find an excellent music and History dept within any one of a number of decent independent schools (state schools likely to have great history teaching too but less good offer for a musician). Ds's non-selective (but nowhere near full boarding) has an amazing music dept and a record of all A/A* at A level history - and it's non-selective (they just need 6 Cs incl a B in their chosen subject at GCSE).

It's a school you won't have heard of so I'm sure there are plenty of others.

harlowcar, DD is in Yr 13. Two years ago her school rattled a number of parents by making clear that progress to sixth form would be dependent on grades, and that they should ensure they had other options should things go wrong.

There was a lot of panic and a lot of extra tutoring, but almost all were able to stay on. I assume to some extent the school wanted to produce a sense of urgency.

Ralphsteadmanseye I seem to have inadvertently pissed you off. I suspect your point is that you think I'm only after "big name" schools. Not true. I have no experience of boarding schools and the three I mentioned were recommended to me by current parents. Would you like to recommend your school to me?

DD2 has moved from a private independent outside London to Rugby for sixth form

Cranleigh or Bedes ?

Gosh, no you haven't pissed me off at all. I was just commenting after other posters were saying your ds might not get into any of the schools mentioned with his grades so I was just saying that there are loads of other good schools that you might not have heard of, especially if you are considering boarding, so there should be lots of options, particularly as you just need good teaching in 3-4 subject areas at sixth form...

Sorry if I offended.

RalpSteadmanseye - glad to hear I've not offended you! This is a trawling exercise at the moment. I'm looking to get some suggestions and then whittle them down.

Cathyandclaire - I recognise that name from my Jackie days. Thanks for the reassurance. Boarding is not my first choice but I suspect my very independent son would love it!

Look at Uppingham?

If these schools offer only A levels then he might be best moving to a state college if he is likely to score Bs and Cs (unless his particular choices - music etc are very high scoring). I say this to protect him from failure at that level. My son was not even allowed to do A levels with a B/C profile and no A+ in chosen subjects and his mates with marginally better GCSE grades failed AS level. Again, they didn't have high grades in their chosen subject. All this at very good state college.

Hi Kez, I think I may have given the impression he's less academic than he is. He's fantastic at the subjects he wants to do at A Level but that may not be enough to get past the points barrier at his current school. I am not particularly hung up on independent schooling, but thought it may be a good chance for him to experience a different kind of school at sixth form.

What is he looking at GCSE result wise? Different schools have different entry requirements, we could make more recommendations if we knew what he is roughly likely to get.

Just a couple of additional thoughts.
Is he in Y10 or Y11? If you are looking for a place in Y12 for September 2016 you may need to get your skates on as many allocate places in January if not before. Though I imagine there is movement after the GCSE results emerge.
Where are you? An idea would help for state A level music recommendations.
Peter Symonds in Winchester is state, offers boarding and has a fantastic music department. I know a couple of families who moved there for 6th form after private/international schools and loved it.

Wellington College is more oversubscribed for 6th form entry than they are for 13+ and competition is fierce - last I heard there was 5 candidates for each place offered and I believe the window for sixth form applications for 2019 has already closed (1st June to 30th September).

How about Brighton College? It is academic, so it could be tricky to get in to but it has a great music department. You'd have to be quick as the deadline is end of the month.

Regarding state 6th forms - they're also driven by league tables. My nephew was asked to leave after he said he didn't want to go to University! They waited until they had the full fees from the local authority first then.... Many 6th form now recognise there are other paths to the future. (nephew is 4 days working 1 day at uni all paid for by the employer... )
I think Brighton had a student head straight to an apprenticeship rather than Uni this year. All it said to me was that it was a school that thought more about the person at the end of the A level course than Uni destinations..... Fingers and toes crossed more academic schools follow suit. Apologies for digressing a little but its another school to put on the long list.

I was told that Marlborough is supposed to have the best music outside of a specialist music school.

This thread is from 2015 I think the OP's child will have finished 6th form now.

Bedford School is pretty good on the Music front and offers boarding - not too far from London too - so your son could easily weekly board. They offer Music and Music Technology at A level in separate blocks.

For heavens sake.

ZOMBIE thread from 2015.

Why does this stuff resurface?

harlowcar - to cakeisalwaystheanswer's point, you'll have made your decision and he'll have finished. What did you go for in the end? We need to know!

InterestedinStuff - also to cakeisalwaystheanswer's point, do you dabble in necromancy?