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Secondary education

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Original poster

Good 6th forms in London

51 replies

almostfinished1514 · 28/11/2015 17:58

DD's expecting her results from NLCS this week about whether she got in or not, but she felt her interview didn't go so well and is trying to hurry me into applying to other schools for her.
I know most independent schools have already had their entrance exams, but I know of a few (such as St Helen's) who also have a January exam.
Does anyone know of any more of these? (with exception to Habs)
Also any good selective schools or non selective schools?
We live in North West London, so anywhere that would take around an hour or less.....
Also, she wouldn't mind a religious school and we're Jewish so any good Jewish schools that people recommend?

OP posts:
mummytime · 29/11/2015 21:58

If she wants to do STEM then she shouldn't consider any school where the class size is 1-3. The school must be teaching those subjects badly to teach such small classes.

There is such a thing as too small classes at sixth form.

I was shocked when looking around my local very selective girls school that one girl was the only one studying A'level Textiles, she would have done better at the local state school with a vibrant cohort in the subject.

Original poster
almostfinished1514 · 29/11/2015 22:07

mummytime - some schools, especially girls schools, lack students who take physics - My dd's favourite subject. Often this is because the gender stereotype. At dd's current co-ed, there are usually only a couple of girls who take Physics but about 30-40 boys.
I would say that textiles is different to STEM subjects though.... and the only class that she would be the only pupil in is physics....
Wiifitmama - I've never heard of STEM academy - I'll look it up.

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Needmoresleep · 30/11/2015 00:15

No Saturday school for Harris Westminster unless you were to pick one of the niche subjects taught at Westminster School.

www.harrisfederation.org.uk/47/latest-news/article/185/could-harris-westminster-be-the-most-elitist-school-in-the-country#.VluSTMlFDqA

It's only been going a couple of years but I understand entry is becoming increasingly competitive.

Original poster
almostfinished1514 · 30/11/2015 07:07

Needmoresleep - the "niche" subjects being......
I feel like DD would be a minority in her own right!
She's been talking to HW pupils on TSR and she likes the sound of it - so we'll see.

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mummytime · 30/11/2015 07:35

Well around here all schools have at least 5-10 girls doing Physics. And the girls schools have far more. But then a lot of the high achievers are aiming at medicine.

As the only girl to do Physics in my school , I wouldn't want my DD in the same situation.

Needmoresleep · 30/11/2015 09:27

Almost finished.

Answers here:

www.harriswestminstersixthform.org.uk/uploads/asset_file/3_0_the-times-pupils-queue-up.pdf

I think it is an interesting approach. DC have been private all the way and several of their close friends have been on bursaries. I support this as one of my concerns has been that they remain grounded, despite a Central London upbringing. However I cannot be the only one who has wondered how one or two have managed to claim that they are less well off than, say, we are. Flash cars, exotic holiday, and the snooty to boot. A link with a sixth form, allowing a much larger number to benefit, seems a better idea. I understand the concern, expressed in the Telegraph article, about pupils at one school potentially feeling like the poor relations. However these are sixth formers, and they have chosen somewhere which hopefully will deliver on its promise to have sky high aspirations and access to things that count, like curriculum extention activities, University preparation, etc. And it has to be a real plus for Westminster pupils to understand that they may be bright but they are also priviledged and that others are just as good and eager to share in some of the activities they may take for granted.

That said, it is a new school, and I don't know how they are coping with the awful problems Central London state schools (and some privates) seem to have with science teacher recruitment.

Original poster
almostfinished1514 · 30/11/2015 19:29

mummytime - I know it isn't always a good sign if there's only one doing that subject but it's like having a one on one tutor - Most children find one on one tuition helpful...
Needmoresleep - With the science teachers, I know so many schools where they don't have enough science teachers! (even out of London)

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Ladymuck · 30/11/2015 19:53

"Most children find one on one tuition helpful"

As a supplement to group learning, yes. But with no opportunity to learn from other pupils in the class, it can be a fairly solitary and intense experience. You need to make sure that the teachers are very very good. You wouldn't sign up your dd for 1-1 tuition for a 2 year commitment without having done some sort of trial first.

Original poster
almostfinished1514 · 30/11/2015 19:59

If she doesn't enjoy it - and that's only if she actually got in - then she'd probably switch to Physics SL. She spoke to a few girls at the interview who were considering doing Physics HL so if they all got in, she wouldn't actually be by herself.

She might not actually get in!! If I end up needing to resurrect this post because she gets in and is the only one in the class, then I will.

Again - thanks,

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horsemadmom · 01/12/2015 07:09

The girls who currently do IB Physics are quite passionate about the subject and very good at it and have opted for HL. If only one girl opted for SL, she would do the parts of the syllabus in common with HL girls and have one on one for the rest. The lessons are also combined with A level classes for some subjects. It sounds complicated but basically boils down to this-
You can choose any combiation of subjects, the school will create a timetable for you. FYI- most girls who do purely STEM still do the A level pathway.

horsemadmom · 01/12/2015 07:10

DD adds- A Level is much easier

Original poster
almostfinished1514 · 01/12/2015 17:18

DD knows A levels are easier, but she really likes the sound of IB and she wants to go to Uni in the US (life dream but I don't know how realistic....) so she feels it would help her more to do IB than A level.
We're meant to be finding out tomorrow Xmas Hmm...

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Original poster
almostfinished1514 · 01/12/2015 17:21

DD got her letter - DS just found it in the post.
Not a rejection...... but she's on a "short" waiting list - I'm so happy she hasn't been completely rejected now.... but I doubt she'll be getting a bursary if she does get in.....
Well....

OP posts:
horsemadmom · 01/12/2015 17:53

Qualified mazel tov!
Call Graham Partington (bursar) tomorrow and ask for a meeting. He's really nice and I'm sure he'll let you know what your chances are. IB is tough but worth it. They do end up very well rounded. Bare in mind, she may be able to change her mind in September if the reality is too intense (if she gets a place- SPGS and Westminster sometimes win out) and do A Level/PreU.

Ladymuck · 01/12/2015 19:17

Hope that your wait is a short one!

Original poster
almostfinished1514 · 01/12/2015 20:13

Thanks -
horsemadmom - Do you know if I'd be able to just speak to him on the phone?
I was thinking that if she did eventually get offered a place, and it wasn't a full bursary, I could see if she could get s scholarship from the Odgen trsut? She wants to take Physics at uni.... - but I don't know if Odgen only gives scholarships for A level....
DD said there were a lot of girls who were taking the January exam for Habs, she hopes some of them will accept places at Habs instead.
Thanks again all Smile

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horsemadmom · 01/12/2015 20:20

Of course you can phone him! He's really helpful and may know some other funding routes to look at.
Lots of girls will have offers from several schools and make decisions based on all kinds of factors. Worth remembering that NLCS won't know if any of their girls are leaving yet. It's only a handful per year but it will free up space. Hang in there!

Original poster
almostfinished1514 · 01/12/2015 20:44

hosemadmom - Do the girls have to say they won't be returning before a certain date (the NLCS girls?).
If they don't, then there won't be that many free places - they'll just offer the 20-25.... though I'm guessing that they want at least 20...
Wish it was like Habs who accept as many girls as they want (or reject as many as they want)

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horsemadmom · 01/12/2015 21:01

They have to say before summer term. We are talking about between 3-10 girls (last few years numbers). The calculation for intake numbers will be based on how many plan to do which subjects and which pathway. It gets tweaked along the way but they do an amazing job of organising so that the teaching groups stay as small as possible. Don't worry about it now.
DD just needs to concentrate on getting great grades on her GCSEs. All the offers are subject to this anyway and some who hold offers may miss.

Original poster
almostfinished1514 · 01/12/2015 21:10

At Habs they said that no girls moved from Habs to NLCS, only vice versa - Quite hard to believe that that is the case... but DD saw quite a few Habs girls at the exams and no NLCS girls at her Habs exams, so we'll see.
I'm going to ring UCS and maybe a few others schools tomorrow (If I get a chance) and see what they say about DD being a (very) late applicant.

  • Thanks again all
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Tomatoesareyum · 02/12/2015 13:21

You could consider Immanuel too as a back up, they offer 6th form scholarships and bursaries. 6th form is small I think but excellent. I imagine they would bite your hand off. The school itself is going through a massuve rise in popularity lower down the school, the new prep school is almost full, they took in a brand new year 6 class and filled it and current year 7 is completely full and holding a waiting list and and it is getting fuller by the year and has a really lovely, if somewhat old fashioned atmosphere.

horsemadmom · 02/12/2015 15:44

I've never heard of an NLCS girl moving to Habs for 6th form. Ever.
If they leave, it's for Westminster or another co-ed (UCS, Hgate) or boarding (W.A.) very occasionally .
Habs lied.

HormonalHeap · 02/12/2015 16:29

Hope you don't mind me joining and asking a quick question. Do any of you know if it's normal for Sixth forms to ask for a recent report? Having a nightmare with ds at Habs, putting in minimal effort so will most probably not be kept on. When i contacted Brampton they asked to see his report (not glowing that's for sure) before they even met him.. so just wondered if Immanuel and others will also want this?

AgonyBeetle · 02/12/2015 16:37

State sixth forms don't ask to see a report, iirc, but they will write to the current school to get predicted grades. Not sure if that includes more detail about eg behaviour, but I don't think they were in any way detailed reports, as that would put the schools in an awkward position if the candidate were denied a 6th form place on the basis of information they had supplied. So I'm fairly sure they only supply general info on eg. predicted grades and attendance.

Private schools have much more leeway in terms of their selection, so maybe more likely to ask for info that state sixth forms wouldn't.

HormonalHeap · 02/12/2015 16:53

Thanks Agony for answering, we're keeping our options open by applying to both state and private- a reference is one thing but his last report.. next please!