sixth form applications

[bestbefore]

We are currently applying to sixth forms in Herts and have applied for 3 (inc current school) for our DD. It's likely we will get offers from all 3 (conditional offers) but someone indicated today we'd need to accept or decline each offer. I'd kind of thought we could just keep all 3 offers on the table and decide when she gets her results which one to go for - does anyone know whether we can say yes to all and then decline in August, or whether we do have to choose now (and if we change minds in Aug contact those and beg for a place)?

Reason is all three offer different courses and it kind of depends on latest thoughts on careers/ next steps at 18 and results as to what she'd like to go for (not to do with where friends go).

This all seems a lot harder than secondary applications at 11...!

TIA

DS2 applied this time last year (also Herts).
He kept three offers open until August.
Then on the morning of results day he emailed two of them to decline.

Thanks, did he just not reply to the 3 schools then? Did they chase him??

I can't help but feel some sort of central admissions system for this level would be good - inc colleges. The colleges we looked at were awful for admissions...

If everyone decides in August, how do they plan teaching resources and what subjects can run? Private schools want s terms notice if you leave. It seems reasonable to let them know by Easter. People run the risk of subjects not running if everyone hedged their bets. Do you not have a front runner? And a back up?

Thanks, did he just not reply to the 3 schools then? Did they chase him??

He replied to all three, explaining that he would like to keep the offer open and admitting that he was also holding on to other offers. He emailed them by 9:30am on results day to confirm/decline.

I agree @BubblesBuddy - i wouldn't want to be in their shoes! But I do know people who have - come results day - switched schools at the relatively last minute so I guess the planning can only go so far.
The schools for sure will advise picking one but it just seems like a gamble as they all offer different course and have slightly different entrance requirements.
I expect for 90% of kids they are fixed on where they are going so it's ok for the planners.

And the first choice seems to vary daily!

If everyone decides in August, how do they plan teaching resources and what subjects can run?

The school where I work estimates (based on data from previous years) what proportion of accepted offers will be taken up.

@TheFirstOHN that sounds reasonable..expect they all know whose applying where anyway. Schools these days are desperate for sixth formers as they get additional budget I believe

I can't help but feel some sort of central admissions system for this level would be good - inc colleges

I read online this week that one LA is trialling an admissions system this year (similar to UCAS).

It's quite normal for final numbers not to be known till August. How could it be otherwise if offers depend on grades met. Certainly in my county you apply to as many as you want, receive and accept offers, then decline them once results known.

UCAS do offer a sixth form application process actually!

Thanks everyone. Might suggest we accept all offers and be honest and then see how it goes. 🤞🏻
Issue has also been our school seem to be very biased in terms of wanting people to only think about them and very much sweep under the carpet any other options.

DD is in year 13.
She applied to around half a dozen sixth forms and kept 3 offers open - her school and 2 others.
The main reason for keeping several offers was that they were grade dependant and she didn't want to not have a place if did not get high enough grades.
At the last minute one school issued a timetable change that meant she would have had to choose another subject, and her school decided to drop a subject that not enough students wanted to do.
That made the choice easy, but it was a good job she'd kept all the offers.

My Eldest DD applied to two Sixth Forms, they both offered her places. She actually choose between them after attending both Induction days at the end of June.
My younger DD is likely to do the same.

Local Sixth Forms can often offer places to late applicants at the end of August. They plan from who applies, and you can either get an Unconditional or Conditional offer. They can also tell from Grade predictions who is pretty sure/a bit uncertain/ or will be lucky to meet their offer. this helps with planning. But students do change their subject choices after their GCSE results. Eldest DD took two subjects not on her initial application after GCSE results day.
There tends to be a lot of movement and change. And going from about 10 subjects to 3/4 is a bigger narrowing than the jump to Degree from A'level, and is often made with less guidance.

I personally wouldn't want a centralised admissions process, as the option to have more than one offer for very different courses is so useful at this stage.

You can decide when he gets his results.
And if you haven’t applied to one and he meets the entrance criteria and they have a space then they have to offer him a place there.

Not in Herts, but here you just hold on to whatever offers you think might be a possibility for you.
I mean, there's no point in holding on to 6 or 7 - I think that is just selfish - but my dc3, in particular kept changing her mind. She hoped she would get a better feel after the days they held in June to come in a spend a day.

I can't help but feel some sort of central admissions system for this level would be good - inc colleges
I do agree with this - where we are, there is no central information point where you can find out where open evening were, or even what schools / colleges are offering what, without a LOT of independent research of your own. Or even what schools and colleges there even are to make enquiries about. It is ridiculous. feel it is incredibly unfair on those youngsters whose parents aren't interested or who aren't able to or capable of doing the research / supporting their dc through it.

BackforGood - agree - I keep hearing about pupils whose parents have clearly not done any research/ didn't realise they needed to apply etc - I think because with primary and secondary applications it was all much clearer wasn't it and spoon fed to an extent.
Even with a central hub you'd have to be able to have more than one offer for sure. Would just be good to have some independent body involved in the process...
thanks everyone!