Has anyone had any luck getting their child into 6th form boarding very late?

[AsTheWorldTurns]

My son is at a top day school and it seems he may not make the GCSE threshold to stay there.

He would like to board, but I spoke with an educational consultant today and she said 2019-20 boarding is essentially closed.

Would love some advice.

thanks!

[Takeittotheboss]

Your son's profile sounds very close to a friend's son. He came into sixth form application process late (due to bout of medical treatment). Also academic, wanted to be a writer, played guitar. Played Fives and tennis. Shrewsbury School ticked all the boxes. I'd give them a call.

[BubblesBuddy]

I think, maybe, OP your DS sounds a bit aloof with his requirements. I think that’s unfortunate. Boarding means you have to mix. Not all will be like you. Getting along with others is important. I wish you luck in your search. I’m not sure where will be good enough though!

[Ontopofthesunset]

But it says on those tables that the progress is measured from KS4 ie GCSEs. The schools aren't calculating their own progress data based on different things. It's the DofE that does the calculations in their opaque way. Progress isn't calculated from CAT tests on these tables even if individual schools may do that for their own internal data.

[Prufrockspeach]

Most private schools will baseline their intake in year 7 (or via the pretest process or CAT scores)...then they try and improve on them. Probably explains why the value add is minimal and sometimes negative for schools with hugely competitive entrance requirements......

[Ontopofthesunset]

But the value add can't be accurate for those private schools that have inaccurate GCSE results because of IGCSEs, surely? What are they measuring progress against if not GCSE results? Progress is calculated for most schools from GCSE to A level.

[Prufrockspeach]

Its great isn't it! Hours of fun!

[4point2fleet]

Thanks Prufrockspeach, I have just spent a cheerful half hour delving into that data. I love the school comparison tool but have only ever looked at the Primary stuff (my area). DH does the data-wrangling for his 13-18, and even he didn't know all that was on there!

[Prufrockspeach]

4Point2Fleet - You have to click on the tab for "16-18 Performance" as private schools do iGCSEs so the earlier years data is useless. It's actually got some excellent data in there including the "value add" of a school and is more reliable than the league table data in places like the Times etc

[AsTheWorldTurns]

Got it! Thanks Just. I'm googling now.

[justforareply]

PM'd you op

[PCohle]

Have you spoken to the head of your son's current school? Presumably they have a good sense of what might suit him and if their GCSE requirement is stringent this must happen fairly often.

[AsTheWorldTurns]

And thanks again for the continuing tips. Still googling/emailing.

[AsTheWorldTurns]

I think he'd prefer a more rather than less academic school, but he's going to have to measure his expectations I suppose.

He wants to be a writer, reads a lot, likes music, and I'd guess he sort of views himself as an intellectual, at the same time he's unassuming and hangs out with a diverse bunch outside of his core group (who pretty much share this description).

Absolutely not sporty, now that I've given this more thought, and has avoided team sports his entire life.

[BubblesBuddy]

Yes, but all of that does not mean a bright child won’t succeed at Bradfield.

There are lots of schools that don’t have every leaver going to RG but are still brilliant schools. I wouldn’t necessarily say Bradfield would be a good fit but it’s worth looking at and they often have 6th form spaces. (Well they used to!). Not every child is sport mad there! The same comments could apply to Stowe and it attracts lots from London and has an ambience of its own. Again not an academic powerhouse but plenty of DC do well and gain from being there.

[4point2fleet]

No idea which data you are suggesting is useful on the school comparison tool Prufrockspeach.

According to that 0% of pupils at either Bradfield or Epsom pass both English and Maths GCSE and Bradfield's 'Attainment 8' is 29.1 to Epsom's 12.5. That tool is just not helpful for comparing Independent schools.

Anyway, the point stands that really the OP needs to work directly with Registrars of potential schools, not rely on consultants (or mumsnet) to find the right school for her DS.

[Prufrockspeach]

I still wouldn't class Epsom and Bradfield in the same league if you look at A*/A , Average A-Level Grade, or percentage of kids getting AA/B in facilitating subjects (i.e. subjects required for entry into Russell Group Universities). Check out the government stats on:

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

They are worlds apart....not that thats a bad thing. It really does depend on what the OPs DS's end game is. Is he looking for eventual entry into a "top" university but not necessarily wanting to join the oxbridge bun fight which is a characteristic of most top london schools...or does he have other career aspirations that don't really need a university pathway. It really does help to be surrounded by a peer group with similar aspirations rather than feeling like you're doing something different iykwim. I think Bradfield is a great school but most of the DCs I know that went there really struggled academically but were gifted in sport (particularly football as they have a fantastic football programme there)....the "dream' for them was to be picked up by a football club or go into Sport Science as somewhere like Loughborough if it didn't work out. Likewise I have friends with DCs at Millfield who are on the Olympic swimming pathway.....

[BubblesBuddy]

Oh I see! I think you can get emailing yourself. Marlborough is ultra fashionable. It wasn’t a very good suggestion.

London day schools are not the same as boarding schools. Many boarding schools have a broader intake. A child can get all A* at Marlborough like nearly everywhere else. You don’t need 90 children all getting the same results as you to excel yourself. Enough bright children is good enough. Most boarding schools widen the education and have many opportunities to grow as a person as well as academically. You live and breathe the school.

Assuming you are not looking at the top boys schools, you may well have a decent choice. I would just get over what you perceive to be “academic”. A bright child with good teaching and enough similar children will be fine. I don’t see why they have to be hot housed with hundreds of others to succeed. It’s a bit of a herd mentality! Broaden your search and include the schools that have been suggested. Look at their newsletters to see what goes on at the school.

[AsTheWorldTurns]

I think you need to change consultant TBH. It is ridiculous to suggest a) a child wouldn't get into Malborough with all A/A*s and b) there will be no boarding places left now for September.

I haven't explained that well, she didn't say that. I've emailed Marlborough because my son sat the 13+ and we loved it (he didn't want to board at the time), but they were less than optimistic.

Quite separately, I was surprised that Marlborough was considered 'very academic' and I'm trying to work out where my son might fit in.

I’m not sure your advisor is totally correct but these schools will be at least £35,000 pa.

Definitely. It's the ed consultant I'm not sure we want to spend the money on, not the school.

[BubblesBuddy]

Marlborough for 6th form is now hugely competitive. Many others are a bit easier and some definitely won’t be full. If you like the idea of Marlborough, you could look at Stowe, Rugby, Bradfield, Haileybury, Charterhouse, Bryanston, Sherborne, Taunton, and several others. I’m not sure your advisor is totally correct but these schools will be at least £35,000 pa.

[4point2fleet]

Well, last year Epsom got 87% A*-B, Malborough 82% and Bradfield 76% so I don't think Bradfield is in a completely different league.

Box Hill 40% A*-B, so could be regarded as next tier down.

[Prufrockspeach]

I would try Epsom College - they are on the "up" academically and would offer enough "stretch" without the insane pressure of a London day school.

Charterhouse would also be a good option as there is movement after GCSEs.

OR you could try St Johns in Leatherhead who offer flexiboarding and weekly boarding. They would offer a more rounded education without falling off the academic precipice.

Box Hill and Bradfield would probably not be right - his predicted grades are far too high and you don't want to sell him short just because he hasn't thrived in an academic hothouse full of genius'!

[justforareply]

Totally agree with 4point - sounds ridiculous not knowing which schools may have later entry
All the admissions people I've spoken to been v nice and helpful - you'd use your time better ringing schools than with your consultant IMO

[Talksunderwater]

I am fairly sure I recognise the school and suggest you speak to the head. I have been told by others with older children there that in prior years he has been very helpful both with suggestions for other schools and also for helping the transfers actually to happen.

[4point2fleet]

I think you need to change consultant TBH. It is ridiculous to suggest a) a child wouldn't get into Malborough with all A/A*s and b) there will be no boarding places left now for September.

She is literally talking out of her arse.

Decide which schools you like the look of- lots of good suggestions here and I would add Bradfield. Then phone the Registrars yourself and book appointments to tour and discuss.

[AsTheWorldTurns]

Aw, thanks guys - I really appreciate all the help - there's no way we could make the open morning tomorrow, poor boy in question has school for starters, but I'm looking at it now.