6th form in 2021 - when to start looking?

[surreysnapper]

I do realise I'm getting ahead of myself here, but would like some advice please.

DD is about to start year 10 and her gcse course, options selected which she is very happy with.

I'm really not clued up on the next stage of her education after her GCSEs. When does she need to start looking at 6th form and subjects she'll like to study for A levels?

Also when do you usually apply for 6th form, I. e. would it be next summer for 2021 entry?

My dd is also going into y10. Around here a lot of the colleges/ 6th forms seem to have taster days around the end of y10.

Are you looking at State? Private? Or Sixth Form college?
There will be open evenings for colleges this Autumn, that you (and your Dd can just turn up to, she won't be the only year 10 although most will be year 11.
Does her school have a sixth form? They will have their own recruitment plans, including taster sessions probably next summer, open eveings probably in the Autumn.
If you are looking at private then you do want to start looking now, as they will have early closing dates early next Autumn, followed by entry tests etc.
In my experience Sixth form colleges have open evening in the summer of year 10 and the earliest you can apply will be pretty much straight after that. But usually you can keep applying until January/February of year 11- and later if they have places. Schools quite often allow applications to their own sixth form in January/February year 11.

Differences to application to secondary:
There is no common application form - you just apply to each one separately.
You can hold more than one offer, not limit on the number of offers - although it is polite to release places when you firmly decide against them.
Their is usually no distance criteria - if you can get there you can get in (no true everywhere, i.e. Peter Simmonds I think).
Oh and it is your DD who actually applies in most cases.
It is usually advised to have more than one offer eg an Academic one and a back up (maybe BTecs at a technical college).

My DC is going into Year 11. We have looked at entrance criteria online (to give him an idea of how schools vary in their expectations) but he's not seen any sixth forms other than the one attached to the school he currently goes to, and indeed has absolutely no idea what he wants to do next year (and I do mean none).
so if your child is already clear about what they want they want to study (bearing in mind that schools can change their offerings each year) it might be worth you having a look at schools now, otherwise I'd suggest leaving it till year 11.

(i'm talking about state options here, accept you may need to look earlier for private).

Round me in Hants it is all 6th form colleges, so everyone has to make an active choice. Round here you apply in the autumn term of y11.

DD1 didn't have a clue and was borderline A levels / BTEC so we started doing some open days in autumn of y10, just to get a feel of what as out there. Then went back again in summer y10 for a more detailed chat about specific courses, and then again in autumn y11 before applying.

DD2 is about to enter y10. We aren't bothering with open evenings this coming term, as we as a family have more understanding plus she isn't mature enough yet. But we have had some discussions and have a few courses in mind that might suit. We are going to do some web browsing (meant to do it this summer but didn't get around to it).

My DS is a year ahead and it’s September time we go on a tour of our school 6th form and I’m sure other colleges etc have open evenings. Unless you’re wanting to look at a lot and potential date clashes I’d wait another year. We started conversations about A levels in year 10 and my son was invited to sit in with the 6th floor for an Oxford Uni chat. So not too early to start thinking about it. We are also thinking about uni and courses as A levels will be relevant.

My DS will be going to his school sixth form, easy to get to, he knows the teachers and it’s an excellent school.