Sixth form applications

[Pipandmum]

Just some advice about process please. Hi I've registered my daughter with several schools for sixth form entry, some private and one state. I registered now ahead of the October /November deadlines explaining where possible that her head of year was leaving and would like to write the recommendations, rather than the new one in the Autumn who does not know my child. I know the schools address the headmaster but I would imagine he would then turn to the head of year as generally more knowledgeable about any one child.
Anyway, I did all this in late June early July, and other than receipts for the registration fee I have had no acknowledgement. Even from the one school where I had to write personally to the registrar with application via email (most others had an online form).
My question is do schools acknowledge this? One asked for predicted grades and another for latest school report as part of the registration, the others just name of child and address and year of entry. I am unsure if they are simply waiting for the Autumn, or are completely flummoxed with Covid, or what. I would just appreciate a 'thank you for registering with us. We will be contacting you/your current school with an application form in due course'. I'm about to start ringing around asking what the next step is!

I think you're ahead of the game tbh and that's why you've not had much response. We applied everywhere last September. Most interviews were February / March and places offered once lockdown had kicked off. One exception was the independent school we applied to which had an entrance exam in November. If you're not fussy about where you end up round here a lots of places here will still offer a place on 3rd September.

I'm not sure that the sixth forms will ask for recommendations from schools early because you've applied early; they'll do it all at the same time.
Do you know that it is the head of year who writes them? In some schools it might be the form tutor.

If HoY has said they'd like to write the recommendations, the best bet would be for them to write something now, and leave it for their successor to use. They might even have done that.

Whilst an acknowledgement of an application should have been received, particularly if you have parted with cash for registration fee for independent school application, I'm afraid your timing of application means that you are too early and not the focus of the current admissions cycle. They are working to this year's GCSE cohort and waiting to see who they can accept for Sept, especially given the weirdness of this year's results. I understand completely your wish for the current HOD to provide a reference, but sixth forms ask for references after Y11 mock results, as this is the best indicator of whether the applicant will meet the entry required grades for the A level courses. I can't tell if your daughter is at state or private at the moment, but most state school references are quite impersonal, just a generated data report. They don't do a personalised reference as they usually want to keep hold of their students for 6th form (bums on seats). Admissions teams will try to understand that there is good reason for student to change from current school for 6th form ie to do specific subject, to be supported for Oxbridge. Most kids stay where they are, If they can, so new schools need to understand if they have been encouraged elsewhere for behaviour, are troublemakers etc or want im sure this doesnt apply to your DD, but it is part of the process and a reference from a teacher who last knew your daughter over a year before A levels started won't have any be bearing either way.

Is your DD just going into Yr 11 in Sept? Most schools ime don't hold open days until the autumn term, certainly ds2, who looked at three different options, didn't apply until Oct/Nov of Yr 11. This was all state tho so may be different. But I think you are probably ahead of the process, hence not hearing.

As one poster says that most stay where they are an imply it is due to being encouraged to leave I feel I need to say this isn’t the case everywhere - it is definitely not the case in my experience or locale. GDST school near me, some girls have been there since 4 and really want a change by aged 16 - lots of movement and the school would like to keep most of them.

DD’s state grammar school keeps a good number but some want a change, some don’t achieve the required grades, some move to other grammars, a small number to independents. Some schools have subjects that others don’t do and an IB school near us finds lots move to do A Levels but then get some come in who want to do IB. Lots of movement for lots of reasons.

Most private schools finished early July so are unlikely to respond now before start of term. We did a complex online application for one and only confirmation we got was the automated payment and on the portal that says it is submitted and a link to ‘what next’.