Pates Sixth form

[NCNewbie]

OK, hope I have successfully name changed to avoid catastrophe.
Does anyone know what Pates Sixth form is like, particularly for those who join in year 12 from the state system?
Are you an 'external' forever?
Is it really better than a v. good non-selective sixth form?

Asking because I have a year 10 DS (going into year 11) and it would involve a journey to get there and not sure whether it's worth thinking about applying later this year.

Do you mean Pates Grammar school in Cheltenham? If he can get in then I would encourage him to go, there is normally abit of movement going into Sixth Form and being in smaller A Level teaching groups will make it easier to make friends. Look at the league tables they produce some of the highest A level results in the country so yes it would be far more academic than a non selective school.

@Beachcomber74 Thanks for your input.

Yes, it is Pates Grammar School in Cheltenham, but specifically the sixth form.
Do you know if they managed good remote learning during lockdown?
What is the atmosphere like in sixth form?

The remote learning and the general level of contact during lockdown was disappointing.
The results are consistently excellent but this is purely down to the students being extremely able and motivated. Teaching is not very good at all and feedback not given consistently. Science subjects slightly better than languages and humanities.

Thanks for the information,@differentname

Do you have a DC in the sixth from?

I do wonder about the self-fulfilling prophecy of selecting the very best of the best at age 11 and then age 16.

I am unsure about the journey, about DC being an 'external' and making friends, about the private-school level of incomes of many of the families and the fact DC won't have fancy stuff, about whether DC will receive encouraging teaching and get the best grades possible for him and, as mentioned, whether if the is another national/local lockdown how he will be supported in remote learning.

Thought of course the remote learning will hopefully not be an issue by then, good help us if coronavirus is still going on in summer 2021...

That should be: god help us if coronavirus is still going on in summer 2021...