How to choose a Six Form school?

[Kerry987]

I have started to think about six forms schools for DD. It is still a couple of years until she has to apply I like to plan ahead. She is currently at a small independent school, She is academic and creative. She likes Digital Technology, IT, languages.

How do we choose a good six form? She will go back to the state sector and we do not mind her travelling as long as it is a good school.

What are the best six forms? we live in London

Thank you

Surely it's more important whether she minds travelling, than whether you mind her doing it :)
And equally you need her input into it. Fine for you to suggest, but you do need to leave the ultimate decision to her.
"Best" is also very subjective.

I'd suggest she needs to think about

• what might she like to study (A Levels, BTECS, Apprenticeship)?
• are any of these a deal breaker i.e. if a sixth form doesn't offer it, is it off the list
• how selective does she want the sixth form to be (some will set very high entry criteria; others will take just about anyone)?
• logistics of getting there. It it's 6 buses and takes 2 hours it would have to be pretty special.
• previous results/number of entries for her preferred subjects. Do they specialise in a subject she is particularly interested in (if appropriate)?
• talk to people who are at the sixth forms if she knows anyone
• is she interested in extra-curricular that the school provides (e.g. DoE award, mentoring younger students) or does this not matter?
• what is the school's pastoral care like?
• how many hours of teaching vs expected self study?

Do they offer the subject combination that she wants to do.
Look at the value added score - is the school improving on the expected outcome.
Does she like the school
If she is looking to go to Oxbridge do they have a support system in place.

Thank you; those points are very helpful.

We will definitely leave the final decision to her; just want to look at what options are out there and what things to look at.

I assume she will have done a majority of I-GCSEs but will go into a state sixth form where the other pupils will have done GCSEs so I would check that the transition is fine and maybe check for gaps, just in case.

IGCSE won't be a problem. Kids enter sixth form having taken exams from all different exams boards, covering different topics.
Your better bet is to narrow down exactly what she is after in terms of courses. Have a look locally first, it's really great being able to walk with your mates, especially in sixth form where you have lots of free periods. Than look at ones a non complicated distance away ie one bus or one train.
Where in London are you? I can advise on N but I know nothing about S London.

I would go mostly by your DD's gut feeling when you visit. She is the one who has to go there. There is a lot of be said for going to the nearest one - A Levels are a lot of work and your DD doesn't need to waste her time sitting on buses. (My DD did exceptionally well in her A Levels and I'm convinced one of her keys to success was having only a 5 minute journey).

Thank you. We are in South East London, will look at the ones near by first.

Forgot to add in my last message. I was thinking that at 16 it would be good for her to start travelling more and meet people from other areas as it will help her to become more independent and be ready for university. Saying that, we will look at all options, local and further afield and leave it the choice to her at the end.

She does travel to school at the moment but only 30 minutes maximum, one bus. She also has some local friends who attend the same school.

Our closest one is Charter North Dulwich.

In puzzled by your question. Why you even need to ask. Where do they normally go from your ds's school? What do they filter/feeder into? Wong she want to go to the place that all her friends go to? Is it good?

Or does she want a fresh start? Leave these girls behind and go to college? Is the college good? Does she want to do a course? Or just straight A'levels.

Are all the schools, 6th firms and colleges round you good?

It as easy with My Ds1. He was at a superb catholic school. One of the best in the country. He wanted to stay on at their 6th form. It's superb.

We did none-the-less look at and apply to the local college. It was a bit too far away, but very good.

And we considered, briefly, another schools 6th form.

All the schools around us : primary, Secondaries, six forms, grammars, independences, colleges, everything is utterly superb, so we are spoilt for choice.

but surely you just need to start with all the information of your local places?

I think 6th form is something for them to chose with your guidance/support. We took our dc to open events(not sure these will happen again,) at all options even those we wouldn't want them to pick and let them decide. Are you also going to be picking their uni?

Harris Westminster Sixth Form is excellent if your DD is academic. It is an independent-state school partnership run in collaboration with Westminster School. It was The Times Sixth Form College of the Year in 2019. It's about a 30 minute commute by train from Dulwich.

It's selective, there is an exam and interview, 6 GCSEs at 7-9 is the minimum requirement. Priority is given to students who receive free school meals (about half the students).

www.harriswestminstersixthform.org.uk/

Thank you very much for the replies; also for the Harris Westminster recommendation. More recommendations are welcome. It is going to be her decision, but it is helpful to have recommendations to look at.

She will definitely be moving in year 12 as she will got to a state school and she is now in an independent. Many kids move for six form and I do not think it is a problem; if anything it widens their horizons.

Another consideration is school sixth form versus a sixth form college. They are a very different experience.

I wasted my lunch hour today looking at this on the guardian website. it’s for senior schools and still a pilot, it says on the site, but looks v interesting. www.theguardianschoolsguide.co.uk/

It’s refreshing to see more than just a list of exam results.

Did I miss the message about why you want her to move ? I get a bit annoyed by families using the state system for 6th form to look more attractive to Universities after years in the independent sector .

My daughter is moving for sixth form - about half will. She is at a non selective mixed private school now. It gets very good results for being non selective.
The reason for the move was two fold: She wanted an all girls school and as there are none near us we'd have to move, and this meant a welcome return (for me in particular) to London.
Our criteria was the following: all girls, on the tube line of the area we know and like (sw London) with a 30 minute max travel time, selectiveness and reputation, offering what she wanted to take. She knew for sure two subjects and a toss up for last one.
We got the prospectuses and started visiting schools when she was in Y10, just as well as we couldn't this year and it is really hard to get a feel for a school online, and at least one got knocked out of consideration by its virtual open day film, which may not have been a true representation of the school. The best were live Q &As. But hopefully next Autumn you will be able to go round them in person. Have to say we were unimpressed by the (highly sought after) state school - when you are used to the bells and whistles of private it can be a bit of a culture shock.
We did pros and cons for each, rejecting colleges straight off as you tend to go for your class and not hang around, and they were large. We started with five choices but in the end only applied to three. Very very competitive (as I'm sure you know about private schools) and a very arduous application procedure (the one state school all we had to do was fill in a form - no interview no exams, no work submissions). Grade requirements stated were the minimum and offers conditional - is that the same in the state sector?
Good luck.

Hi, can anyone advise on other sixth form colleges in London (state)… daughter in Y10, attending catholic NW secondary, she’s doing well but we feel she could do with a change, more central London, where she can grow more independent, May be non catholic… thanks!

Sounds as if it's still a way off yet - what year is she currently in?

She’s in Y10, but we need to apply next Dec so we need to attend some open evenings next autum

Also we have Brampton College (independent) rather near and it seems first in the league if independent schools. Any experience? Is it worth the fees?