Sixth Forms in Hampshire/Surrey/West Sussex borders

[ScaredySquirrel0529]

Hello!
Panicking about Sixth Form/College for my son. He is Y10 at a school for young people with mild learning challenges/anxiety and everyone keeps telling me I need to start visiting schools right now! I don't even know where to start as he really needs a smaller school with very good pastoral support as he is not very confident or independent. Does anyone have experience with a smallish sixth form around the Hamsphire/Surrey/West Sussex borders I can add to my list? I already have Chichester College, Midhurst Rother and More House (maybe). Thank you!!

Whereabouts are you? Have you considered that better pastoral support may actually be available in a larger (better resourced/funded) college? The pastoral care at South Downs College is by all accounts fantastic and I have several friends whose vulnerable children have thrived there with wonderful support despite being utterly failed by secondary schools.

More House is an independent with specific intake rules, so worth speaking to them regarding your son's specific needs before putting it on the list firmly.

Are you looking for A levels or something else?

Thank you for your response. We are local to South Downs College and have heard mostly positive feedback (only one parent thought they ruined her son’s life). Your point is very valid but the “small” criterion was less about pastoral care being better and more about what I feel my son could deal with due to his sensory issues.

We have been in touch with More House and find them quite tricky to get a reading on so curious if anyone has experience with them for sixth form only i.e. coming from another secondary.

Hi Scaredy, I suspect we're reasonably close in locality then. I haven't had personal dealings with More House, but it is vaguely on my list to investigate for my DS also (he is in year 5 currently) so interesting to hear that you've found them tricky!

There's always one parent who thinks a school/college has ruined their child's life (it's usually me ) but they're all different. That said, I completely understand and agree about the size of the college and how it can affect sensory issues. May be worth investigating HSDC smaller campuses? Havant or Alton?

I've heard good things about Fareham college too but nothing I could comment on from personal experience. Highbury has long had the reputation as being good for vocational subjects. You could also look at the few sixth form colleges that remain attached to schools, perhaps Oaklands in Crookhorn?

What is your son considering studying?

Fareham college doesn’t do A levels, lots of technical stuff and is rated highly for that

Bay House is good for A levels

Bum

Bay house is in gosport

Thanks Aledsipad,

I appreciate all your help. I definitely think Alton is worth a look because as you say, they’re all different.

My tricky personal experience with MH has been with the Admissions Office but I hear most people find them quite formidable. Recently, my son’s tutor expressed her opinion that they sometimes focus too much on teaching to the diagnosis and not the child, so something to query or look out for if you pursue them. Overall, they get fab feedback though as you probably know.

Thanks again!

Thanks Rufus-Gosport probably a bit too far but I appreciate the info.