Best State Sixth Forms in London

[Verny76]

Hi,

We are looking at a few Sixth Forms for DD this year but do not need to apply until next year. We are in South East London. Can anyone please recommend Sixth Forms we can look at?

DD is very academic, her favourite subjects are Digital Technology (or Digital Engineering), Geography. She is also doing Classical Civilisations and French GCSEs. She doesn't know what third option to chose yet when she has to do A levels, but she is very good at maths, perhaps Economy or Business.

She wants a job where she can earn lots of money. I told her She needs to do something she enjoys as well as money is not everything.

Harris Westminster is super academic state school

Kings Maths School.

If she wants to earn lots of money go into IT. The starting salaries for bright coding kids just out of uni are astronomical. My brother is 25 and has been on over six figures for a hood few years plus lots of bonuses.

I'm in law. Wouldn't advise it

good few years*

Harris Westminster, Tiffin Boys or Girls , Kings Maths School. THere are also a handful next tier down including the SE London Grammars, Graveney and Greycoat.

If you are looking at state for financial rather than ideological reasons then it might be worth a look at Christ's Hospital - very hot on maths and economics or Trinity as both are generous with the scholarships and bursaries.

Thank you. We will put those on the list to have a look.

She currently attends an independent as she was allocated a failing school in another borough in year 7. There are more options for Sixth forms as the allocation is not based on distance so she will attend a state school.

Greycoats is definitely and option we want to look at.

Tiffin's, will look at the commute and subjects on offer.

She may be good at IT but not sure if she will enjoy it. She was initially planning to do Computer Science GCSE but changed her mind last minute.

I don't think Harrys Westminster has DT which I think she really wants to do.

Kings Maths School. We haven't thought of it. Is it only maths or do they do other subjects?

Woodhouse College?

Be wary of a very long commute. I think it is important to have a social group locally and not have to trail across London twice a day. I would start by searching sixth form colleges geographically then read their prospectuses on line.

Woodhouse College is fantastic, but it is in Finchley and quite a trek from the nearest tube station.

Where are you in SE London? If near DLR then London Academy of Excellence in Stratford is good. Nearer - look at Thomas Tallis in Kidbrooke.

King's Maths School teaches only a specific set of A Levels, so I don't think it'd work for your DD's interests. At A2, all students do maths, further maths and physics. That's it. See www.kingsmathsschool.com/curriculum/our-courses

Thank you

Harris Westminster easy to get to but doesn't have DT which is the subject she likes the most.

Kings Maths: Again not DT and she doesn't like Physics.

Agreed that the commute should be manageable as there will be lots of work too; however why do they need to travel twice to school? During the week I gather they are all busy with school and will come straight home; a bit different on the weekends on holiday if they want to see friends, but I would imagine they are so busy this doesn't happen every weekend.

Also at 16/17 they should be able to travel longer/be more independent; could study on the train. It is only 2 years.

How does it work in Sixth Form? with the free periods? do they have a full time table or have lots of free time to study? go home, go out for lunch.

I have friends with DDs in Tallis, Eltham Hill and Townley sixth forms. All very happy. All easy to get to from SE London. They are very oversubscribed though but it sounds like your DD is academically able enough to apply.

At some sixth forms, DCs are allowed out during the day for several hours at a time depending on their timetables. They can stay in the library and work but of course that's not very cool! If they live near enough they can go home. I gather some sixth formers have subsidised gym memberships which sounds like a nice idea.

Sydenham Forest Hill gets good results. How about Kingsdale or Charter?

There are lots of sixth form options in SE London! Has she considered the IB as that will widen her options again e.g. Dartford and Bexley Grammar schools. SFH6, Prendergast, Tallis, Kingsdale, Eltham Hill, Sedgehill, Langley, Newstead Woods, Bexley Grammar, Dartford Grammar and CTK are some of the sixth forms my DD's friends attend.

It sounds like you need to narrow down the sixth forms which offer DT first I would have thought if that is the deal breaker.