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Secondary education

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Original poster

6th Form - Move to Super Selective or stay at Comp?

32 replies

AmazeAmazeAmaze · 25/08/2022 14:23

Son has gotten very good GCSE results - good enough to apply for 6th form at a super selective grammar (which we toured earlier in the year).

He liked it very much at the time but now it’s crunch time to decide whether he applies he is having a wobble and wants to stay at his existing school. Current school is OK - gets good GCSE and A level results but my son has found them lacking in discipline and his classes were often disruptive.

The headteacher has assured us that 6th form attracts the more academic students and the ‘disruptive element’ generally go elsewhere.

The Grammar is 15 miles away and requires approx 1.5 hours travel each way (very very busy commuter route) and I think this is the biggest stumbling block for DS who is not the best at mornings.

His current school says if he goes to the grammar and doesn’t settle he will be welcome back ‘without question’ but he has ASD so finds lots of change very hard.

Im torn as to what way to steer him - the grammar sounds good on paper but I’m wondering if the upheaval and disruption to his routine, having to get used to a new school and the initial stress of it all is worth it in the long run?

OP posts:
Nomorescreentime · 25/08/2022 14:31

If he’s the type that will put his head down and work hard then I’d be tempted to stay put. All that change could be a lot of stress for him. Three hours commute each day is a big commitment too.

RampantIvy · 25/08/2022 14:34

The commute is a massive off putter. I agree that the less academic and disruptive element are likely to go to other further education establishments.

I would stay put.

TeenDivided · 25/08/2022 14:39

1.5 hrs each way is 3hrs a day.
This school has served him well so far, I'd stick with it.

Digimoor · 25/08/2022 14:47

Did you already apply to the Grammar?
Usually applications close in Nov/Dec in Y11

The journey sounds like a nightmare

Original poster
AmazeAmazeAmaze · 25/08/2022 15:06

Digimoor · 25/08/2022 14:47

Did you already apply to the Grammar?
Usually applications close in Nov/Dec in Y11

The journey sounds like a nightmare

They only open 6th Form applications on results day. You submit their grades and places are allocated as per the school’s admissions policy. We don’t know if he has a place for sure yet but need to be ready to accept or decline if / when they call. He has exceeded the grades required but we may live just a bit too far out to secure a place.

Thanks to all for all the feedback so far - my gut is agreeing with the majority - stay at his existing school.

OP posts:
itrytomakemyway · 25/08/2022 15:12

What subjects s he doing? How big will the classes be? The chances are that the classes will be less dirupted by students as those in sixth form will be there by choice. I am asking about the subjects because from experience I know that some will attract more hardworking students, or will only accept students who have achieved a good enough GCSE grades. I am more wary of sujbets that will take on anyone becuase they have to kee their numbers up.

It sounds like the school is a good fit for him. He did well there at GCSE. He is comfortable will the teachers and I assume his friends are staying there too? The journey to the new school sounds terrible, and he will have to find his feet all over again.

I would leave him where he is.

RampantIvy · 25/08/2022 15:21

Good points @itrytomakemyway. At DD's school the untried subjects attracted much bigger classes - psychology and sociology, and dare I say it, the less academic pupils. They also had the biggest drop out rates when they found the work more difficult than they had anticipated. Generally the STEM and MFL subjects attracted the pupils who had done well at GCSE and wanted to do well at A level.

Original poster
AmazeAmazeAmaze · 25/08/2022 15:28

Subjects are Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science and Physics with a view to applying to Imperial (or similar) for a comp Sci degree.

OP posts:
newcarquandry · 25/08/2022 15:29

If he can keep his head down then he'll like achieve the same results at the comp than at the grammar, and then will be at a slight advantage over the grammar students when he applies to uni. The teachers at the grammar won't be any better than at the comp, and he's already demonstrated he can achieve very high results despite slight disruption from some of his peers (or at least that's what I've inferred from your post).

Taking the commute into account as well, I would 100% stick with the comp.

redskyatnight · 25/08/2022 15:30

I wouldn't even be considering a school that involves 3 hours a day of commuting. Think about how much better he could do if he spent just one of those hours doing something more productive.

newcarquandry · 25/08/2022 15:31

AmazeAmazeAmaze · 25/08/2022 15:28

Subjects are Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science and Physics with a view to applying to Imperial (or similar) for a comp Sci degree.

In those classes, in all likelihood, he will be surrounded by hard working and like minded peers.

HeartofTeFiti · 25/08/2022 16:01

Stay at comp, that commute is awful. There’s really nothing closer?!

puffyisgood · 25/08/2022 16:02

that commute is a total non starter, would be ridiculous. also, further maths etc classes at middling comps can be very, very small, as much so as at a private school, genuinely.

herbiegoes · 25/08/2022 16:02

6th form teacher here (SM comp, high achieving large academic sixth form and now 6th form college)

These are the things I would be asking:

  • At the comp, what sorts of grades do other students get? Will others also be working to the A* level? Just if he's the only student working af that level, and everyone else is working at B/C level, you may find the teachers don't teach to the hardest parts, and he might have to do some self teaching. Would he be okay with that?
  • is he easily led? There's a fair bit of research that shows the impact of peers when doing A level study. So, when I was at the low performing comp, most of the students used their free periods to socialise, whereas at the high achieving school, most used their free periods to study, ime, this is the biggest difference between schools at this age ... not the quality of the teaching, but the way the students use (and are expected to use) their free periods. Of course, if he's strong minded and independent, that may not be an issue at all, but again they do have to be fairly strong to go against the grain here.
  • Is he considering Oxbridge at all? If so, how experienced are the teachers in helping him through the application / interview process? The super selective will have a well established programme in place, but the school may not. Does this bother you?
  • But if he goes to the Grammar, how is he socially? His friends in school could live up to 3 hours away (I'm assuming 1.5 hours in the opposite direction). Are you okay taking him to see friends outside of school? Or would he be okay not seeing friends outside of school? Or would he keep up with old friends? Many lose touch at this age, would that bother him?
  • Do you want him to work at all? If so, his ability to work evenings will be reduced, Does this bother you at all? The long commute does limit all sorts of other things like driving lessons, DofE and volunteering etc...
  • Are there many others starting at this time? Some struggle to settle into sixth forms where there are established friendship groups. My last school took 2/3 from existing school and 1/3 came from other schools. Some of the new students found it difficult to break into the established friendship groups. Would this bother him? The external students also found it difficult to get the roles like head boy, or team captains etc... these tend to go to students who the teachers already know. Would that bother him? I know some students used to get really frustrated by it.

Know students who have done both..., the old low achieving comp recently had their first student go on to Oxbridge, she was happy not commuting, but she was quite isolated in school. Likewise, I have friends who commute to the super selectives near here, they love it, but are quite isolated outside of all. All swings and roundabouts!

itrytomakemyway · 25/08/2022 16:02

Those subjects will probably have a small intake and only accept the students with good grades. He will be fine.

Wannakisstheteacher · 25/08/2022 16:04

No way would I even consider a 3 hour a day commute! He’s done very well at his existing school, so I can’t see the reasoning behind a move to a school that far away.

yomellamoHelly · 25/08/2022 16:19

We moved our son as the comp simply didn't have many (any?) students who were aiming for A*s and wanting to go to highly competitive unis.
Where he ended up there were 3 classes doing maths / further maths and 2 doing chemistry. He was placed in classes where everyone had the same grade as him and it was a shock to his system. Having breezed through years 7-11, he finally had to some work and it was the first time there were other kids who were better than him. Think it's been brilliant for him and prepared him for uni going forward.
I would look to give him some lifts occasionally with that commute though!

Greensleeves · 25/08/2022 16:26

If he's settled and happy enough where he is, with no major bullying or social issues, then I would advise him to stay where he is. My son with ASD got into Oxford after GCSEs at our local comp and A Levels at the local 6th form college (mostly on zoom, to be fair) and though I wouldn't describe his time in school as happy (bullying, mostly, and an appalling series of safeguarding failures) he wouldn't have coped with 3 hours travelling every day, and the culture shock between the two environments would have been very hard for him as well.

I do think at your son's age this is his decision to make, though, not yours.

Shortbreadbuyer · 25/08/2022 21:03

He could try the super selective as it sounds like his current school would want him back if it turned out to be the wrong move after a few weeks. Great opportunity to be with other high achievers before Imperial.

Tr1skel1on · 25/08/2022 21:12

My ASD child has just got fab GCSES and had to move to a high school an hour away by bus to go there. Local school not an option due to bullying.

The fresh start was the making of them and they used the commuting time to do their homework, I'm sure being bored on a bus for an hour every afternoon really helped tbh.

However when we could we did try and do lifts, particularly if they were doing an after school activity that finished late.

I'd suggest trying it and see how it goes

Tr1skel1on · 25/08/2022 21:13

They started in Y7 and managed the commute even then.

clary · 25/08/2022 22:32

I asked DD what she thought about this and she said for sure the disruptive students tend to leave after KS4. DS2 I recall moaning about the yr 11 below his yr 12 but then when that year was in yr 12 they were fine as those exhibiting challenging behaviour had left.

If the teaching and resources are good at his current school I would certainly stay there. Taking his subjects into account, even more so. There won't be any dunderheads taking physics A level.

I have what I consider a long commute and it is a max of 45 mins; there is no way I would consider a 90-min commute. Three hours a day? His day will be about 10 hours long, that's not OK.

TizerorFizz · 25/08/2022 22:47

@AmazeAmazeAmaze
Does his current school get anyone into Imperial? That’s a big ask. For him and possibly the school. I would stay put but don’t put lofty ambition in place just yet.

DriveInSaturday · 25/08/2022 23:20

The grammar school is high achieving because it selects high achieving students. DS has already shown that he can get good grades, not only without their input, but also in spite of distractions from other students - he is clearly bright, disciplined and motivated. And the less motivated students are not likely to be doing his subjects.

It sounds as though he doesn't need the prestigious school to do well.

MsFogi · 25/08/2022 23:26

Check if the comprehensive is on the list of schools that get slightly lower/more offers tan other schools from the unis your son is interested in - it may be worth staying for that. !.5 hour commute each way sounds too much - if he worked during that time he is likely to do just as well at his current school.