People say their kids have been managed out, referring to different things.
Pretty much all schools have subject specific entry requirements. In some academic schools these can be pretty high. So a child with a 7 probably won’t be allowed to do Maths. Sometimes the family are very keen to do Maths, so might leave and go elsewhere to do it, and say they’ve been managed out. In actual fact, they might have been able to do all of the other subjects available.
So often, it’s about being able to do specific subjects, rather than pushed out altogether. Even some academic schools are now offering a few BTechs, so there is something available for all who take GCSEs at their school in the 6th Form. The lower achievers might not be offered A Levels but Brecon and then some of them will leave. It often isn’t that amicable, with either disagreements between parents and school spoken out, or parents not voicing it but feeling bitter and speaking of being managed out to other people.
The ‘managing out’ that happened at the end of yr12 when students achieved poor AS grades, and not being allowed to continue to A2 seems largely to have ended now that most schools don’t sit AS exams and if they do, the grades don’t count towards A Levels. Sometimes, if students do really poorly in yr12 and their likely grade is an E, some serious talking to might happen….advice, that continuing probably isn’t worth it, and suggestions of other options or possible courses that might be available elsewhere and more suitable. Is that being managed out? Is it just sensible advice?
I think that in academically selective schools, being at the bottom is always hard. Grades that might be considered good or average elsewhere can be seen as poor in the selective school. Sometimes the school pushes that view and sometimes the students or their families develop that view themselves. They can feel unsuccessful and unwelcome and managed out, even when actually they haven’t been.
I think schools are wary of managing out mid-course these days as it’s got such a bad press. Instead, they try to set very clear entry requirements and make them more transparent and clear so there are far less nasty surprises. Parents are told what the entry requirements are and given an indication if they are likely to be achieved or not. Meetings are held to discuss plans for the next stage and when a student hopes for something not seen to be in their best interests or where they won’t meet the entry requirements, that information is given and alternatives suggested. Some students are advised to have back-up course plans or to also consider other schools/colleges which might offer more suitable courses or offer lower entry requirements. Is this managing out? It can feel like it, and especially to those who struggle, even when the advice is good advice, it can be resented, however hard schools try.
I’d suggest that the fast pace of academic 6th Form, particularly in certain subjects, isn’t suited to those who perhaps have grade 6 at GCSE. If the class all have grades 8 and 9 and progress at a rapid pace, starting with a 6 really might not be a pleasant experience. Is it right or fair to that student or to the rest of the class to have a significant outlier in the class? That’s the question really. When there are very genuine reasons why someone has underperformed, schools might be a bit flexible. However, quite often it isn’t an underperformance, but achievement of what was expected.
So finally, I’d say that choosing a senior school, where you know from the start that your child is going to clearly be at the bottom and likely to struggle, isn’t a good choice. Sometimes parents don’t know this will be the case…but sometimes they do. It can be the case where there is a linked Prep that lets students progress to the senior school without doing an exam.