Stay at Independent or go State for sixth form?

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DD is fortunate to be in receipt of a full bursary for secondary school, and prior to COVID was absolutely thriving there. She's near the top of most subjects, though more in the middle for one of the subjects she would be taking at school sixth form. It's not guaranteed she'll get the 7 needed to continue the subject.

She is struggling with her friends at school as she doesn't feel she has anything in common with them (we are so far removed from the perceived independent school family!)

We have been discussing changing to a state sixth form as they have A levels which DD would absolutely love to do (school offer 1 out of the 3). I just want DD to be happy and achieve her potential, whatever that may be, but I am struggling with the idea of turning down the final 2 years of her bursary. In my heart I think DD would be happier at state, as she would feel she fits in more, but I'm worried that it's going to be a massive disadvantage for her.

Can anyone offer any words of advice?

DD moved from independent secondary to state for sixth form and she is really happy (and so are we).
Although DD was not on a bursary and we were full fee paying, we had adjusted our lives to be able to afford the fees; we were certainly in the lower percentile of the income brackets.

We let our DD make the decision and supported her choice.

If you can find a state sixth form where she is likely to achieve her potential and she would be happier, I would definitely move her. If she is not happy an the independent school, she is already at a disadvantage, so would probably gain by the move.

Thanks @abouttimeforanewname that's reassuring to read. Was there any adjusting needed, or did she slot straight in?

I'd go to state if both they are offering the subjects and look like they teach them well. Do you know anyone in the state school?

I'm worried that it's going to be a massive disadvantage for her.

What exactly are you worried about? Socially? Or academically?

It sounds like your DD wants a change, and I’d advise that at 16 it should be primarily her choice unless there’s a good reason for it not to be advisable.

So at the state school she'll get to do the A levels she really wants to do, and you think she'll be happier there. Surely it's a no-brainer?

State sixth form is good. You have a different kind of student usually.

If the school doesn’t offer the A-levels she wants to do then she’d be mad to stay there surely???

@NoSquirrels both I think. Socially as she won't know anyone so will be starting from scratch, but maybe that's a good thing. Academically I think because State seems to have slightly lower results, but obviously if DD is happy and engaged with the subjects she wants to do, then I guess her grades will reflect that.

Thanks all, you've been a good sounding board. We'll stick the application in tonight as closing date is soon - is it right that you don't state subject choice on initial application?

There's one that she really wanted to do that the State doesn't offer, so it's surprising to see her happy to drop that one!

Definitely go with where they do her subjects and she might be happier. The cynical may say applying to university from a state school is advantageous as there is a drive to increase admissions from state over private!

My son went from independent to state 6 form college. He'd been at the independent since he was 4 and I felt he needed to go out into the world and thought it would be a good stepping stone for University. At school they were really spoon fed and this carried on into 6 form. At college they had more freedom like they would at Uni. Thankfully my son was really keen on the idea.

It was a really good 6 form and he did really there and really prepared him well for Uni. Definitely a good decision.

I think she slotted straight in. She met up with a friend of a friend, who was also moving schools, on registration day and they hit it off which must have helped. But she made lots of new friends very quickly and insists that it was definitely the right thing to do.

Depends on the school. My dd changed state sixth form and she had to state subject choices. DS stayed on at his school and whilst didn't have to apply he had to state subjects.

A state sixth form would naturally have lower overall results, as they have to take everyone. That doesn't mean that someone who is capable of getting 3 x A* doesn't get those grades. It simply means that in line with the population as a whole there will also be some who get CS, Ds and Es.

Cynically- go state due to fair admission policies at many top universities.

Academically- be careful, know your DC. Have they been spoon-fed? In the truest sense. Will they handle the rough-and-tumble of a state school, albeit sixth form?

This leads on from the anguish of the 11+ 'Ooh! Carrying on with private or grammar? Which to choose?, MN'.....no consideration that your DC might not get into a state grammar. In fact, shouldn't go if a private can't prep them well enough!

So, you need to ask yourself if your private DC will thrive in a state sixth form; or needs the handholding of a private. Sooner or later, you can't buy your way out of the latter.

Universities look at where you sat your GCSEs and how your results compare to the cohort within your school. You can't game the system by switching to a state sixth form. It's a myth along with those poor private school students being deprived of their rightful places by state school applicants who don't know their times tables yet and that Oxbridge makes contextualised offers to state school students.

That's really interesting @Fordian , She absolutely thrived at state primary once she was surrounded my like minded pupils who wanted to do well. Secondary started like that, lockdown learning she absolutely flew as there were no distractions and she enjoys studying. But. She is fairly easily distracted, and I think this is my worry. The sixth form college is huge (there are more students doing one of her A level choices than will be in the entire school sixth form). I'm just not too sure which way she will go - back to working in hard (hopefully this will be the case as she is more interested in the subjects) or enjoying the freedom of state sixth form.

I'm not sure whether you're accusing me of trying to game the system, but that is not the case. I already know that DD meets the widening access criteria for certain universities because of certain criteria, so while she doesnt meet the criteria on the basis of where she sat her GCSEs, that isnt really a concern.

My DS moved from private to state in Year 8, she passed the 12+ and it was her decision. The thing we miss about private is the sport, it’s on offer at her state school but there’s just so much less of it. Have a good think about what she will be giving up.

Not at all Another. It was the silly post which suggested switching due to fair admission's policies at top universities which I was responding to.

I shouldn't worry about size. My DD's state sixth form had over 20 classes for maths. Everyone needed at least a grade 7 to take it and over half of them always achieve an A or A* at A level.

There will be a lot of students who change schools or college for sixth form. Your DD will quickly make friends. It will also be good preparation for university where she is unlikely to know anyone at all.

The key thing is what does she want to do? She needs to drive the decision.

I had these worries earlier than you - at year 7 entry point. DH and I were both boarding school educated, and we didn't think we could stretch to fees for all of our children. We took the plunge and it has been incredible. I actually think our children have had a better all round education and life experience than we have, although I can't say that to my parents.
I actually think your DD would be disadvantaged by staying, not the other way around. The subjects will suit her better, sounds like she needs a fresh start with friends, and Universities will look on her favourably (although they will take in to account that she was privately educated up to 16 which they factor in these days unfortunately.)
It is always scary making these big choices but I think you know the answer really.

One of my DDs was at an independent school till GCSEs and then transferred to the local sixth form college, which she loved: no uniform, co-ed, treated like a young adult, broader range of subject choices etc. Best thing we ever did.

Realised I didn't make it clear - the plunge was state education, having been differently educated ourselves. We were so ignorant having been fed the myth our whole childhood that the brighter children were at private schools, so I have been amazed by some of the children at the state school who achieve incredible results. But you can also do practical subjects which suits other children. I think it is hard to walk away from some of the myths, its a bit cult like TBH.

I suppose everyone is new at a specialist sixth form college, so there's no issue fitting in.

What do you know about class sizes at the college?

I suppose it is only right to point out that, generally speaking, full bursaries aren't to be turned down lightly.