Can a child asked to leave 6th form in private school for poor academic performance

[Oxfordplus]

Hi. Just what the title said. I've researched this online and is seems that once a child has been offered a place in 6th form they can't be asked to leave if it is due to poor academic performance - it is against the law. They can be asked to leave for poor behaviour but not academic results. Does this apply to private schools though> I've spoken to someone who says that private schools are a law unto themselves and can do what they like. Am very interested to know the legalities of this as my DS has been threatened with being asked to leave if he doesn't do very well in his first set of exams (October/November). I've also found out that boys that did less well than him in their GCSEs have not been given this threat (they have siblings at the school though so the school is probably trying to stay on the right side of those families).

Maybe they don’t love his attitude based on past experience and want to address this. You addressed fj is in a previous post

It's also inappropriate and unkind to keep a child on a course for which they are unsuitable.

This ^^
It isn't only in the best interest of the school but of the student if they are struggling.

It doesn’t mean they’re unsuited to a course just because they’re getting Cs and not As. That’s the problem.

It's even touted as a selling point that private schools can get rid of problematic students more easily than state schools can. But no one ever expects that will mean their own child getting "asked to leave" with little recourse.

OP you know him best. How likely is this school to bring out the best in him?

We aren't talking about Cs instead of As, but Es and Us.

I agree, but schools have the right to do that if it's the kind of learning environment and ethos they are going for. It is very important to understand the conditions of a school before accepting a place. It is very different teaching a class of A/B students compared to A-D students. Not better or worse, just different. There are differences into the pace and extension you can offer. That is the USP for some schools and why some parents choose them. I personally probably wouldn't choose a school like that but if I did, I would accept the conditions. It does seem a cruel and discouraging environment for a child who is capable but more middle of the road.

State schools don’t have that right, though. And a grade E is still an A level pass. One of my DDs got a U in her AS levels, but still got As in her A levels, and then a first-class degree from an RG university.

Every A-Level provider I have known has a minimum requirement to progress through to Year 13. Of course, flexibility can be adopted when there are particular circumstances, but most operate on this basis.

There must have been extenuating circumstances for the U to happen, followed by an A. The teachers will have known your DD and what she was capable of. One of DD's peers underperformed consistently throughout school, so she was discourages from taking two of her A level subjects because she simply didn't have what it takes.

It is pretty pointless setting up a young person to fail when there are other options available.

No, no extenuating circumstances. She dropped that A level completely. She’d got an A* in it at GCSE.

The large selective independent school in our town is absolutely notorious for this, with the result that many of the sixth formers also have private tutors to help them to keep up with the school standards. Of course, when it comes to celebrating the outstanding results and university destinations, all credit goes to the school’s standard of teaching

Ditto @DrMarshaFieldstone Our local independent spends a lot of time lauding the achievements of its pupils that occur outside school - sporting, music, arts etc. The school does excel in one of these areas but when it gets to sixth form pretty much all of one of the main sporting teams of the school is full of those on training contracts at top London clubs. That’s NOT a result of the school.

When it comes to academics and falling behind then if you are one of these elite teams then the school will offer you extra tuition at school with no charge.

If you’re not then you will be given a window to improve things by getting your own tutor and if not then they will boot you out. Yes, even between Y12 and 13. Academic achievement is written into the contract but it is an uneven playing field based on what else you can offer the school.

The reality is that parents often choose schools based on reputation vs school that meets the needs of their child. Our local school is renowned for booting children out, yet parents are horrified when it happens.

To add that not all private schools are like this. Some will strive to work with the child almost no matter what to get the best out of them and provide the extra support they need.