Finding a private sixth form that isn't selective

[emzzz123]

My son is in year 11 at a bad state school - most students there fail to pass both maths and english GCSE. I have invested in private tutoring, but he is not particularly self motivated, and really does close to the bare minimum. He is intelligent, but his teachers spend more time childminding poorly behaved students than teaching content. His mock results came out as mostly 5s and 6s, with one 7 in maths.

I want to go private for sixth form, hopefully somewhere that will encourage and nurture him. He wants to pursue STEM a-levels, which are difficult as it is, and I truly believe in a different environment he could do well in them.

How do I find sixth forms that would take a student with poor GCSEs and no sporting or musical talents? I am wary that there are often problems with private schools with low entry requirements (very privileged attitudes, drugs?). Any recommendations would be very much appreciated, as well as suggestions as to how I go about finding these schools (googling 'low entry requirement private sixth forms' doesn't seem to be cutting it...)

Even the state schools round here require students to get a minimum of a 6 in any subject they want to study at A level, so if he's capable of that he really needs to pull his finger out and engage with the tutoring you're paying for.

But why have you left it so late? Open days for sixth forms start in September and most DC know where they want to go and what grades they need to get by now.

I doubt that a sixth form exists, either state or private, that is non-selective for students wanting to take STEM A Levels.

My DC's (state) school sixth form has the lowest entry criteria in the area and even then it wants a 7 for A Level maths and a 6 for A Level physics (and students coming in with bare minimum criteria for STEM would be looking at the lower end of A Level grades).

So I'd personally not restrict yourself to private - it's very likely that STEM A Level classes, wherever the setting, will be smaller and full of committed, hard working students

@emzzz123
Im very near Aylesbury too!!
Some good sixth form options would be

1. Lord Williams in Thame, a state sixth form, but highly regarded, definitely do not rule this out.
2. D’Overbroeks in Oxford. He could either board, or commute daily ( from Haddenham or Aylesbury Parkway to Oxford Parkway, it’s then two stops into Summertown on the bus!) The commute is easy, there are quite a few who are travelling from Haddenham this year. Would highly recommend this school.
3. St Edward’s in Oxford ( I don’t personally know much about this one)

Just seen you are in Aylesbury - so sounds like your DC is not in a grammar school, so his experience will be coloured by having the top 20% of children creamed off into grammar schools.

Have you considered state school sixth forms in Bedfordshire or Milton Keynes where the system is comprehensive so there will be the full range of abilities?

Want to say what you want don’t exist surely. Even state 6th form is selective. Looking at the one DD wants to go, they want 6 and 7s in maths and sciences.

Some private sixth forms offer a GCSE year (as indeed do some state ones), and that might be well worth considering. That would give him a chance to consolidate the GCSE work, plug any gaps, and see what he can do in a different environment.

The courses in private schools are probably aimed more at those coming in from overseas, but still might work well. One of our local state sixth form colleges has one that's aimed more at those coming out of year 11 with grades which aren't quite enough for A-levels.

I suggest Sibford sounds ideal. An hour from Aylesbury p, boarding available.
I'm sure that St. Edward's entry requirements would be higher than your DS is likely to achieve.

Have you looked into Aylesbury Grammar School? They are not particularly selective for A-level although they do have limited places. The environment will be pretty good for him. Great teachers for the most part and motivated kids.