Are more of you planning to move your DC from private to state for 6th form now?

[WomensRightsRenegade]

Apologies but just wondering this? My son is going into year 10 at a school he loves, but we are realising that even with a generous bursary, the 20pc VAT will mean it’s impossible for him to stay for 6th form.

I know it’s a transition phase anyway, but he will be very upset to leave as historically not many kids at the school have left then.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

It was just an example, as FM being a subject with low take up means that not all schools can offer it. A PP couldn’t believe that state schools might be inaccessible due to not offering the right mix of A levels combined with limited transport. Or, in rural areas, students might have a long and complicated journey that makes attending somewhere offering your choice of A levels impractical.

My DC had to travel to a different school because our one didn’t offer mathematics of mechanics. We had to make our own travel arrangements (fortunately one of the students was driving by then which made it easier) and the school wasn’t a long way away. Some other schools were much more remote and travelling for one subject (or switching schools) was not an option.

F Maths is actually becoming more and more popular each year partly due to the last Government’s big push for STEM.

Personally I would be really surprised if anyone needed private education due to maths, but it sounds like that was not what you were actually claiming.

I agree that with the truism that people who live very rurally have fewer state services to choose than people who live in towns, I just am not convinced that this suggests that they might need to go to private schools. I can’t imagine this fact pattern really arising.

Really?
We are rural and have 2 choices: poor performing state or private.
That's the lot.

There must be some areas where FM isn’t easily available in the state sector because the AMSP can arrange tuition for AS/A level FM where schools and colleges can’t provide it.

Personally I would be really surprised if anyone needed private education due to maths, but it sounds like that was not what you were actually claiming.

I wasn’t ‘claiming’ anything. It was a hypothetical example.

I agree that with the truism that people who live very rurally have fewer state services to choose than people who live in towns, I just am not convinced that this suggests that they might need to go to private schools.

I’m guessing you’ve never lived rurally. My youngest’s school has an enormous catchment area.

Which county?

I was just wondering if there were any actual examples of your hypothetical example. It seems there are not (or at least, nobody has given an example and I would be interested if there are any).

Are you saying that you had to send your youngest to private school because you live very rurally?

Are you saying that you had to send your youngest to private school because you live very rurally?

I didn't have to, I could have cut my hours (which i didnt want to do) and picked her up until she learnt to drive. But it was definitely a factor in our decision.

No.

ETA: But one of my youngest’s friends could physically only get to the one sixth form without travelling 1.5 hrs each way. Which then restricted her choice of A levels to what was on offer at that sixth form.

The AMSP do a fantastic job: my understanding was that they helped out with schools that don’t offer further maths. The existence of the AMSP supports my suggestion that nobody needs to transfer to a private school due to F Maths….

Well in that case it sounds like we are in agreement :)

They were spoon fed how to pass the 11+.

It’s not a veiled dig, just stating facts. And I’m sure plenty of the state school kids had tutors too. That’s kind of not the point here. The point is the state school kids didn’t struggle once they were in but lots of the private ones did, because the way they had learned in primary was quite different. But also at sixth form the differences were even more stark.

The point is the state school kids didn’t struggle once they were in but lots of the private ones did, because the way they had learned in primary was quite different. But also at sixth form the differences were even more stark

Your experience of private school learners is very different to mine. Perhaps it wasn't a very good private school? Certainly the attainment at dds private school was exceptional, can't see how state kids at grammar school would improve on it.

Of course it’ll be different I’m talking about our experience of one school.

Attainment is a different thing though. I have no doubt that selective intake private schools attainment is great. How do they then do at uni? That’s more what I’m talking about - state schools produce more independent learners in general.

@RidiculousPrice they do very well at university of course, and often go on to have great careers. That's literally the reason why people send their kids there. I don't recognise this trope about state school kids being more driven and independent in their learning.

My DCs school doesn't have a 6th form so they all have to go elsewhere.
DD had the option of a different Private, Grammar or one of the best 6th forms in the country luckily and she opted for State. DS is going into Y11 and has said he wants to do the same.
DD was fine, it was good prep for Uni

as if the grammar kids were not hothouse to get to grammar :)))

we are paying £700 a year for our DD to access state 6th form in our county. She could attend the college in our local town but they don’t offer any MFL A levels. So she is taking the train 1hr away.

And never mind the poor kids who failed the 11+ and have that hanging over them for the rest of their lives! Who cares about them right?! Grammar system is even more immoral than the private system.

I think the worst in grammar schools is that the school may be not better than comprehensive school. The grammar schools exist because they are convenient for the government due to the fact that they pay less per pupil than in the other state schools. As a result the grammar schools are notoriously underfunded.
In addition
Many grammar schools have been downgraded from Outstanding to Good ( in some cases even lower) Most often because of level of teaching provided.
Hard working kids and the teachers who don't provide equally superb education.

The grammar school means endless stress for a hothoused child as the geniuses are also going there. The school puts pressure...pressure and all are ambitious all could be top performers in comprehensive gaining confidence....yet in grammar they are nobody. Many kids in grammar schools are tutored all education to keep up.
Not a joy and that results in stress in a school with limited pastoral care because of funding.

When a school is selective parents and students are more engaged. So paper pushing Ofsted ratings don’t matter and neither does teaching quality. These parents will always find a way to help their kids succeed. Also most grammars rely on and obtain donations.

By keeping their kids away from less academically able kids. I see.

Not all them are. Mine got into super selective grammars without any tutoring and did brilliantly there. There is more tutoring generally in the private sector (belt and braces) in any case. Maybe there is a bit less for grammars because many preps tutor in school hours.

Of course they did!