Changing 6th form

[YesYesKitten]

A couple of DD's teachers said they didn't issue 9s on reports as they don't want students to become complacent.

Y11 DD now has to provide a copy of her report to apply for a different 6th form.

So for the 3 subjects DD wants to study at A level, her current working grades are 998. But that 8 should have been a 9 but the teacher said she didn't issue 9s. But the teacher did say a 9 is achievable for DD.

Would have been nice for DD to apply with 999 on her report but there's nothing we can do or say, right?

If your daughter is applying to sixth form with an 899 in the subjects she wants to study not having a third 9 will make no difference whatsoever. Let it go. Focus on ensuring her English and Maths (assuming they are not what she wishes to study) are high too.

That depends on the school. Some very selective sixth forms rank applicants by predicted grades and can be oversubscribed for popular subjects by students predicted straight nines. If they don't re-rank applicants on results day then the subjective predicted grades are critical.

@YesYesKitten school sixth forms aren't allowed to have subjective criteria because it breaches the admissions code, so you can challenge the policy if it does. But stand-alone sixth form colleges don't have to follow the admissions code.

In your position I'd send additional evidence to show she is working above the predicted grade, and explain your school's stance to them.

The most selective school in my area doesn't predict 9s itself so I don't think this is unusual and is very unlikely to make any difference.

Thanks @mumwithallthebooks , what would be an example of subjective criteria? References?

DD is applying to two state 6th forms in addition to her existing state school 6th form. They are all attached to schools.

One is partially selective at Y7 and says they offer where they have spaces, not based on predicted grades, which surprised me.

I think it was @FamilyEdition who commented about that, sorry.

The admissions code for state schools is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2

Clause 14 says criteria must be objective. Predicted grades are subjective because they aren't standardised across schools.

Clause 1.9g lists specific things they can't do, e.g. they can't ask for behaviour reports etc, or base decisions on hobbies and interests (so they shouldn't be asking for personal statements, or lists of achievements).

Most school sixth forms set out minimum academic criteria, then manage oversubscription by distance. However very selective schools do rank applicants by grades. It's not ok for them to base their admissions decisions on the subjective predicted grades - the schools adjudicator made that clear when they found Twyford CE School's policy to be in breach of the code in July 2022 (case ref ADA3899 if you want to Google it). However, they can rank applications by actual grades when they are published in August.

Thanks @FamilyEdition , sorry I tagged @mumwithallthebooks by mistake - I didn't scroll high enough to see the correct username.

I just skim read the code and that case. Blimey. The acknowledgement of DD's application mentions a meeting after which an offer may be made. No mention of distance although I can see that on their website but I wasn't sure if that was for Y7 entry or Y12.

Sorry if I've misunderstood but if they can't offer based on current working grade, why do you recommend that I explain the 8 was really a 9?

@YesYesKitten , you need to find the actual admissions policy for the sixth form. If it does rank on predicted grades then it's worth talking up the grade. But if it ranks on actual grade then the predicted grade doesn't matter.

My daughter applied for a selective sixth form, with a mix of 7/8/9 she will still in the top 'pot' of offers.

Thanks @FamilyEdition , one 6th form admissions policy says looked after children, availability of combination of subjects, then address tie-break. We've been asked to send numbers like UPN etc...

The other setting policy says looked after children, then distance. Their application acknowledgement says they will create subject blocks based on preferences, then possible meeting to discuss choices, then possible offer. We've been asked to send progress report and they will ask for references.

Both schools are there own admitting authority.

So no mention of predicted grades for either, but should I ask explicitly? I don't really want to be THAT parent at my daughter's new setting already, but I don't understand why they can request a report and references (neither are problematic for DD).

@YesYesKitten for those policies predicted grades won't matter.

The only thing they can legitimately ask for in a reference is whether your child has had 2 or more permanent exclusions, because that is relevant to clause 3.8 of the admissions code.

Thanks @FamilyEdition , I tried looking on our county website for max distance data but this only appears to be shown for Y7...is such data published for Y12?

The only reason it's published for year 7 is that so many people ask for it that they might as well publish it up front. Also, year 7 admissions are coordinated by the local council, not the school.

If you ask the school for the numbers they will probably give you them. If they don't, then put in a freedom of information request.