6th form application question - declaring adhd?

[Cornflower321]

Wondering if anyone on here has any knowledge of whether this is like UCAS in that you aren't obliged to declare it, or if you have to? DC (academically strong and needs no support in school apart from extra time) applying to a competitive 6th form (state) as an out of area candidate so harder to get a place. Elder DC applied previously (also with ADHD diagnosis but with max predicted grades and didn't get a place), was interviewed on zoom by someone from SEN admin rather than a subject head/teacher (for one of A level subjects). Friends' (successful) interviews were all about their interests and enthusiasm for their subjects etc whilst elder DC's was about any challenges etc . I can understand why they do this but it results in a situation where it is much harder for DC to impress. I'm of course aware that, in theory, discrimination isn't allowed but I would like to reduce risk and wonder if we have to disclose (application form does ask and you'd have to say yes/no) or if we can inform them later down the line if DC gets an offer and decides to go?

I should say, I don't have concerns about support if needed in school once a DC is there. I think it's just very competitive and the process puts a DC declaring SEN on the back foot (unlike with university applications where it really doesn't seem to be an issue at all). Advice appreciated, thank you.

I work in HE so can’t comment on the specifics of this, but if the school is dodgy enough to discriminate in this way, I would worry that should your DD need support further into sixth form, that they might try and say something along the lines of ‘you didn’t declare so you’re not getting the full support’. They shouldn’t, but based on what you’ve said about the interview I’m not sure I’d trust them! And I have seen schools do much dodgier things so it wouldn’t shock me.

If you are sure the discrimination is the reason for not getting a place, rather than being out of catchment, I would avoid the school. Did other local children get in to the 6th form?

@mugglewumpthanks. im not sure and can’t prove it as we are on the edge of distance for admissions. However others as far away did get offers with lower predicted grades. Would just like to remove the possibility and the interview issue from the equation. For a number of reasons I think the school is still a good choice so would at least like it to be on our list of options. The problem is the yes or no nature of the question on application makes it harder to just omit.

I think that you should disclose his condition, we're similar in that DS has Asperger's, with a very similar profile to your son. It's best to be honest and hope that they are professional in dealing with applications, whilst also having some other 6th forms as a back up plan. By putting no when you know it's inaccurate there could be repercussions down the line if you request exam support etc.

From a former teacher: I would prefer to know my A-level students fully - I might have to change my teaching style appropriately. I once had a frequent absentee in my set, X, a girl I hadn't taught her before. When she was in lessons, she was brown as a berry and glowing. I felt rather resentful at her attitude although - luckily!- I didn't say anything. A girl in the set said quite casually one day that it was a shame X missed so much because of her arthritis. It turned out the family had a holiday home somewhere warm where she found relief from the pain in winter. There should have been something on the Special Needs board in the staff room, but it had gone missing. After that, I made very sure she was up to date on the work.

Thank you @bellocchild totally agree how impt it is to be informed as a teacher. We would certainly be upfront well in time but I am just wondering if it s possible not to disclose at application stage.

Presumably for 6th form it isn't only grades but subject choice that would impact who is taken? eg If the physics class is 'full' but the French one isn't?

Or does it not work that way?

Yes it does but my DC don’t do STEM so should be easier rather than harder.

Is there anywhere else in the application form that exam access arrangements could be mentioned instead? If there is a way to include the information in a text box, I'd be inclined to do that instead. That way, your DC has notified the sixth form but not in such a way as to automatically be picked up as warranting an interview by the SEN department instead of a subject specialist.

My DC has submitted a couple of sixth form applications recently and it would have been possible to add a sentence in the section about predicted grades e.g. Please note I have been assessed as eligible for 25% additional time.

@Cornflower321 is it a school sixth form or a standalone sixth form?

25% extra time isn't automatically granted for ADHD though, it's granted after thorough careful review and mostly for conditions like slow processing or dyslexia. I have two children diagnosed with ADHD in sixth form and neither has been given extra time, despite asking. my eldest gets it at uni for ADHD.

I realise the 25% isn't a given but OP's child has been assessed as eligible for it and doesn't require any other adjustments or learning support so it's a piece of information that could be disclosed without sharing a diagnosis.

@Cornflower321, at application stage you should not need to provide any information that isn't relevant to the application criteria. If this is a school sixth form (rather than a stand-alone sixth form) then you can point to clause 2.4 of the National Schools Admissions code to back you up on this.

If it is a stand-alone sixth form then they don't need to comply with the admissions code but their admissions criteria do need to be "fair, objective and transparent". So, unless there is anything in the form that says a place can be withdrawn for withholding information, don't feel obliged to include it. You can inform them about the ADHD if and when your child enrolls.

@appleznpairz thanks that’s really useful. Sorry yes it is a stand alone 6th form. I will check the form. This whole business is very frustrating predicted grades should indicate potential.

I can’t offer any advice for sixth form but I totally understand where you’re coming from. We applied for a few small private schools for secondary for our ASD/ADHD son (believing he would benefit from the smaller setting and class sizes) and they all turned him down, despite him being very capable academically. It felt very much like discrimination - he does have additional needs but is currently coping at a large mainstream state secondary with no EHCP so I really can’t see he him being too much for those small private schools. Actually quite relieved now not to be paying school fees given the VAT situation, but I think that if we had kept quiet and had applied on his academic record it would have been a different story.

@SuperSue77 sorry to hear that. I’m hoping I’m wrong about it all but my gut tells me I’m not. We were very open first time round as it didn’t occur to us there would be any discrimination in the state sector. The university application process in contrast is very inclusive and our eldest with adhd (who was rejected by this 6th form) is now at oxbridge.

Did the private school visit him in his previous school setting? Our son has autism and the Senco came to meet him, to talk to his teacher etc. DS has additional needs obviously, however nothing behavioural. However the school has had challenging pupils whilst my son has been there and I can know see why they're circumspect (a pupil brought a knife in and attacked someone, had to be escorted from premises by police). Should be inclusive, yes but there are some pupils who can't cope in a mainstream setting whilst safeguarding others.

Maybe just don't say at the early stage then given your previous experience.

No school visits, they just weren’t interested. I like in a very affluent area and they don’t struggle for fee-paying pupils, so just wrote my son off.

@SuperSue77 that's a shame.

Presumably the sixth form will be asking his current school for a full reference and it will come up then.
So you should ask his current school about that, what is put in the reference and whether they would be detailing which support he is getting, if it's not then that will hopefully settle the matter.