Sixth Form

[SchoolMum22]

Hi my daughter has just finished her GCSEs and am not sure of results yet. She's only applied to one school which is Sale Grammar in Manchester. Am getting worried already as its her only choice and was told today that they don't let everyone in who passes for sixth form especially if they not in lower school before?
So have you any experience of this and what are her chances?? Aw XXX Where else is good round there? X

When she applied what was their response? Was she made an offer based on attaining certain GCSE results?
I'm not local I'm afraid so can't comment on other schools.

It says on their website that external applicants receive a decision (rejection or provisional offer) by the end of the spring term. What did this say? If she attains they grades they ask for I cannot see anything saying that they may rescind the offer on results day.
She needs to log in to the online portal before 12 noon on results day to confirm that she wants the place and attained the grades specified in the offer. Then attend the next day (the Friday) at the time they ask with documentation. I would say to make sure you don't miss those deadlines.

Why is there no plan B?

I never understand parents who don't insist on a plan B.

@SchoolMum22 Does her current school have a sixth form. If so, it is her safest bet. Schools are obliged to prioritise their internal students over external applicants so long as they meet the minimum entry criteria.

Otherwise, you need a backup plan, e.g. a local college.

Yes agree. Spend the next month working out a Plan B.
As to "where is good round there" it depends what she wants to study and what she wants out of a sixth form. Why did she pick Sale?

Of course not or she'd stay there.

Not necessarily tho.
Reasons a student might move despite having a sixth form in their current school:

• Subject offered only at a different setting
• Wants to leave current school because of friendship issues
• Teaching offer is better in some way at other school (eg better science facilities, excellent English dept0
• Want to start afresh for whatever reason

I know students who did all these things.

Anyway – I also don’t know the area but yy what are her PGs for GCSE? What does the sixth for in Sale require? That's the key factor surely.

If for whatever reason she may not make the grades needed, or just anyway, it’s a good idea to have another option or two. There is still another week of term (in most schools in England anyway) so you should contact a few to see what they can offer. Do most setting offer her subject choices? Not all will offer (for example) A levels in music, specific MFLs, PE, gov/pol and others. So make sure you consider that (I am sure you would).

College may be worth a look at alternative qualifications if her GCSE grades won't work for A levels, or if she might prefer something vocational (not sure if that is what you are saying but it's worth a look anyway).

We are in a different city, but all the schools round us (including grammar) give you an offer but this is not guaranteed until actual results in. Even if DC get the required grades they may not get a place. I do not like this system - unclear. Can you approach some others. A few round us had places even after results, including a popular comp and grammar…

Ok thank you all that’s given me a lot to think about …

So she needs:

• A minimum Attainment 8 score of 60
• A grade 6 in GCSE English Language and Maths
• A grade 6 in the Subject which you choose to study, (or two Grade 6s if you wish to study Science and took Co-ordinated Science at GCSE)

Is that likely?

It also says if oversubscribed then they rank by A8 score.

What are her predicted grades and is she likely to have got them?

You really need to find some back-ups. I'm in London and friends have 3 or 4 schools on the list for 6th form with different requirements in case something goes horribly wrong. And those hoping to stay on at current school all have at least one back up in case they don't make the qualifying grades.

You could try a late application to Loreto college or Xaverian college, or maybe Ashton on Mersey/Altrincham college. Sale Grammar is a bit risky as, by law, they have to admit any of their yr 11s who meet criteria, then whatever space is left is allocated to external students. They don't even know til results day how many spaces they have

Thank you all! She didn’t get in but your posts have been so helpful by having a back up plan. We are currently on the wait list for John Deane’s but it was a lat application but her grades are good. Also waiting on offers from 2 others. it’s painful waiting tbh…

Ah good luck! It's so hard, apparently there were 600 applicants for about 60 places at Sale Grammar 6th form, so it was really hard to get in even if technically you met their requirements. So many kids change their minds about college I'm sure a place will come up. John Deane's is a great college too!