Opinions on BHASVIC Brighton for Oxbridge hopeful.

[Thingsthatgo]

We are starting to look at sixth forms as we don’t have many options locally. I’m not sure if DS will get a place at BHASVIC anyway, due to the distance, but it seems like it would be a great option for him if he is eligible for a place. They have a good reputation for Oxbridge applications.
Does anyone have any experience or insight they could share with me please? He’d like to study history, but hasn’t yet decided on his other choices.

I can only tell you that due to reasons I won’t bore you with, DD put in a very late application to BHASVIC and was offered a place on 1st September. She had very good predicted grades. So our experience suggests they will have places as she was really at the bottom of the list. Would have had to hold our nerve if she’d really wanted to go!

How far away are you? Kings school in Hove have a new small sixth form and are aiming for Oxbridge for their students, they say they have the best GCSE results in the city which bodes well.

Oh that’s interesting, thank you. Is your DD enjoying it? We live about 10 miles away from central Brighton. The Kings school looks good, but it is small. I suppose that it will absorb some extra students who might have otherwise chosen BHASVIC, and so free up some places.

BHASVIC is excellent and they have a large catchment area so your DS should be fine getting a place so long as he gets the right GCSE grades for his subjects which it sounds like he definitely will. It is huge and the teachers are excellent. They have an Oxbridge path for students they believe have what it takes so they group them together for form groups and visits to Oxbridge. DC need a lot of self motivation to go there as they are not spoon fed unlike some smaller sixth forms in secondary schools with much smaller classes. They have to keep up at Bhasvic and they will push them.

Some DC prefer Varndean or Cardinal Newman 6th form if they need more support or of course just the fact they live closer or went to those schools.

Thank you @PeonyBulb. DS is currently very motivated and self disciplined. Much much more than I was at his age! I think that a sixth form college will suit him.
I am aware these things can change, however, as the teenage years progress.

@Thingsthatgoit sounds like your DS will be very much suited to BHASVIC so definitely apply. Do make sure he checks his Teams and emails or whatever it is online before he sets off each day in case any lessons get cancelled. It can be a pain for those living further out getting up early taking public transport. A few living further out drive in and pay £5 for a daily ticket nearby.

My son went to Bhasvic and we live in Burgess Hill so about 10 miles away. Great college and he got good results that led to Russell group uni and a first despite mediocre GCSE results

BHASVIC is amazing. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Good luck.