Dd wants to go to sixth form off of the mainland

[IllBeAtTheBarIfYouNeedMe]

I know it's too early to stress about this sort of thing but I just can't seem to help myself today. Dd has just finished year 10 and is exploring her sixth form options. Luckily she is bright and her end of year reports/mock exams indicate that she is going to do very well in her GCSE's next year. She is sure that she doesn't want to do her a levels in the sixth form attached to her school and has set her heart on studying in the Channel Islands.

We have family there who I know without asking would be delighted to have her whilst she is there (the idea came from them) but I just feel guilty for even considering letting her effectively move out at 16.

Whilst we can afford the fees of the particular sixth form she wants we aren't in the position to move over there with her (Sen siblings at specialists schools unavailable on this island)

Do I dissuade her from this option or am I just being ridiculous with my reservations? She is very sensible, the island is only an hours flight away from our local airport and I trust my family members would look after her as I would but she'll only be 16 and away from me... I thought I had a couple of years yet before all of this

I just keep running in circles in my head and this thread - sorry

If the school you are referring to is in Guernsey I used to teach there. It was my last school before I retired and I was there for nine years, if that's any recommendation!

Of course, if it's in "the other island" I couldn't possibly comment...

I think the important thing to remember is that, at 16, the choice of school is meant to be her decision (apart from the issue of fees, of course). I really can't see why you would worry if she will be living with family - DS2 did something far more drastic at that age by moving back to England from Lesotho (where were living and working at the time) because he wanted to do a particular combination of A levels and not the IB (which was the only option at the international school where he did his IGCSEs). He actually lived in our house, completely independently (although we paid for everything) for the whole of his A level course. No problems at all (and the house was still there when we got back).

And, having been a sixth-form tutor, I have to say that in my experience there is very little difference in maturity between 16 and 18-year-olds. 16 is pretty grown up (and in Guernsey (and the other island) they have the right to vote).

So don't panic. Embrace it. She'll be absolutely fine.

Children in some Scottish Islands travel to go to school and stay away during the week.