Sixth Form Application Problem

[Charliesunnysky10]

My daughters' school did a test called MidYIS one afternoon in year 7, and based on her score, MidYIS predicted her mostly 5’s and some 6’s for GCSE, which was something of a shock as she was doing really well and got a high score for the 11 plus.

It’s regarded as something of a blunt tool, and based on every end of year test from Y7 to the latest last year in Y9, she is predicted mostly 9’s and a couple of 8’s. Her work over the past 4 years is consistent with this, so she hasn’t allowed that bad day at the office to affect her. However, she is concerned that her Sixth Form application will use the predicted grades from MidYIS, which may prevent her from being offered a place.

She doesn't want to attend the sixth form attached to her current school. The sixth form she'd like to attend said they'll ask her current school for predicted grades in October, she won't get her mock exam results till after their closing date for applications.

Current school say they'll give her MidYIS as her predicted grades - and the teacher seemed to be persuading her to stay when she asked - I guess they want to retain as many good pupils as possible.

How can she apply with her consistent up to date good predictions, not the ones based on scores from a test one afternoon 4 years ago? She's very upset thst she might have to stay at the current school because they won't give her up to date consistent grades from the past 4 years - just that snapshot prediction from one afternoon in year 7.

Most colleges only require grade 5/6 for A Levels so I don’t think even with those original predictions she will have a problem getting into another 6th form. You usually provide your mock results. If they aren’t ready still put in the application then let them know once you had them. My nephew has just applied but his mick grades were really not great English and science. My son was predicted all 7,8s and got more 5,6s (due to a very lack lustre end to yr 11) he was still accepted to a top performing ALevel college

I think most colleges will offer a conditional place. DS's college needed a GCSE score of 44 for A Levels (which is 4 x 6 grades and 4 x 5 grades). They then had specific criteria for certain subjects (ie, grade 7 for Maths etc). He received an enrolment appointment after GCSE results day, and they said that if the grades weren't achieved, they would be able to offer alternative vocational courses based on results.

What are the entry requirements for the sixth form she wants to attend? Would providing her end of year 10 grades not also be used as evidence that her MidYIS grade is not allowing for the progress she has clearly made.

I would be contacting the sixth form she wants to attend with the information that her MidYIS and her current grades do not align and see what they advise. Don't take advice from her current school about what another school/sixth form does or doesn't do.

Sixth form places are usually conditional. On results day because they are part of the same academy trust Ds had to show his GCSE results to the representative from the sixth form who was in the school hall. Those in non-feeder schools registered the next day also showing their GCSE results.

Meant to ping you @Charliesunnysky10

Thank you for your advice and sharing your experiences. It's good to know there might be a way out of this that's not too daunting as she's quite the worrier.

The college she wants to go to needs 3 x grade 7's min. One needs to be Maths as she wants to take that. MidYIS predicts her only 5's and a few 6's. Her teachers and exam results forecast her 9's & 8's but they may be exaggerating of course.

I'm really annoyed that these predicted grades from one 40min test are still holding her back 5 years later!