A Levels - college or local school?

[Angelina]

We're looking at options for A-Level.

I understand you can apply to local schools and move to them for A Levels rather than having to stay at current school.

We're also applying to The Charter School and have been accepted at a college.

Does anyone have any experience of A-levels and where is good?

I'm told by my daughter that most of the children are leaving their school and moving somewhere else.

The college invited us for an interview, but it was more just a declaration of acceptance. Some of the schools have interviews - does anyone have any experience?

I think they're better staying somewhere they know and know what to expect, rather than moving to a different place just for the sake of change...

I'd really love to have some first hand experience from families who have been through this decision.

[tomskip]

Hi Angelina. My daughter decided to stay at her school rather than move. She was happy with her GCSE results, happy with happy with the A levels on offer at her school and had really enjoyed her whole school life there. She did apply to other 6th forms, just because she felt she should, but never seriously thought about going to them. I agree with you - moving just for a change seems a bit of an indulgence when you only have 2 years to study for A levels and it's very full on from day 1. Finding your place in a new school or college and making new friends is inevitably going to be a distraction from the hard work that's required as soon as you embark on an A level course.

Of her friends, I'd say 90% stayed at their school. 2 girls who gained 11 or more A* GCSE went on to specialist colleges and I heard of one girl who went to The Brit School. She has, however, made some new friends among people who have moved to her school for 6th Form and has enjoyed that aspect of it, along with the greater independence. I think she still appreciates not having to do a long journey every day or dress in business suits which is (a rather preposterous) requirement in some 6th forms.

[tasha1]

my children's school asked for higher GSCE results for external 6th form applicants. Three of my children remained at their school for 6th form. One of them really wished he'd gone elsewhere, despite doing well atA/Level. He just wished he'd had a fresh beginning. My youngest went to a 6th form college and I'm wishing she hadn't. Nothing wrong with the college but they are huge and the children are meant to be able to manage themselves and their work a lot more independnatly than we experienced with school 6th form. Although the pastoral care is good, it's much easier to be lost and not picked up so easily. I'd say it very much depends on your child and their personality.

[CaraJ]

I teach Alevel and have a bit of experience of local schools and think it really depends on the quality of teaching at her current school. She should look carefully at the results for the subjects she is interested in and find out about things like class sizes, resources etc. She should also check whether the school she is at and the one's she's interested in can offer the combination of subjects she would like.

If a lot of students are planning to leave for other schools then there may be a good reason for this. Is the sixth form very new or small? Did it get poor results recently? It is really important to be somewhere with a high quality of teaching staff with experience in the courses she wants to do and also experience in applying for higher education. Both Charter and college will offer this, but it depends a bit on what subjects she wants to do and her personality which would be best for her. Charter will offer predominantly traditional academic subjects (although I believe they do some btec courses and more 'modern' Alevel courses like media), whereas the college will have a much wider range of courses. The college will also have a much more 'grown-up' approach than school sixth forms, with more independence and freedom, which sounds appealing but of course whether that is a good thing depends on your daughter!

[Renata Hamvas]

As well as looking at results, look at entry requirements. Some of the local schools are asking for grade 7 or A to do an A level in that subject, that will lead to higher results than those establishments that let pupils take an A level with a 5/6 (approx B). The other thing to ask is what proportion of year 12 starters actually finish and take 3 A levels. Some of the local secondaries cull after year 12 if they feel a child isn't heading to a high grade at A level. This also leads to a higher A level outcome for the school!!!

[Angelina]

Thanks to all posters.

I met one of the more senior mums who said that the girls, especially, talk about moving but end up staying.

And to beware of moving to a place that's far....

There is so much to consider.

I know where she is is a good place and she is very well supported there - and they have a great reputation and good results.

Ultimately I want it to be her decision, but we will no doubt debate it many times.

[flocker spotter]

We are at the same stage. Our son has applied to 4 schools including his current school, but did not apply to Christ the King (nearest 6th form college) because it did not offer the subjects he wished to pursue.

He has now decided that he wants to stay at his current school because of its familiarity. I have heard that students who change school take a while to adapt - not only because they have to make new friends, but also because they have to get used to the new environment's routines and teaching styles. My children's friends' siblings have commented that they felt at a disadvantage because of this.

However, I do also know students who have changed school and love it. Ultimately, I think it is up to the students to decide. If they like their current school and wish to stay, they should (assuming they get the relevant grades), and if they feel they would benefit from a change of scenery, then that should be the priority. You as a parent might feel that another establishment might offer a better sixth form education, but if your child finds the move difficult and takes time to settle, the benefit will be lost.

[Angelina]

Thank you Bill and Flockerspotter.

Also very good points.

It's good to hear about real experiences - I've also been told the change can be detrimental as work starts at high pace and there is not the time to get to build relationships etc before it becomes full on.

[hammerman]

Renata Hamvas Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> As well as looking at results, look at entry

> requirements. Some of the local schools are asking

> for grade 7 or A to do an A level in that subject,

> that will lead to higher results than those

> establishments that let pupils take an A level

> with a 5/6 (approx B). The other thing to ask is

> what proportion of year 12 starters actually

> finish and take 3 A levels. Some of the local

> secondaries cull after year 12 if they feel a

> child isn't heading to a high grade at A level.

> This also leads to a higher A level outcome for

> the school!!!

How could a secondary school 'cull'?

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Hammerman, if you google St Olaves School in Bromley, there is some press about this practice. Schools used to accept pupils who passed 5 GCSES C grade or above (including English and Maths or allowing them to resit these in 6th form) into their sixth forms. Now the bar is getting ever higher for pupils to be able to stay on and additionally, some schools only let pupils stay on from year 12 to year 13 if they do well enough in assessments by the end of year 12. Where you have different levels of selection at year 11 to 12 and again at year 12 to 13 between different schools and colleges it will affect the final results seen at year 13. This is why when looking for a sixth form, the A level results should not be the only benchmark, but also the proportion of year 11 pupils staying on and the proportion of year 12 starters completing year 13.

[Angelina]

That is quite terrifying. I remember the Olaves incident but had though that was not common practice.

Is it more than a one-off Renata? Are our schools doing this?

I would hope that if there was a worry, that the information you advise I seek should be readily available. Is it?

".... the proportion of year 11 pupils staying on and the proportion of year 12 starters completing year 13".

[Renata Hamvas]

I am hoping that the St Olave's situation will stop this happening in other schools. I would suggest you or your daughter asks the questions of the schools she has applied to.

[Angelina]

Does our council not analyse such information?

[Renata Hamvas]

No, the secondaries are all academies/free schools or voluntary aided so they set their own admissions policies and progress rules.

Renata

[brezzo]

OK, in defence of culling and against apple pie and motherhood:

What advice would you give to a student who got U or E grades at end of Year 12 in either AS exams or end of year internal exams. The grades would heavily suggest that the student in unlikely to do very well at the end of Year 13, so surely it would be just as well for that young person, to call it quits with A levels and maybe find a more suitable course or apprenticeship elsewhere?

Genuine question, not trying to stir the pot

[brezzo]

Cheers Bill, on same (ish) page

[Angelina]

The very nature of the word does imply a results based reduction in numbers, but surely that really can't be happening?

So, with no government data, we really have no evidence either way.

That's alarming, but I hope the Orpington scandal was a one off.

Perhaps I'm naieve, but I can't believe schools practice this with a sole aim of improving their final results.

[brezzo]

Angelina, I am not sure St Olave's was a "one-off" - I am guessing plenty of grammar schools doing something like that.

My professional experience is that many schools may encourage some students to move on at end of Year 12 not for league table reasons, but for best wishes of student - a view the student may not always take.

(PS: I was using the worn "culling" somewhat ironically, which I now realise is never a good idea on social media)

[Pugwash]

At my granddaughter's previous school in Orpington (she is now on a gap year) she made friends in the 6th form with youngsters who transferred from independent schools as they were unhappy at the choice of A levels available and found that the state school had a wider choice of subjects. Of these, many of them are now at University and the others are doing a gap year.

[Angelina]

Pugwash, so that's still staying within the school framework, whether state or independent.

I suppose now that my original question is redundant as my daughter has decided to stay where she is.

I could not be happier.

Other questions about the integrity of the school in terms of forced termination of under-performing children is something to ask a school about when you apply, but I am completely certain that our school does not - the entrance into 6th form is very competitive and they would not let anyone in who would not respond to their education. It's very clear that children are only allowed to do subjects that they are likely to be able to manage and there are discussions to ensure that all are happy.

I wish everyone well with their choices and hope you get in where you want to go...

Thanks for all of your contributions.

[brezzo]

Angelina, not wanting to scare you, but it is often sixth forms with most stringent entry requirements that "cull" the most - seems to have been the case at St Olaves which is super selective at year 7 and year 12