Results day. School vs Sixth Form College.

Wednesday October 26th, 2016

Last week the A Level results came out and university places were offered to those who achieved their expected grades. Congratulations to those who made it to their top choice unis!

In August 2014 my son received his A-Level results and was disappointed not to have got the grades he had hoped for to get a place at his top choice university – Bristol. Although he was offered a place at another good university, the course he wanted to do wasn’t in his opinion as good as at Bristol.

Now, knowing my son’s laid back attitude to studies, the decision was made not to go to university that year, but to re-take the necessary exams and to apply to university again the following year.

In that situation 6 Form college is definitely the place to go. My son spent a year at a Sixth Form College, re-took his Maths to receive an A and was offered a place at University of Bristol where he is studying happily now.

There are almost 100 Sixth Form Colleges in the UK. They form that stepping stone between the school and the university, allowing students to do the necessary subjects to be able to apply for their chosen university course.

Here is a typical A Level results table from Godalming, one of the UK Sixth Form Colleges:

• 99.7% pass rate at A level
• 61.8% A*-B grades
• 33.6% A* and A grades
• 100% pass rate in BTEC level 3 qualifications with 60.3% at Dinstinction* to Distinction grade

As you can see the results typically match or exceed those of a good traditional school.
There are many reasons why people choose to go to the Sixth Form College. I know of people dropping out of the top British schools such as Winchester after their GCSEs to continue their studies at a Sixth Form College.

So what are the main differences between the school and the Sixth Form College?

1. A college will offer you a different learning environment to that experienced at a school’s sixth form. It will be more of a university environment where independent learning is expected.
2. Timetable. Unlike at school, where you are expected to be at school and in lessons from 8.30am till 4pm, there could be several hours between lessons/lectures; you might not even have to attend at all for a full day; or if you are there all day it might start at 8.30am and not finish until 5pm. Sensible students use their free time for homework or study!
3. People. People at Sixth Form College are likely to be from a much wider spectrum of ages and backgrounds than at a school, but they are all there not because they “have to go to school”, but because they know they want to achieve the grades to continue to university.
4. Dresscode. There won’t be a uniform at Sixth Form College! You can wear what you like.

In short, Sixth Form Colleges have their purpose of getting the academic results for their students and they definitely serve it. Many go to Oxbridge from the Sixth Form Colleges.

During his year at a Sixth Form college my son made new friends, people who dropped out from various private schools after their GCSEs or, like him, were retaking their subjects to get into the university of their choice.

Today is also the big day for GCSE results. Lots of teenage partying going on in the UK following the exam results. Reading festival is apparently the place to be this weekend for those youngsters!

Happy bank holiday weekend everyone!