Is sixth form the right choice for my child?

14th February 2023 Family

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Once students finish secondary school, they move onto further education. The majority of the time, this tends to be sixth form. But what is a sixth form? In the UK, there are two types. The first is one which is attached to schools and allows students to carry on in the same academic establishment after the completion of GCSEs. The second is independent and requires students to transfer over to a new space. Sixth forms are designed to help students prepare for university through the study of A levels. Some students also use this space to prepare for BTECs and Apprenticeships. So, what makes this a great decision for young people? Here is some advice from this prep school in Surrey on if sixth form is the right choice for your child. 

Photo by Shubham Sharan on Unsplash

Strong focus on academics

In sixth form, teachers are trained and focus on teaching subjects based on their expertise. This means that they are specialised and remain passionate about teaching at this academic level. It also means they have the time to run after school clubs which are aimed to support their students. Due to this, teachers have the chance to supervise their pupils and give them one on one attention with reading and practice around exams. Sixth forms allow greater flexibility with the subjects and timetables that are offered. Unlike GCSEs, students are only expected to study 3 subjects in depth, which means timetables are more spaced out. 

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Preparation for university

At university, students will be completely independent, with the responsibility of attending lectures and completing assignments completely on their shoulders. Sixth forms are designed to help students prepare academically for this big step up. Tutors treat students like young adults, with the aim of teaching them to use spare time to complete assignments and revise for upcoming exams.