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School Sixth Form vs College
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I was wondering if any1 could give me their view on whether they feel a school sixth form or colllege is better. Any experiences of your own
Thanks
Thanks
Post edited by JustV on
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My friends who stayed at the 6th form for the first few months were not allowed to leave the site on free periods and I wouldn't have liked that.
I just found I was treated more like an adult by going to college because they were a brand new set of teachers who I didn't know (I didn't like very many of my teachers at my old school)
I don't know if it is a case over which is better, it's different for different people.
- I knew the teachers who would be teaching me, and they knew my strengths and weaknesses.
- Although there was a dress code it meant I didn't have to 'dress to impress' everyday and could keep my clothes for social occassions.
- I wouldn't have to worry about making friends because I could keep the same ones.
- I knew we had extra privilages in the 6th form, like free periods.
- There were compulsary study periods in the library which gave me the chance to get my work done so I rarely had homework.
- There was a high level of pastoral care.
My friends who went to college were left to their own devices, rarely had work marked, there was no reporting of progress, no mock exams, no extra help after class, they could never think of anything to wear, often didn't go to college when they couldn't be bothered and they didn't do any of the coursework because they could get away without doing it - the teachers didn't care. They all say that they wished they'd gone to 6th form because they would have been made to work.
However, if you want to do a vocational course, like GNVQs or similar then college is best. Trust me.
Oh yeah, and referring to one of the earlier replys, my 6th form also had that rule where for the first term the newbie students couldn't go home in free lessons. thing is, nobody listened to it and I don't think the teachers expected us to either!
Its too much like school,and once you`ve left school..my opinion is you should embrace the freedom of not being in such a strict "regime" and be able to grow up.
I completed my first year of 6th form (studying physics and geography),then luckily got onto an internship abroad,and did 3 days college week there and loved every minute of it.
Not being personal or offensive to anyone who goes to 6th form,but from personal experiance the people who tend to go there are wannabe lawyers and people wanting to be executives,higher up the salary chain later on in life.
And at college,most of my friends only studied one subject,whilst 6th forms make you do 2 or 3 at a minimum,which is bad as you cannot fully concentrate on one thing and get through the education system quickly,and into the real world in the job you want..or at least start university earlier.
1 It was all girls
2 They didn't do the subjects I wanted
3 Everyone there hated me after 5 years
Going to college was one of the best things I did. No rules, no pressure, lots of men
I guess the reasons were all varied. It was close, it was convenient, I din't have to worry about enrolling or anything. I knew the school, I knew the standards, and I knew all the staff. I knew I'd be happy to stay there, I liked the people and I liked the place itself. The place already felt like home, another two years would be no hassle. When the transition was made, the teachers became more like friends, and because you'd chosen their subject, the whole teaching style became far more relaxed. Support was outstanding.
Admittedly, it was restrictive. We had to wear uniform, we had to be there normal hours, and weren't given that much freedom. We also had homework, regular deadlines. Exams, reports, that sort of thing.
I think a crucial factor must be to look a stage further still. What do you want to do after A2s? Does the place you are going offer support, expertise and help with getting there? Do staff look at personal statements, for example, and help with UCAS applications? Do they know anything about it?
We had a superb Head of Sixth Form who was perfectly suited to it; he knew UCAS applications, admissions procedures, and all aspects of university applications. That, alone, made Sixth Form and inevitability. And one well worth it for me.
However, the choice, as they say on Blind Date, is yours.
These were also the main reasons I loved sixth form!
However I have found we don't get treated like adults by the majority of the teachers the common room is rammed full of people so you can hardly breath and in the first year you can't go home for private study.
The best piece of advice i can offer is do what you think is right. If you want to stay then do it, if you don't then don't. :cool:
p.s. one more thing i hate about my school is the plan of the day...the powers that be have just changed it so we have 4 lessons before dinner then 1 after.......my poor stomach....it's gonna get sooooo hungry.