6th form or college?

[kezia_88]

Please help im 16 and just left school and really am undecided as to where to study next year? At 6th form I will have all my friends and its closer and they really do push you to work harder but I can't do english language and lit there, but it doesn't matter for what I want to do in the future!

At college its further away but apparently everyone drops out of 6th form so i'm better off at college one of my older friends advised! Though I have none of my friends going to college.

This is really bringing me down and I have to make a decision by august so confusing pleae help!

[dmsjps]

It has to be your decison in the end, kezia, but if this helps ...

My son had to choose either 6th form or college last year and he chose 6th form because he knew if he went to college he would probably end up flunking, because they aren't as 'strict' with you at college as they are in the 6th form, i.e. they don't care whether you go or not, it's your problem. Then again, you do get treated more like an 'adult' at college, but if you stay in the 6th form, you get treated much more like an adult than the rest of the school.

 

Where I live, no one drops out of 6th form but they do drop out of college, so I suppose it's horses for courses and it depends what suits you.

 

Good luck, whatever you choose. You're right to carry on studying if you can afford to because although you'll be skint for several years yet, hopefully in the end it will be worth it. Even if it's not, at least you will still have had fun without any responsibilities for a little while longer!

[Scarlett]

I teach in a College and there are basically two ways you can go; if you are academic and don't mind being treated like you at school, even though you are 18, stay at school. If you are sick of school and feel you want to call your teachers by their  first names, and have more freedom, then go to College! People at College have so much freedom that it is easy to abuse it, and drop out. If you like school, like the teachers, don't mind the uniform, and are happy where you are, then stay at school. I did A levels in the 6th form at school, and then a BTEC and A Level Music at College later as a mature student, so I do know the differences.

[jean88]

Stay in school, the teachers pushes you harder and make you do the work, the teachers care more. In college the teacher comes in, teach, thats their job done, is up to you to take in the work, they wont push you. Too much freedom might not be a good thing, loads of students ended up in the pubs than in classes. ( I know from experience). More people drop out of college than school. School is best, they give you enough freedom in school and is a environment that you are used to with all the friends, teachers that you know and is near. All the answers are in your question really.

[philandlil]

don't make a decision based on your friends going somewhere, you'll make new friends. i did a course which my friends did and it was useless because we all wanted to go in different directions in our careers out of six of us none of us are working in the field which we studied for. go to the place that does the courses that you think will most benificial to you in the future.

if it helps write a list of positive a negative points about college and six form and compare them.

[netibiza]

Can't advise you but would like to say what a sensible and nice person you are. I wish my daughter had half your sense. I have no doubt that whatever decision you make it will be the right one.  Good Luck xx

[floss85]

Hi Kezia

I opted for 6th form. I thought that was the best for me coz I thought that I would eventually go to uni. I wanted the structure of 'having to' go to lessons at 6th coz I though if I went to college it would be too relaxed and I wouldnt do anywork!!

I personally didnt like 6th form - they make a big fuss that you've finished your GCSE's and when I went back after the summer they treated us like kids again.

I came out with 3 A-levels though so I have to be thankful for that.

When you make you're decision - dont think about where your friends are going. Quite a few of my friends went to college. I still saw them but made loads of new friends at 6th!

Good luck with what you decide!

x

[Sammy&Adam]

I went to college and had the BEST two years.  I didn't know anyone when I got there but met so many great people from all walks of life.  I think I was a lot more prepared for uni than I would've been had I gone to 6th form.

 

If you choose subjects that you really want to study, like lang & lit, you should be motivated to get all your work done and you can be really proud of when you get great results and know that you did it all by yourself!

 

Good luck with whichever path you choose - Sam x x

[nykkieberry]

I work at huge tertiary college with a sixth form ethos. There's target setting, study support (including excellent pastoral care such as on site counsellors, etc.) and a hard line on discipline, attendance and absence. However, unlike most sixth forms we are also able to offer a huge range of extras such as an active student union, a immense enrichment programme, specialist facilities such as language labs, theatre, sports centre, multi media suites, etc., vast opportunities for residentials, careers development and work experience, and a wide range of post-16 courses. It would be a big sixth form that could compete with such learning enhancing 'extras'...

A good college will help you achieve academically in a disciplined environment whilst offering you a much wider learning experience and developing your social skills.  I would choose a college if you want to broaden your horizons much more and better prepare yourself for university. A sixth form however, will offer a more limited but focused academic experience where results are the driving force rather than the whole package.

Research your options - look at the Ofsted reports and see how they stack up on scores for teaching and learning. If your local college is considered 'good' in terms of teaching and learning, I would go for it. It will be an excellent grounding for university and you will gain a lot more life experience.

Combine good teaching and a good college with your commitment and enthusiasm, and there is no reason why you will not surpass what you may have achieved at sixth form whilst also getting a lot more life experience to boot. Good luck with it!