Question of the Month - Nov 2011

Each month we pick one of your questions at random, and publish the answer in our newsletter.

I’m planning to attend a couple of sixth form open evenings with my daughter this term to help her make plans for the end of year 11.  How can I make the most of these events and what type of questions should I ask?

The open evenings are a really good opportunity to get a good overview of a school/college and their courses.  Be aware of the different type of qualifications.  There are A level programs that require anything from 4 GCSE upwards to enrol (entry will vary between establishments).  These courses are typically subject based and will have exams.  BTEC courses are offered at different levels, equivalent to GCSE’s or A levels and tend to be more practical and course work based.  Some schools offer practical qualification e.g. hairdressing, mechanics, sport (you may hear these referred to as TVC courses in Plymouth) where time is split between establishments.  It will be important to look at the content of the course and how your daughter likes to study.

Many sixth form courses could require your daughter to study at a different establishment.  This could be for A levels if she can’t do the combination of A levels she wants in her preferred establishment, or for a TVC course to study the vocational element.  This should not be a problem but it would be useful to get a clear idea about timetables and how this would work in practise.

She needs to be realistic and have a good idea of what her predicted GCSE grades are prior to attending these events.  That way she can be realistic about the level she is likely to start at.  If she requires any additional support it is vital to have discussions as to how this will be offered prior to starting a course.

Other research important before going is to check she is looking to study the subjects required for her to progress on to what she wants.  If she is keen on university for example she need to check what subjects her degree requires.  It would be interesting to discuss with teachers what past students have progressed on to and how successful they have been with the course.

One other element to ask about could be to check hidden costs.  Some courses will require students to purchase materials and it is important to be aware of this prior to starting.  It is also important to seek as much advice as possible so any choice is made being aware of all the options.
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