[JAJ1309]

I'm really confused about whether staying on at the mixed state school I have attended since year 7 or moving to a private, all girls school for sixth form is best for me! Any and all advice is welcome.

The school I'm currently at is average, nothing more and nothing less, it's been fine but definitely not pushy. You have to be your own motivator which has probably been for the best but I don't know how I feel about that for sixth form. I applied for 4 schools, including the one I'm at, 2 private (one co-ed, one single sex) and a single sex grammar school, all of which I recieved conditional offers of achieving 7 B grades or above at GCSE, my predicted grades are straight A's with aspirational A*'s in French, Spanish, Maths, English Lit and English Lang. I have already achieved this A* in English Language from an early entry exam in which I attained 100%. I have done triple science.

The subjects I am going to study are Maths, Physics, English Lit and French, although I am also enlisted to study Chemistry as a 5th subject at the state school. As it is both English and French are fine at the state, I know the teachers I will have and have had them for GCSE but the school is let down by Maths and physics departments which are arguably the harder Alevels that I will need the most support in. Support which I would receive at the private school.

My question really I guess is whether the recognition of achieving good grades at a state school surpasses the achievement of attaining even better grades at a private one??

I've gone round in circles with this so often i'm fed up of it but no where nearer to making a decision. My parents have said not to worry about the cost but at £3.5k a term I can't not include it as a factor in the decision.
I guess I should also add that I am thinking of going abroad for Uni, to the USA, Australia or France unless I were to gain a placement at Oxford (and yes, I know the likelihood of this happening; near enough non-existent). I'm thinking of studying engineering or business with a language, which is why the EEM course at Oxford would be near perfect and again, the private would probably be better qualified for this venture but it isn't unheard of for my school. My friend's sister is going to Oxford this september to study biochemistry so long as she achieves her predicted AAA (which she will) and she had very similar GCSE's to me, or so I'm hoping mine will be, at 4A* 6A and 1B. She stayed in the state school.

As previously stated; any and all advice is welcome.

[Kimiechi]

I've actually just finished my first year at a private sixth form, after attending a state school previously, and I would definitely recommend moving, from a personal perspective. I feel a lot more prepared for university now, thanks to the support from the school which I wouldn't have got at my old school. Moreover, for your situation, private school staff are much more likely to have expertise in the area of applying to universities abroad. Although the difference in grades for me is negligible (teaching in my subjects at my old school was probably about on par with my new one), I think that you should definitely consider the many other advantages, aside from grades, that moving schools would give you. Of course, your situation is different from mine, so I can't say 100% definitely move, but that's just my experience. Hope it helps!

[suncake]

If you're good enough, and can afford it, then I don't see why you shouldn't go to the private sixth form.

Being at a state sixth form where the teaching isn't really up to scratch can be extremely frustrating, as I am currently finding out. I would love to have experienced the extra support and better quality teaching that private school students must get.

People say unis are more impressed by good grades from state-schoolers, but it's a matter of whether you can even get these good grades in the first place. I'm sure being a private school student doesn't disadvantage you when they give out offers. However, if you feel more comfortable staying in your old school and believe you can achieve good grades regardless, then just go there.

[Lunch_Box]

Your A-levels are not very indicative of your preferred career path.

What top universities want:
Engineering (depending on what type of engineering) - maths, further maths, physics

I'm not too sure what business with a language involves, but I'm assuming economics would be a wise choice.


As for the sixth form - let be honest here. Private schools tend to get better grades. If you want to improve your life chances, you should go there.

[JAJ1309]

Thanks! I considered further maths but I just don't want to limit the breadth of my options by doing it despite its acclaimed accolade. I have also considered economics and would enjoy the subject but it currently does not fit in my timetable, something I need to approach the schools about when I receive my results to determine my final subject choices.
For business degrees generally Maths is the only prerequisite with Humanities or a social science preferred for versatility. If you're studying a language you again, generally need the language up to A-Level.

[ECONMATHSMATHSMATH]

Private schools are a lot better!
Though my private school was so terrible!
We had both good and crap teachers!
However, I was lucky at my A2

[Twinkle1]

I moved from state to private school for alevels. It was the best thing I ever did, even if I didn't end up with such great grades as was predicted, I just learnt so much more above and beyond what my friends did at my old school.

I still believe it is down to you to get the grades, and private school doesn't give 'that' much of an advantage, but remember you will have had experience at both state and private school, and having the confidence to change schools, go somewhere that is more of a challenge/more extra curricular activities available can also help the personal statements etc

[Fee95]

I moved from a state school to private for sixth form and tbh I think I have to push myself a lot even though I am attending a private school, it is important to realise that even though you will be going to a private school it doesn't mean you can be easier on yourself regarding school work because sometimes you may end up with worse off grades then you would at a state school.


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[SaintSoldier]

I'd recommend moving to a private sixth form.

I have a few friends who moved from state schools to private sixth form, and they said it was well worth it.

One of my friends put it this way: (*on results day*) "I can't believe people here are disappointed with over 90 UMS; at my old school it was more like, 'you got an A??!!! DAYYUMMM.' But over here it's, 'I'm going to resit because I got 87, I probably can't go to uni now' or something like that."

Then he proceeded to resit an exam because he got 82%

But yeh private schools are much better, they'll support you a lot more.

[Flip1]

Make the move, make the most of said move and apply for Oxford as you have a shot at it (providing your grades are good enough).