Moving Sixth Form

Hi there,
I started sixth form back in November. It hasn't really gone brilliantly (a bit of an understatement). I moved from my old school as pretty much all the good teachers of my subject left, as did all of my friends - the courses didn't interest me that they were running at my old sixth form, and I figured there wasn't much point in staying. So I moved to school 2 for sixth form. School 2 is all boys up until sixth form, and the courses seemed to be more interesting - particularly history, which is what I want to specialise in post-18. The grades are fairly similar, if a bit better, than my original school. The teaching is fine - nothing exceptional, but it's good enough. However, I've had a massive issue making any friends. It's very, very cliquey, and most people came in groups from their schools. They are nice enough, as in will smile, but aren't really willing to properly let me join their group. It's November, I'm a normally fairly social friend, yet I have 1 friend. I just feel depressed all the time, and I can't really see it improving. I know grades are most important, but I struggle to work at all if I'm not happy at a place, so the two go a bit hand in hand! Also, there seems to be a total lack o opportunities and extra curriculars. Before joining, I was always particuarly involved with music - I was told by the music department there were lots of things to do. Turning up, there's basically no music stuff on at all - the orchestra only started this September, which I conduct and regularly has only 4-5 members (who seemingly change every week, so there's no continuity either), for example. There doesn't seem to be any opportunities outside of this, and I'm just so bored.
Enter school #3 - a well known, fantastic, fairly small private school. It's closer than either of my current schools (both state btw), does all my courses (different syllabuses, though), and has fantastic extracurricular opportunities. It's mostly boys, but that's fine - it doesn't bother me. However, obviously it is November by now, and catch up will be very very hard. I really don't know what to do, and need some advice. I get that there's also the possibility I won't make friends and will be miserable at another school, but at least there there would be extracurriculars - and because it's a private school, I'd hope they'd be more likely to help me in my catch up. But still, I am worried it will impact on my grades.
I would like to go to Oxford to study PPE or Politics and History in the future. I want to get 4As at A level, as my GCSEs aren't particuarly standout (6A*s, 4As, 2Bs) but I don't know if changing now will ruin my chances at this - even if I'm going to a significantly better school. Basically - HELP!

Reply 1

Callum Farrell

If its just a matter of catch up and having to do the work you missed out on due to you switching of schools- really the only thing you can do is to be really on it with teachers and try to get them to do extracurricular clubs where you go over what you missed out on and be a lot more studious than what you originally thought- its just the worry of if you'll be happy with the school you're at now and if you'll make enough friends to be happy there which seemed to be the issue at the last one; but even if that the case you may just have to steel your resolve and find solace in the idea that you just need to focus on you, and your school work and leave social interactions on the back burner almost. Hope it all goes well for you though buddy

Reply 2

CrazyTeaParties

Thank you very much :smile:

forgot to mention, I study Eng Lit, History, Maths and Chemistry a levels, if that has any relevance.

Reply 3

Callum Farrell

Original post by CrazyTeaParties

Thank you very much :smile:

forgot to mention, I study Eng Lit, History, Maths and Chemistry a levels, if that has any relevance.

It's all fine- Chemistry at the beginning of the year is more just equations so you should be able to catch up with that, Maths it's just a case of being able to click with C1 and if you can do that you're fine- English Lit depends on what books you're studying but really it'll be how well you can analyse your texts and form ideas- unfortunately I don't do History so can't really offer any advice there sorry but realistically you should be able to catch up with the majority just with a bit more effort than everyone else