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Hills or CAST for A levels.

Hi!

I’m trying to decide between Hills and CAST to study Physics, computing, Maths & Further Maths. I’m likely to achieve grades to go to both but I have heard bad things about Hills. Issues such as very little Mental health support/care for students - if you begin to struggle you are booted out. A family member works within the mental health sector for Cambridge and say she deals with Hills Road students on a weekly basis who are self harming, bulimic etc on the other hand I have friends who have just left recently who had a great time but they studied more arts based subjects such as dance and Music so not so academic/intense. I have no interest in going to an oxbridge uni and have heard that CAST’s computing Alevel is a lot better. Concerns for CAST is that it is very small and integrated within a school so won’t have that college feeling? Please help me decide!

Reply 1

mesub

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

I won't lie, I thought you were talking about CAST / normal diagrams for trigonometry.

Reply 2

lawofducks123

Original post by Dannii!

Hi!
I’m trying to decide between Hills and CAST to study Physics, computing, Maths & Further Maths. I’m likely to achieve grades to go to both but I have heard bad things about Hills. Issues such as very little Mental health support/care for students - if you begin to struggle you are booted out. A family member works within the mental health sector for Cambridge and say she deals with Hills Road students on a weekly basis who are self harming, bulimic etc on the other hand I have friends who have just left recently who had a great time but they studied more arts based subjects such as dance and Music so not so academic/intense. I have no interest in going to an oxbridge uni and have heard that CAST’s computing Alevel is a lot better. Concerns for CAST is that it is very small and integrated within a school so won’t have that college feeling? Please help me decide!

Hills can be quite a high pressure environment, so if that isn't something you like/can handle then it might not be for you. However, in regards to what you said about your Mum, it is also worth noting that Hills (I think) is a much bigger school than CAST, so the number of people there with mental health difficulties will likely be higher, but this does not mean the % of students that have these is higher, or that this is the result of Hills (correlation doesn't = causation). In particular, Hills has a lot of high achieving students who likely set themselves high standards and get stressed about achieving these. This could be true for high achieving students wherever they go, Hills just has a lot of them, so a lot of Hills students are like this.

Reply 3

lawofducks123

Original post by DerDracologe

There are several key differences as far as Im aware (year 11 so haven’t studied at either):

•

CAST is much smaller in both site and student body

•

Hills tends to get better grades and has higher entry requirements

•

Hills has a reputation for having poor support for students

•

CAST has a more school feeling to it apparently

•

Hills has more clubs and a greater range of enrichments, CAST is more focused on science

•

Hills enforces the EPQ- are you wanting to do this? Whereas CAST enforces industry projects

Hope this helps- are you considering any other options if you have concerns about both? Or are you just trying to decide and focusing on any concerns you have, which do you think you will be happier at?

In regards to support, I personally have found that Hills support has been quite good from the wellbeing side (less sure about the academic side, if you are struggling in this regard). Hills has a wellbeing service where you can drop in or make an appointment to talk to people most days, and it also has a counselling service where you can do, for example, around 8 weeks of more focused counselling to help with an issue. I have found though that some students choose not to use this as they fear it might be awkward, which I understand, but if you need help I would defo suggest using it as they're really nice!

Reply 4

Dannii!

Original post by DerDracologe

There are several key differences as far as Im aware (year 11 so haven’t studied at either):

•

CAST is much smaller in both site and student body

•

Hills tends to get better grades and has higher entry requirements

•

Hills has a reputation for having poor support for students

•

CAST has a more school feeling to it apparently

•

Hills has more clubs and a greater range of enrichments, CAST is more focused on science

•

Hills enforces the EPQ- are you wanting to do this? Whereas CAST enforces industry projects

Thanks, I really didn’t like Long Road or Comberton so it’s just between these two. I have some time to decide still. Thanks so much for your input 🙂

Reply 5

lkmklmklm

havent been to CAST but ive just finished Y12 at hills. what i can say about hills.is that everyone will be incredibly smart, its humbling. If you cant find your feet and keep up, then you're bound to feel disheartened by your grades (and for a lot of people at hills thats a first) and that might be where the mental health problems stem.

About CS itself, its defo the more lax subject (in y12 at least), its nothing as crazy as physics or maths, and if you enjoy CS you wont be pulling your hair out revising, it felt like a continuation of GCSE to me tbh. They're pretty incompetent though when it comes to marking tho, the whole class was in outrage since it seems whoever marked our summer exams couldnt read the mark scheme, or count the marks properly.

Reply 6

Trickia

Study Forum Helper

Hiya although I can't speak up for cast completely I recently attended an induction day there and please take this with a pinch of salt but I felt it had a more school then college environment. Additionally correct me if wrong cast also wants you to do the epq as it is compulsory like hills along with their challenge projects. And cast is small compared to hills etc but if you prefer that, that's okay. If you planning to apply their I personally think you should apply to both and then experience the induction days to make a choice yourself xx
Hope it helps xx

Reply 7

EnigmaChess

Have you considered Cambridge Maths School?

Reply 8

rchll

Original post by Dannii!

Hi!
I’m trying to decide between Hills and CAST to study Physics, computing, Maths & Further Maths. I’m likely to achieve grades to go to both but I have heard bad things about Hills. Issues such as very little Mental health support/care for students - if you begin to struggle you are booted out. A family member works within the mental health sector for Cambridge and say she deals with Hills Road students on a weekly basis who are self harming, bulimic etc on the other hand I have friends who have just left recently who had a great time but they studied more arts based subjects such as dance and Music so not so academic/intense. I have no interest in going to an oxbridge uni and have heard that CAST’s computing Alevel is a lot better. Concerns for CAST is that it is very small and integrated within a school so won’t have that college feeling? Please help me decide!

Hi, I studied STEM (Biology, Chemistry, and Maths) at Hills Road. I am also close with students who did similar subjects to you (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, and Further Maths).

Personally, I had great mental health support. I had a pretty horrid life event 2 weeks before my Y12 mocks - and after meeting with my tutor she submitted an extenuating circumstances form for me which led to me getting more generous predictions than I would have otherwise. 🙂 I also had follow up meetings with her to discuss my well-being, and she wrote a contextual statement for my UCAS application too. I will say I had to be proactive about this, but I felt supported.
Academically, you can request personal tutors in the year above whilst in Y12 which can help greatly in understanding the course. I tutored a Y12 in Maths whilst in Y13 and her grades really improved. I’m not sure if they offer this for all subjects, but they did for all the subjects I took.
I have no experience from other sixth forms so I can’t say what CAST may be like in those terms - and please don’t base your decision of where to go off a reply on the student room!!
I loved Hills, even though the workload was high, and the sense of community can be great, again, as long as you are proactive enough to join societies etc. Hills definitely isn’t the school for everyone, but it can also be a really incredible experience. Good luck at sixth form 🙂

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 9

Dannii!

Original post by EnigmaChess

Have you considered Cambridge Maths School?

I haven’t, I will look it up, thanks

Reply 10

Dannii!

Original post by lkmklmklm

havent been to CAST but ive just finished Y12 at hills. what i can say about hills.is that everyone will be incredibly smart, its humbling. If you cant find your feet and keep up, then you're bound to feel disheartened by your grades (and for a lot of people at hills thats a first) and that might be where the mental health problems stem.
About CS itself, its defo the more lax subject (in y12 at least), its nothing as crazy as physics or maths, and if you enjoy CS you wont be pulling your hair out revising, it felt like a continuation of GCSE to me tbh. They're pretty incompetent though when it comes to marking tho, the whole class was in outrage since it seems whoever marked our summer exams couldnt read the mark scheme, or count the marks properly.

Yes, I’ve heard the CS dept is very weak compared to other colleges. Thank you for your input.

Reply 11

Dannii!

Original post by DerDracologe

From this Im wondering how far you’ve researched your options- not to sound rude! There’s many sixth forms in Cambridge, have you looked at many others? (eg: Oakes, comberton, long road, CSF, Ivc, parkside)

I went to a taster day at Comberton and didn’t enjoy it, I didn’t like long Road when I went to the open day and Oakes doesn’t offer the courses I want. CSF would be tricky to get to as would Linton, parkside are not admitting new students.

Reply 12

Dannii!

Original post by lkmklmklm

havent been to CAST but ive just finished Y12 at hills. what i can say about hills.is that everyone will be incredibly smart, its humbling. If you cant find your feet and keep up, then you're bound to feel disheartened by your grades (and for a lot of people at hills thats a first) and that might be where the mental health problems stem.
About CS itself, its defo the more lax subject (in y12 at least), its nothing as crazy as physics or maths, and if you enjoy CS you wont be pulling your hair out revising, it felt like a continuation of GCSE to me tbh. They're pretty incompetent though when it comes to marking tho, the whole class was in outrage since it seems whoever marked our summer exams couldnt read the mark scheme, or count the marks properly.

This is really useful, thanks.

Reply 13

PositiveEIectron

Original post by Dannii!

I haven’t, I will look it up, thanks

I would recommend Cambridge maths school, do look into it and ask questions if ur curious, both me and engima attend (although i think they r in the year below)

Reply 14

zoeapariteta

Original post by Dannii!

Hi!
I’m trying to decide between Hills and CAST to study Physics, computing, Maths & Further Maths. I’m likely to achieve grades to go to both but I have heard bad things about Hills. Issues such as very little Mental health support/care for students - if you begin to struggle you are booted out. A family member works within the mental health sector for Cambridge and say she deals with Hills Road students on a weekly basis who are self harming, bulimic etc on the other hand I have friends who have just left recently who had a great time but they studied more arts based subjects such as dance and Music so not so academic/intense. I have no interest in going to an oxbridge uni and have heard that CAST’s computing Alevel is a lot better. Concerns for CAST is that it is very small and integrated within a school so won’t have that college feeling? Please help me decide!

As a Hills Road Alumni. Run away from Hills Road. They are severely lacking in both the academic and wellbeing support side. In fact the wellbeing side might as well be extinct. I walked out with A*AA but I had depression at one point and the school was less then supporting and accommodating. And tutor was horrible and made me less then for even saying that mental health had affected my studies

Reply 15

EnigmaChess

Original post by PositiveEIectron

I would recommend Cambridge maths school, do look into it and ask questions if ur curious, both me and engima attend (although i think they r in the year below)

Haha, in Year 10 so don't attend yet :wink:

Reply 16

PositiveEIectron

Original post by EnigmaChess

Haha, in Year 10 so don't attend yet :wink:

whoops, mb

Reply 17

dangermouse999

Original post by PositiveEIectron

I would recommend Cambridge maths school, do look into it and ask questions if ur curious, both me and engima attend (although i think they r in the year below)

My son has applied to Cambridge maths school. We were really impressed by the teachers and pupils we met. Following the school Instagram page, it looks like there are some amazing super-curricular activities too.

My only question is it almost looks too good to be true - it seems a perfect fit for my son.

So, is there anything you have experienced that isn't quite so good? It's a small school so particularly wondering about provision of extra-curricular activities like clubs, friendship groups and whether it gets a bit cliquey.

Reply 18

PositiveEIectron

Original post by dangermouse999

My son has applied to Cambridge maths school. We were really impressed by the teachers and pupils we met. Following the school Instagram page, it looks like there are some amazing super-curricular activities too.
My only question is it almost looks too good to be true - it seems a perfect fit for my son.
So, is there anything you have experienced that isn't quite so good? It's a small school so particularly wondering about provision of extra-curricular activities like clubs, friendship groups and whether it gets a bit cliquey.

My only negative is that its just small, not that many people and not a massive site unlike hills road.

There are distinct friend groups but most people don't have a problem if you hang out with them - as for clubs most are student run (I believe) but there are teacher lead/run clubs too e.g. debating club and neuroscience club.

If you have other questions feel free to ask and I will give my honest opinion