Choosing Between Secondary School, Sixth Form, and FE College—Which Path Offers the

Hi everyone,
I'm in a bit of a dilemma and could use some advice. My child is approaching the end of their time at secondary school, and we’re trying to decide the next step. We’re weighing the pros and cons of staying on for sixth form versus moving to an FE college.

The sixth form option seems to provide a more traditional academic route, which might be good for university prep. However, I’ve heard that FE colleges offer more vocational courses that can lead directly to work or apprenticeships, which could be valuable in today’s job market.

Has anyone else been in this situation? What did you decide, and how did it work out for your child? Is one route really better than the other when it comes to preparing for a future career?

Any insights or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Reply 1

Nat4695

Both can offer great careers and opportunities. What actually is going to make one better than the other and improve the young person's prospects is which one their heart lies in, and which one genuinely interests them more. Don't go off picking subjects and options just thinking about furture careers as those opportunities come naturally once you are heading into a field you like, and if you genuinely like it you're more likely to work harder for those roles opportunities etc. To recap, whichever one they prefer as long as they're both decent places ie good at what they offer, good social setting etc