College/sixth form options

13

My parents are applying me for a few sixth forms and colleges but I'm not done with year 11 until like June 2025 so I've still got time but out of all the options the ones I'm really considering are bilborough sixth form college and nottingham college. If you're a student going to either or who has been there or even knows someone who's gone there and told you about it, I'd like to hear what you have to say. I did look up the schools websites but obviously the schools aren't going to give you an honest opinion about them they're gonna give you the information that makes them look better. Like do they make you wear uniform or have a dress code (if so what are the specifics), how big are the classes? What are the clubs and societies like(can you be in multiple)? Which one has better facilities? Do either have any academic awards in particular that'll look good to unis? How are the students and teachers like? Are there trips often? Which one is stricter? Do they have head boy/head girl positions or some sort of student council? Which one had more transport options to get there? Basically any and all information about the two institutions is gonna be useful.

Reply 1

atinyfish

7

Hi, really sorry it has taken me/anyone to read this but I have attended Bilborough so I'll answer for any you or any student who has a similar decision to make!
1. If you are unsure apply for both of the College's open days! Although the colleges are similar in many aspects I know people who didn't like Nottingham college and people who didn't like Bilborough college so in the end it's down to preference.
For your questions: (concerning Bilborough as I don't know much about Notts college sorry)

•

There is no uniform/ dress code at all - literally you can wear pretty much anything (But they are very big on wearing landyards)

•

Classes depend on size, largest is about 25 per class but my smallest class has 17 people

•

Clubs and societies are a big thing (no classes on Wednesday afternoons for clubs!) I would say that there is probably about 10 per day going on, about literally anything - from cartoon drawing to political debate there's pretty much everything

•

facilities are pretty good, although average - pretty much has what you need (except if you want to do DT, in which case you have to go to Fernwood to do that) , good study areas and library, good bus connections

•

Academic awards - there's quite a few? You could do an EPQ or an Arts award - I think the website mentions those though, mostly you will get signposted to academic competitions, lectures and that kind of stuff for super-curricular exploration

•

Students/teachers kind of depend but the schools so big you can find friends you like and no one is that bothered about anyone else, I feel like I see new people I never have before every day.

•

Trips also depend on your subject, but there's also one's like DofE or volunteering trips to Nepal and Morocco, they also take people on trips to some unis as well - the school has really good oxbridge links if you're interested

•

Idk about Nottingham college but Bilborough is extremely chill and not strict, detentions do not exist but you have to talk to someone if your homework/attendance is bad - I have literally not seen a teacher tell someone off there/ no really bad misbehaving in lesson that I could see - probably because you're not in lesson too much so there's not too much point in not paying attention

•

student council

•

Transport is good for buses but not really a tram/train connection close - loads of people come from far away, there is also the college buses

•

Main thing I'll say about Bilborough is that it is very independent - like with 3 subjects I have the same amount of time in lesson as I do out of it in my timetable - and they do not control your frees as well so you could do literally anything you want - big consideration is if you would work well on your own

Reply 2

Sam.m0r

1

Original post

by atinyfish

Hi, really sorry it has taken me/anyone to read this but I have attended Bilborough so I'll answer for any you or any student who has a similar decision to make! 1. If you are unsure apply for both of the College's open days! Although the colleges are similar in many aspects I know people who didn't like Nottingham college and people who didn't like Bilborough college so in the end it's down to preference.For your questions: (concerning Bilborough as I don't know much about Notts college sorry)

•

There is no uniform/ dress code at all - literally you can wear pretty much anything (But they are very big on wearing landyards)

•

Classes depend on size, largest is about 25 per class but my smallest class has 17 people

•

Clubs and societies are a big thing (no classes on Wednesday afternoons for clubs!) I would say that there is probably about 10 per day going on, about literally anything - from cartoon drawing to political debate there's pretty much everything

•

facilities are pretty good, although average - pretty much has what you need (except if you want to do DT, in which case you have to go to Fernwood to do that) , good study areas and library, good bus connections

•

Academic awards - there's quite a few? You could do an EPQ or an Arts award - I think the website mentions those though, mostly you will get signposted to academic competitions, lectures and that kind of stuff for super-curricular exploration

•

Students/teachers kind of depend but the schools so big you can find friends you like and no one is that bothered about anyone else, I feel like I see new people I never have before every day.

•

Trips also depend on your subject, but there's also one's like DofE or volunteering trips to Nepal and Morocco, they also take people on trips to some unis as well - the school has really good oxbridge links if you're interested

•

Idk about Nottingham college but Bilborough is extremely chill and not strict, detentions do not exist but you have to talk to someone if your homework/attendance is bad - I have literally not seen a teacher tell someone off there/ no really bad misbehaving in lesson that I could see - probably because you're not in lesson too much so there's not too much point in not paying attention

•

student council

•

Transport is good for buses but not really a tram/train connection close - loads of people come from far away, there is also the college buses

•

Main thing I'll say about Bilborough is that it is very independent - like with 3 subjects I have the same amount of time in lesson as I do out of it in my timetable - and they do not control your frees as well so you could do literally anything you want - big consideration is if you would work well on your own

Hi, I know your reply was a while ago, I am looking at going to bilbrough or 2026. I just had one question, do you know what the latest time lessons finish??

Reply 3

bilbstudent

Hi, it depends on your timetable but absolute latest is 4:10! Also ,just to say, I joined Bilborough last September and also wasn't sure about it but it was the best decision i could have made. I have flourished here, and just LOVE IT! There are a million and one clubs and societies to get involved with and the standard of teaching is super high! hope that helps and im happy to answer any questions

Reply 4

Sam.m0r

1

Original post

by bilbstudent

Hi, it depends on your timetable but absolute latest is 4:10! Also ,just to say, I joined Bilborough last September and also wasn't sure about it but it was the best decision i could have made. I have flourished here, and just LOVE IT! There are a million and one clubs and societies to get involved with and the standard of teaching is super high! hope that helps and im happy to answer any questions

thanks for the reply, sorry I was late!!

Reply 5

iuit

3

Original post

by atinyfish

Hi, really sorry it has taken me/anyone to read this but I have attended Bilborough so I'll answer for any you or any student who has a similar decision to make!
1. If you are unsure apply for both of the College's open days! Although the colleges are similar in many aspects I know people who didn't like Nottingham college and people who didn't like Bilborough college so in the end it's down to preference.
For your questions: (concerning Bilborough as I don't know much about Notts college sorry)

•

There is no uniform/ dress code at all - literally you can wear pretty much anything (But they are very big on wearing landyards)

•

Classes depend on size, largest is about 25 per class but my smallest class has 17 people

•

Clubs and societies are a big thing (no classes on Wednesday afternoons for clubs!) I would say that there is probably about 10 per day going on, about literally anything - from cartoon drawing to political debate there's pretty much everything

•

facilities are pretty good, although average - pretty much has what you need (except if you want to do DT, in which case you have to go to Fernwood to do that) , good study areas and library, good bus connections

•

Academic awards - there's quite a few? You could do an EPQ or an Arts award - I think the website mentions those though, mostly you will get signposted to academic competitions, lectures and that kind of stuff for super-curricular exploration

•

Students/teachers kind of depend but the schools so big you can find friends you like and no one is that bothered about anyone else, I feel like I see new people I never have before every day.

•

Trips also depend on your subject, but there's also one's like DofE or volunteering trips to Nepal and Morocco, they also take people on trips to some unis as well - the school has really good oxbridge links if you're interested

•

Idk about Nottingham college but Bilborough is extremely chill and not strict, detentions do not exist but you have to talk to someone if your homework/attendance is bad - I have literally not seen a teacher tell someone off there/ no really bad misbehaving in lesson that I could see - probably because you're not in lesson too much so there's not too much point in not paying attention

•

student council

•

Transport is good for buses but not really a tram/train connection close - loads of people come from far away, there is also the college buses

•

Main thing I'll say about Bilborough is that it is very independent - like with 3 subjects I have the same amount of time in lesson as I do out of it in my timetable - and they do not control your frees as well so you could do literally anything you want - big consideration is if you would work well on your own

So can you go home if you have no lessons left that day or do u have to stay in school?

Reply 6

zsliw

1

You can leave or stay in school - up to you!

Reply 7

Robynred

1

Original post

by iuit

So can you go home if you have no lessons left that day or do u have to stay in school?

As long as you don't have any lessons at that time, you can come and go as you please! If your lesson isn't until 1, you don't have to get to college until you have that lesson (unless, however, you take the 'Skills' college buses, i.e. you live quite a long commute from the college outside of Nottingham- if you need more info about this, lmk!)

College/sixth form options

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated