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Ten top tips for a successful Sixth Form

Being a Sixth Former is the most exciting and dynamic period in a secondary education. There are boundless opportunities and students can truly carve out a bespoke academic and social niche. So, how do those who go on to be most successful and cope with the many changes? Read our Head of Sixth Form’s Ten Top Tips for Sixth Form success.

1. Carefully explore your Sixth Form options

Is Sixth Form right for you? At King’s Worcester, we pride ourselves on offering a first-rate academic experience, a truly engaging range of extra-curricular options and the facilities and pastoral care required for those with high aspirations to thrive. Look at all options: does the Sixth Form have the academic focus you desire? Would an apprenticeship or foundational course be relevant to you? Sixth Form is a lot of work, and so making the right initial choice is critical.

2. Choose Sixth Form subjects you are passionate about, whilst being mindful of future goals

I am frequently asked how best to choose which subjects to study. At King’s we require all students to begin studying four A Levels. Some decide in November to focus on only three, some continue to take four right through to the second year exams. In order to cope with the increase in workload from GCSE, motivation needs to be high. Ensure you choose subjects that genuinely excite you. Wider reading is fundamental to gain a breadth as well of depth of knowledge. It is also important to be mindful of future goals. Want to study Medicine? Chemistry is a prerequisite. A future engineer? Further Maths is not essential to apply to university, but the vast majority of those at university will have studied it. It pays to think ahead and discuss matters with your Careers Department.

3. Be Organised

You will now have more tasks and longer deadlines. Being able to be organised is critical. Use a diary, with due dates and a system for categorising priority goals. The sense of satisfaction of arranging your work into a helpful order and ticking tasks off once complete can be addictive!

4. Consolidate work from the off

Wider reading and consolidation of subject material make a huge difference in the Sixth Form. Completing only set homework tasks might be ticking the box, but it is the ongoing consolidation and revision, especially of those areas you find most difficult, that will truly pay off in the long run. Conduct some honest self-assessment and think about what areas you need to work on. Seek advice from academic staff about the best resources for doing so.

5. Free periods – use them wisely!

At King’s, we have introduced Supervised Private Study – silent work sessions that we mandate those pupils we feel will most benefit from having their non-contact time a little more structured. It has been such a success, that students are optionally signing up for the sessions. Think carefully about the best working environment for you. Can you work in departmental libraries? Are there clinics you can attend? Discover the ‘do not disturb’ mode on your mobile phone…

6. Thinking about the future after Sixth Form

Start thinking about the future as soon as possible. For competitive courses such as medicine, it can really pay off to build a repertoire of work experience during your Lower Sixth. Are there academic societies you can join? The King’s Sixth Form Certificate encourages all Lower Sixth to gain a true breadth to their education, encouraging presenting skills, voluntary work a physical challenge and more. That UCAS personal statement will need to be as strong as you can make it.

7. Build a good relationship with your pastoral and academic staff

Communicating with staff is absolutely essential. Pastoral and academic staff love to help students and it is those students that are most proactive in seeking advice and help who make the most progress. Ask for resource recommendations, inform them if you have a challenging period of time ahead and ask what you can do to work around this.

8. Think very carefully about outside school commitments, especially part-time jobs

A strong Sixth Form will have a plethora of opportunities for extra-curricular activities. Choose carefully, commit strongly and enjoy them! It is when outside school commitments become overly onerous that problems can occur. That one shift a week as a local waiter may start off ok, but if hours build or work is expected of you close to academic deadlines, then your hand can be forced.

Sleep underpins all that we do. Whilst it is true that teenagers can have a different circadian rhythm to adults, the basics still apply. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day. Use ‘night mode’ on your mobile phone to reduce blue light, then avoid all devices an hour before sleep. It is during sleep that your muscles grow, and this includes the brain!

10. Enjoy it!

The Sixth Form will go by incredibly quickly. In years to come, you will look fondly back at this incredible point of your life, at a large number of close friends and the amazing opportunities you took up. This Thursday sees King’s 1 st XV annual match at Sixways, a Rugby Premiership ground. The boys will run out to a crowd of 4000 in what will be the biggest match of their lives. What will you do to have a truly memorable Sixth Form?

Josh Hand – Head of Sixth Form at King’s Worcester

Meet our King’s Sixth Form here.

02 September 2022

17 August 2022

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The 5 keys to transitioning from GCSE to 6th Form

So without doubt starting your A Levels can be a strange and stressful time. You’ve spent the last two years building up to your GCSEs only to find that actually a bigger, more important, nastier set of exams has sprung up on the horizon.

To cope with the change, most schools around the country therefore run sixth form induction days primarily to give students a taste of what is in store for them. These days are often filled with ice breaker sessions for new students, the odd ‘fun activity’ and essentially hours of teachers conveying the same messages you all will have heard before – that A Levels are hard work and you need to get yourself prepared and organized. The bad news is they’re right. A Levels are indisputably a lot harder than your GCSEs, and those students who have cruised through until this point are likely to get a little bit of a shock come exam time.  

But DO NOT be fooled into thinking it will all come down to hard work. The big message Elevate promotes is that there is no point working hard if you’re not working  effectively ! There are certain things that top students across the country do, that you can also do, that will make your sixth form a whole lot easier and as a result a whole lot more fun…

1. Use the specification

Where so many students come unstuck in their GCSEs is they end up learning and revising material that is not useful or applicable to their exam. How many of us have got feedback before that says we did well on one topic but not on another? How many of us have revised a certain topic loads for an exam, only to find that it doesn’t come up at all?

For nearly all A Level subjects and BTECs (just as there was for your GCSEs) there is a specification that outlines exactly what you need to know for every exam and assessment you will sit. If it is not in the specification it cannot be in the exam.

This is the document that the teachers use to know what to teach – it is widely available and often provides tips for how to do well. If teachers are using it, why aren’t students? What the top students will do is use this document consistently throughout the next few years. Rather than base their notes on a text book or an online source, they will use their specification as their first port of call.

2. Keep an organized folder 

This may seem like a small point but the benefits of having an organized folder in sixth form are huge! There are two main reasons for this:

Firstly, an organized folder will save a student hours of revision in the long run. Typically, students who don’t have folders spend the weeks before their A Levels re-writing or making notes on topics they studied earlier in the year. Crucially this means they don’t leave enough time to do the necessary number of practice papers that is essential to succeed. 

Secondly, an organized folder will increase your potential to memorize information. Why? Well the brain remembers information via a process called chunking – by taking similar bits of information and filling them into different sections (much like an organized folder!). By creating different sections of information and revisiting them often, you are reinforcing that information in your memory making it easier to recall at any given time.

Up until your GCSEs it was generally fine to keep an exercise book for each of your subjects – however when the content doubles in size and you’re expected to remember so much more information a folder is therefore going to be essential.

3. Prioritise your extra reading

One of the phrases you are likely to hear repeated over the next few years is this notion of ‘independent work’. In order to do well at your A Levels it is no longer enough to just learn a textbook backwards - you’ll need to be doing the extra reading in order to ensure you get top marks. 

Now – with the obvious time constraints of sixth form, finding time to do  any  extra reading can seem like an impossibility. But remember it’s that extra reading, not your notes or even your homework assignments, that are going to get you the most marks.

My advice therefore would be to prioritize your extra reading above your homework. The way to do this is to structure it into your day. Before you start your next piece of homework, spend 15 minutes doing a bit of extra reading or independent work: This could be in the shape of a practice paper question, a practice essay or even reading an extra article provided by a teacher.

Working like this will ensure you get the most important work done (i.e. practice papers, revision notes, mind maps) – and still leave you plenty of time to get those homework assignments handed in!

4. Work in groups

Talk to most students about group study and the majority would agree it is a waste of time. Whilst initially successful, after 30 minutes or so of effective work you descend into hours and hours of procrastinations and chat. However, using study groups effectively can be one of the easiest ways to reduce the huge workload of the next two years. 

The way to use study groups effectively is to ensure that you do the majority of the work individually . Once you have split up the work (perhaps in class, in a tutor period or online over Facebook) do the work by yourself at home.

Once you have done the work, arrange a time to meet as a group. In this meeting you each teach the information you have learnt to the others and share the notes you have made. By teaching the information you are not only benefitting the others but also testing yourself to see whether you have actually understood the information. This is why teaching is often said to be the best form of learning.

Say each member of the group does this, and you each share the resources you have made, you can end up saving hours of work in the long run! In a study group of 4 people, one hour’s work should equate to four hours in return. Five hour’s work equates to twenty hours in return! Study groups are therefore the easiest way to reduce your workload in sixth form.

5. Start setting goals

As soon as students hear any mention of goal setting in sixth form, it is usually regarded as an obvious cue to switch off. For most students the general goal of sixth form is pretty obvious – do the work and get good grades. However, having a specific goal throughout the course of sixth form is essential to high performance. A common trend we have found from interviewing and working with the top performing students around the world is that they are all motivated and driven by something very specific or personal to them. Not to their parents, not to their teachers, but to them .

A top student doesn’t just aim for straight A’s across the board, or to try harder at a certain subject but for a personal goal beyond sixth form – whether it be to study a specific course at university or enter a certain profession.

The importance of this all comes down to understanding how motivation works. The prospect of getting good grades isn’t all that much of a motivator – it’s what those grades can get you that will really inspire you to do the work. 

Therefore, over the course of your sixth form it is worth taking the time out to try out new things or to look at courses and jobs you may be interested in doing the future. Whether it be shadowing a lawyer, interviewing a successful entrepreneur or visiting a desired university – it is these things that will get you motivated, not the prospect of handing in yet another coursework assignment.

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What is sixth form?

How long is sixth form, how can i get into sixth form, what year do you start sixth form, which sixth form should i choose, is sixth form really hard, what to do if i don’t get into sixth form, is sixth form better than sixth form college, how to prepare for the first day of starting sixth form, common sixth form mistakes.

The end of GCSEs is in sight, so close that you can almost touch it, but as with every other stage of your school life so far, the next chapter of your education is looming ever closer. But you’re not sure what to do next. Would you like to go to sixth form or sixth form college? What is the difference? Maybe you’d like to consider going to a college offering hands-on courses and apprenticeships . 

We’ll go through everything that you need to know to make the best choice when it comes to starting sixth form.

After GCSEs, many students choose to go onto one of the following:

Sixth form -Attached to a secondary school

Sixth form college - Similar to sixth form, but not attached to a secondary school 

College - Offering vocational courses and apprenticeships

Starting sixth form is the next stage in a student’s education after finishing GCSEs. The primary focus of your time in sixth form is to achieve the best A Level , BTEC or IB results. These results could allow you to go on to study at your dream university . Your local sixth form may be connected to your secondary school, or you could study at another sixth form or sixth form college. A sixth form college still enables the same qualifications to be obtained as in school sixth forms.

Students start sixth form usually at age 16 and leave when they are 18. In total, sixth form lasts for two years. Of course, there can be students who might need to retake exams and stay for an additional year but this is unusual. In exceptional circumstances a student may need to leave sixth form temporarily in the middle of their study, for example  due to a serious medical complaint , and then return the following academic year to resume sixth form.

Your GCSE grades are the single most important factor in determining whether you can get into sixth form. Sixth forms are looking for students who show commitment to their studies and the potential to become university students, so GCSE grades are deemed an accurate way to look at each student's potential.

The exact grades required vary from sixth form to sixth form so be sure to check the websites of every institution that you are interested in to determine which ones you’d be a suitable candidate for. Generally speaking,a minimum of 5 GCSE grades are required to get into sixth form but some sixth forms and colleges do accept 4 GCSEs. There are more selective sixth forms that require a minimum of 6 GCSEs at the highest grades .

Sixth forms, much like universities, are able to be picky with the students that they choose to enrol, which although daunting, reflects the seriousness of studying full time after GCSEs.

Usually you’ll be starting sixth form the following academic year after finishing your GCSEs. So if you’ve reached the end of Year 11, you’ll have a Summer Holiday and then return in September for your first day at sixth form or college.

Choosing which sixth form to go to is especially important because not all sixth forms are equal. To narrow down the possibilities, first consider your GCSE grades or predicted grades, and which sixth forms this would enable you to apply for. Among those sixth forms, take a look at the qualifications that they offer. This means that you should think carefully for yourself about whether you’d like to study A Levels, BTEC, T-Levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB). Not all sixth forms offer all three options, in fact many sixth forms and colleges offer just one type and they are all quite different qualifications. 

Once you’ve found a few sixth forms that are both likely to offer you a place and teach the type of qualification you’d like to study (A Level, BTEC or IB), take a closer look at the specific subjects offered. For example, maybe you’d like to study Law at university so want to study Law at A Level (though this is not a requirement for studying Law at university) but not all of your sixth form options may offer it as a subject at A Level . For A Levels, you’ll be studying up to five subjects very intensively for the first year, so be sure that your sixth form offers enough subjects for you to get excited about. 

Anything with entry requirements has an element of challenge. We won’t sugar coat it, sixth form is challenging. It’s the step before entering the world of academics at university. It’s going to be intense and the workload is heavy, but if you want to go to sixth form then it’s likely that you have the motivation and desire to work hard already. 

It’s a common misconception that studying subjects you’ve chosen yourself will make studying easier. Of course, it’s lovely to receive a timetable without that subject you loathed at GCSE and the magic free periods in your timetable might make you feel unstoppable. Truthfully though, the amount of detail in each of your chosen subjects that you need to study, retain and then recall on demand during a high pressure exam setting is not comparable to GCSEs and that’s what makes sixth form so difficult. There is just so much content.

Teachers will not mollycoddle students who aren’t keeping up with the course, and by this time you may have slowly begun to get your heart set on the university of your dreams, which makes the pressure of sixth form more intense as you work towards a goal that is almost within touching distance. 

While keeping up with your studies, you’ll be simultaneously expected to prepare your university application , if you’ve decided that you’d like to apply. It’s a real juggle of sixth form deadlines, university applications and weird abbreviations like UCAS being thrown around. Add into the mix the pressure of finding a part-time job , volunteer work and possibly even learning to drive, it is a really busy time in a student’s life.

It cannot be underestimated that most 16 year olds experience school related fatigue. You’ve spent your whole life at school so far, and it’s probably felt like one wave of exams after the next. Adults around you are telling you that school will be over soon, but you simply can’t imagine it. Being at school is all you’ve ever known. In the harder moments, sixth form can feel like treading water. If you are beginning to feel worn down, lean on your friends, especially those also in sixth form who will understand you and share the same worries. Also reach out to your family, parents or guardians, being very frank with how you’re feeling and how starting sixth form is going.

If you didn’t get offered a place in any of the sixth forms that you applied for, first of all, it’s important to understand why you were not offered a place. It could be that your GCSE grades didn’t hit the right mark, or was it just one GCSE in an important subject that let you down? You might want to consider retaking one or two GCSEs that may have prevented you from being able to get into sixth form. Once you’ve secured the grades you need you can apply to study at a sixth form college. You might be starting sixth form a year later than anticipated but in the long term that won’t matter.

If the majority of your GCSEs weren’t what you needed, then consider applying to BTEC colleges instead. BTEC qualifications are less academic than A levels and the IB, so often the entry requirements are lower. Some universities also accept BTECs to study too.

If you’re not planning to retake your GCSEs and studying BTECs are not an option then an apprenticeship may be more suitable for you. Apprenticeships are for those leaving school from the age of 16 who feel that they are ready to begin their career. Apprenticeships are often a mix of training on the job and studying. They are not solely based on GCSE grades or any other academic qualifications and some apprenticeships may not have any entry requirements. It should be noted that an apprentice between the ages of 16-19 years old can be paid £2.73 per hour for the first year, and afterwards be paid the National minimum wage.

It’s not easy to give a straightforward answer as to whether starting sixth form is better than a sixth form college. Truthfully, both serve a purpose in the community and one will be more suitable for you than the other, and this differs person to person. The most accurate way to understand which is better for you, is to know how sixth form and sixth form college differ. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages for both

Sixth form advantages

• If you plan to study at the sixth form where you went to secondary school then the transition from Year 11 to Year 12 will not be as daunting. You’ll likely already know most of the teachers, you’ll know the way to your classes and you’ll probably have a friendship group too.
• Class sizes are often smaller than sixth form colleges, giving you more time with your teachers, which can be a big advantage with the heavy curriculums.

Sixth form disadvantages

• Starting sixth form you’ll still feel in many ways as though you are at school. Although your sixth form teachers may choose to refer to you as adults when they’d like you to take responsibility for your own studying for example, they will still probably make you call them by their Mr/Mrs titles.
• Sixth forms are limited in the courses that they can offer by their staffing and a smaller cohort of students to cater for.

Sixth form college advantages

• A new learning environment closer to university, since you will not share your learning space with students below the age of 16 and may be studying with people older than 19. Generally you are treated more maturely and expected to behave more maturely too.
• Sixth form colleges have a much higher intake per year, this means meeting many more people and probably being offered a wider range of courses too.

Sixth form college disadvantages

• If you plan to apply to university , a sixth form college teacher may not be able to write you a really personal reference as they likely will not know you as well since you’ll be new to the college and in larger classes.
• There is a settling in period when starting sixth form college. Getting used to new routines, a new place and a new learning style can be quite a lot to take in at first.

From a university's perspective, they have no preference about where you choose to continue your studies. Most importantly, you should think about where you can achieve the highest grades possible in an environment that is most comfortable for you.

Prepare for the first day of starting sixth form as you mean to go on, by instilling habits that will help start each day off right. Packing your bag with the right books the evening before and laying out your clothes so that you are able to get ready quickly in the morning are small details but they’ll help you arrive to sixth form each day in a calm frame of mind and avoid feeling frazzled. 

Be sure that you’re aware ahead of the first day if your sixth form has a particular dress code. You may be expected to wear a uniform if you are attending a sixth form connected to a secondary school, or you might have to abide by a smart business dress code, which will require you to invest in a few smart suits beforehand. 

Start your first day with the optimism of starting your next chapter in which you are the author! 

Comparing yourself to others - GCSEs are quite possibly the first official results that you and your peers have received, so it can be really tempting in sixth form for people to ask “What did you get?” Accept the fact that your GCSEs have already happened and have no influence on the grades you’ll get in sixth form.

Losing track of deadlines - Coursework deadlines, project deadlines, application deadlines, write them all in your planner at the first mention of them. No, seriously! Write that down.

Listening too much to the year above you - It’s practically law that the year above at sixth form should do all they can to terrify the year below them. No matter how stressed you might be feeling, there will be a Year 13 around the corner telling you that you “don’t know what it’s like to be in your final year” and that the stress is about to get worse. Do not listen to them, they’re on their own path which has no connection to yours.

Worrying about having to have it all figured out- Is there anything worse than listening to your classmate talk about their work experience and extra reading for their top university application? Meanwhile you’re still deciding if you want to go to university . You don’t need to have it all figured out when starting sixth form, and remember that those who are trying a little too hard to show they’ve got it all figured out probably haven’t. 

You’ll only be accepted into sixth form because the institution believes that you are capable of achieving the qualifications that you aspire to! Your GCSE grades are tangible proof of your potential, so all that’s left is for you to prove it!

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Home » School » Sixth Form » Academic » Top Tips for a Successful Sixth Form Journey

Top Tips for a Successful Sixth Form Journey

By Independent School Parent | Thu 17th Dec 2015

https://www.independentschoolparent.com/school/sixth-form-tips/

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Above, Headmaster Matthew Armstrong with Sixth Form pupils at The King's School, Worcester

Josh Hand, Head of Sixth Form at The King’s School, Worcester shares his top tips on how students can succeed in the sixth form

Being a Sixth Former can be the most exciting and dynamic period in a student’s secondary education. There are boundless opportunities, and students truly can carve out a bespoke academic and social niche. So, how do those who go on to be the most successful cope with the many and varied challenges that lie ahead? Head of Sixth Form at The King’s School takes a look at how to get ready for sixth form.

Carefully explore your options

Is sixth form right for you? An independent school sixth form prides itself on offering a first-rate academic experience , a truly engaging range of extra-curricular options , and the facilities and pastoral care required for those with high aspirations to thrive. Look at all options: does the sixth form have the academic focus you desire? Would an apprenticeship or foundational course be relevant to you? Sixth form is a lot of work, so making the right initial choice is critical.

Choose subjects you are passionate about, while being mindful of future goals

Credit: King’s Worcester

The most frequently asked questions are based on how best to choose subjects to study. For example, at The King’s School, Worcester , students are required to start by studying four A-levels . Some decide in November of the first year to focus on just three, while others continue to take four subjects right through to the second-year exams.

In order to cope with the increase in workload from GCSE , motivation needs to be high, so ensure you choose subjects that genuinely excite you. Wider reading is fundamental to gain a breadth as well of depth of knowledge. It is also important to be mindful of future goals. Want to study medicine ? Chemistry is a prerequisite. A future engineer? Further maths is not essential to apply to university , but the vast majority of those at university will have studied it. It pays to think ahead and discuss matters with your Careers Department .

Be organised

You will now have more tasks and longer deadlines, and being organised is critical. Use a diary, with due dates and a system for categorising priority goals. The sense of satisfaction derived from arranging your work into a helpful order and ticking tasks off once they are complete can be addictive!

Consolidate work from the get-go

Wider reading and consolidation of subject material make a huge difference in the sixth form. Completing only set homework tasks might be ticking the right boxes, but it is the ongoing consolidation and revision , especially of those areas you find most difficult, that will truly pay off in the long run. Conduct some honest self-assessments and think about what areas you need to work on. Seek advice from academic staff about the best resources for doing so.

Study periods: use them wisely!

At King’s, we have introduced Supervised Private Study, which are silent work sessions specifically designed for those that we feel will benefit most from having their non-contact time a little more structured. It has been such a success that students are optionally signing up to the sessions.

Think carefully about the best working environment for you. Can you work in departmental libraries? Are there clinics you can attend? Discover the “do not disturb” mode on your mobile phone.

Thinking about the future

Start thinking about the future as soon as possible. For competitive courses such as medicine, it can really pay off to build a repertoire of work experience during the Lower Sixth. Are there academic societies you can join? Our sixth form Certificate encourages all Lower Sixth pupils to gain true breadth in the course of their education, encouraging presentation skills, voluntary work, a physical challenge and much more. That UCAS personal statement will need to be as strong as you can make it.

Build a good relationship with your pastoral and academic staff

Communicating with staff is absolutely essential. Pastoral and academic staff love to help students, and it is those students who are most proactive in seeking advice, who make the most progress. Ask for resource recommendations, inform them if you have a challenging period of time ahead and ask what you can do to work around this.

Think very carefully about outside school commitments

A strong sixth form will have a plethora of opportunities for extra-curricular activities. Choose carefully, commit strongly and enjoy them! It is when outside school commitments become overly onerous that problems can occur. That one-shift-a-week as a local waiter may start off well enough but if the hours then build or you are expected to work close to academic deadlines, your hand can be forced.

Credit: Unsplash

Sleep underpins all that we do. While it is true that teenagers can have a different circadian rhythm to adults, the basics still apply. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day. Use “night mode” on your mobile phone to reduce blue light, then avoid all devices an hour before sleep. It is during sleep that your muscles grow, and this includes the brain!

Enjoy your time at sixth form!

Your time in sixth form will go by incredibly quickly. In the future, you will look back fondly on this incredible point of your life, at the large number of close friends and the amazing opportunities you took up. What will you do to have a truly memorable sixth form?

• How to Prepare for the Transition from Year 11 to Sixth Form
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Want more information and inspiration from Independent School Parent? Hit ‘Like’ on our  Facebook page , follow us on  Instagram  and join the conversation on  Twitter .

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Ten tips for using free periods effectively in sixth form

Free periods are one of the perks of being in sixth form. But what should you do with all that free time? Here are some ideas.

One of the perks of sixth form is not having a full timetable, but all these breaks can lead to a pattern of procrastination.

Here are ten fool-proof tips to use your free periods effectively.

1. Write a to-do list

Whether you’re super organised or not at all organised, writing a to-do list can be really useful. These can be used for revision or prioritising homework and assignments, and instead of remembering things at the last minute, writing them down is much easier. These lists don’t have to be ridiculously long, but the immense feeling of joy you get from ticking something off is surprisingly rewarding.

2. Plan out your personal statement

No matter if you have only just begun year 12 and have ages to go until the application deadlines, if you plan on going to university it's never too early to think about your personal statement (it’s surprising how quickly these things sneak up on you). They tend to need a lot of adjustment and you want it to be perfect, so using your free time to start working on it is extremely useful.

3. Scribble down some moral-boosters

Sometimes sitting around leads to immense boredom and an all-time lack of motivation. A good way to combat this is to find a few sticky notes and write little positive messages on them. This way, when you're flicking through a particularly boring textbook and stumble across a little pick-me-up, your day might just get a little bit better and lead to an inspirational streak.

4. Use the teachers around you positively

Being in sixth form provides you with a good number of teachers to turn to in these free periods. Normally they encourage you to contact them if you don’t understand something, and whilst some people don’t take advantage of this, it’s a great tool. They might provide a place for you to catch up on some work in their classroom, or simply guide you through some work you’re struggling with.

5. Do uni research 

Most sixth forms allow you to have the internet within arms reach, so you can use this time to get online and do some uni research, using Whatuni of course! You can check out uni profiles , read reviews and find the perfect course all in one place.

6. Check out some prospectuses

If you’ve run out of set work to complete and are up to date with pretty much everything, you can always start planning ahead. Universities use prospectuses to sell themselves to students and provide them with information about their courses, campus and facilities. You can order prospectuses straight from Whatuni to get ahead with your uni research.

7. Create a motivational playlist

A lot of people find it hard to concentrate when surrounded by other noisy students, so if you can block this out you’re all set to go. Try and acquire some motivational tunes ( Eye of the Tiger  is a great one to start with), get your head down and battle through that ever-growing pile of work.

8. Prepare some revision cards

It’s shocking how quickly exam season comes around, and nipping it in the bud is the best way forward. Revision is tough in itself, but reading down a page over and over is particularly tedious. A good way to deal with this is to create quick, concise revision cards. You can get others to test you with them (and the more colourful they are, the better).

9. Nip out for some fresh air

Sitting in the same computer room for an hour isn’t going to do you much good. Taking a well-earned break halfway through is deserved, and it gives you a chance to stretch your legs and catch some rays.

10. Don’t work too hard

Free periods are called ‘free’ for a reason. Don’t use every single one as a chance to power through the entire textbook. Try your best to use them effectively, but by no means cram until you collapse from exhaustion. Sometimes you just need to chill out and have a healthy study-life balance.

- A-level problems: the ups and downs of Year 12

- Prospectuses: how useful are they really?

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Sixth Form Explained: from GCSEs to A-levels

Table of Contents:

• What is a Sixth Form (6th form)?

Which GCSEs Should You Do to Get into Sixth Form (6th form)?

How many gcses do you need for a-levels, do sixth forms look at mock grades, understanding the 9-1 scale, comparing old and new gcse grades, the purpose behind the 9-1 grading shift, how to apply to sixth forms, how to know if your sixth form (6th form) is good, what happens if you don’t get accepted into sixth form (6th form), what is a sixth form (6th form) .

The sixth form (6th form) is a college that specifically caters to students who have completed their GCSEs . They offer A-Levels , BTECs and other qualifications which allow young people to continue their studies leading up to university or higher education.

Sixth Form (6th form) differs from other parts of your education because it can be more flexible and less structured than primary or secondary school . You’ll have more freedom to choose what you want to study, so if there are certain subjects or classes that interest you, this is an ideal time to explore them further.

If you’re considering Sixth Form (6th form) after completing your GCSEs, you should know that the courses tend to be more challenging than what you might have experienced during your GCSE years. One great thing about Sixth Form (6th form) is that you have complete freedom to choose the subjects you want to study. No longer are you restricted to a set of core subjects, you can pick and choose based on what you need to pursue your desired university path.

A good grasp of GCSEs is essential to getting into sixth form (6th form), but it’s also important to consider which GCSEs you take.

As well as core subjects such as English and Mathematics, there are many other courses available that you can choose from at your school or college. For example, if you enjoy art or drama then these subjects may be suitable for you. You could even study a foreign language like French or German if you want to learn something new!

If one of these options sounds appealing then talk to your teachers about which GCSEs are suitable for the course that interests you most. In some cases though, it’s worth checking out what grades are needed from students before making any decisions about future plans.

What Grades Do You Need to Get into a Sixth Form (6th form)?

Admission to Sixth Form (6th form) can be competitive, with entry requirements varying depending on the school or college.

Most schools require a minimum of 4 GCSEs at grade C or above. Additionally, good grades in your chosen subjects for A-level study. For example, if you want to study English in Sixth Form (6th form), you may need to have a grade B in both English and Maths.

In addition to the academic requirements, some Sixth Forms may also require applicants to attend an interview or assessment day. This is to ensure that the student is suitable for the course they are applying for and to assess their suitability.

It is important to check with each individual school for their specific requirements. They may have different expectations based on past applicants and their own admission standards.

Good GCSE grades are crucial for gaining acceptance into Sixth Form (6th form), so it is essential to put in the effort to achieve the best possible grades. This can be achieved by working hard, seeking extra help from teachers or parents, practicing good revision techniques, and remaining calm during exams. Improving your grades can increase your chances of being accepted into the Sixth Form (6th form) of your choice.

Yes, sixth forms sometimes do look at mock grades. Many Sixth Forms may require you to submit your mock exam results as part of your application. The purpose of this is to give the institution an idea of your academic potential. It is therefore important to ensure that you have taken the necessary steps to achieve your best in your mock exams.

It is important to remember that mock grades are not always indicative of your final grades, as they are not always taken under the same conditions as the real exams. However, they can still be useful for Sixth Forms to assess your academic potential. Therefore, it is important to take your mock exams seriously and to put in the necessary effort.

The New GCSE Grades System

The introduction of the 9-1 grading scale for GCSEs represents a significant shift from the traditional A*-G system. This change, part of a wider curriculum reform in England, seeks to introduce a more rigorous assessment method, aiming to better distinguish student achievements, particularly at the higher end of the academic spectrum.

Under the new grading system, 9 is the highest grade, reflecting exceptional achievement, while 1 is the lowest. This new scale is designed to provide more differentiation among high-performing students, with the top GCSE grades (7-9) set apart to distinguish levels of excellence that were previously grouped under the A and A* categories. The rationale behind this differentiation is clear – Grade 9 is awarded to roughly the top 20% of students achieving a grade 7 or above, celebrating exceptional performance that surpasses the old A* grade.

Transitioning from the A*-G to the 9-1 grading system is not a direct conversion but rather a reimagining of how student achievement is classified. GCSE grades 4-6 under the new system encapsulate the broad middle range previously covered by B and C grades, with GCSE grade 4 designated as a standard pass, analogous to the old GCSE grade C . This benchmark is critical, as it remains a minimum requirement for progression to further education or employment in many fields. The introduction of a GCSE grade 5 as a strong pass further underscores the heightened expectations placed on students, aiming to align English educational standards with those of other high-performing countries.

• Grade 9 : Above A*
• Grade 8 : Between A* and A
• Grade 7 : Equal to A
• Grade 6 : Just above B
• Grade 5 : Between B and C
• Grade 4 : Equal to C
• Grade 3 : Between D and E
• Grade 2 : Between E and F
• Grade 1 : Between F and G

The shift to the 9-1 GCSE grading system is part of a broader educational reform aimed at making GCSEs more challenging. The move towards linear assessment, with less emphasis on coursework, and the introduction of more demanding content are intended to raise standards and better prepare students for the next stages of their education or careers. This change also facilitates a more transparent differentiation among top grades, providing sixth forms, colleges, universities, and employers with a clearer understanding of student capabilities.

The introduction of the 9-1 GCSE grading system marks a significant step towards elevating educational standards in England. By offering a more nuanced differentiation of student achievement, particularly at the higher end, it seeks to foster a culture of excellence and high achievement. As the system continues to bed in, the true impact of these changes on students, educators, and the broader educational landscape will become increasingly clear, hopefully reflecting the positive outcomes intended by this ambitious reform.

To apply to sixth form (or post-16 education), you typically need to follow these steps:

Note: The specific requirements and steps may vary depending on the institution and the country you’re applying to.

When you are choosing a sixth form (6th form), it is important to look at the school’s reputation. You can find out about the reputation of different schools by:

If you don’t get accepted into sixth form (6th form), there are a number of things you can do to ensure that your academic career is not over.

If you need additional help with achieving the grades you need in your GCSEs, you can always find additional help. Expert tutors from Edumentors can help you ace your exams and even choose your A-level subjects .

Feel free to share this article with your fellow GCSE students. You never know how much even a little bit of information can help someone out!

What is the difference between sixth form and college?

Sixth form and colleges in the UK cater to students aged 16-18 but differ in focus. Sixth form often part of a secondary school, primarily offers A and AS-level courses for university preparation. Colleges offer a wider range of qualifications, including vocational training and specialized programs in fields like business or the arts, providing diverse pathways for further education or career entry.

What is sixth form in the UK?

The sixth form is an educational institution designed exclusively for students who have finished their GCSEs. It provides A-Levels, BTECs, and various other qualifications, enabling young individuals to pursue further education in preparation for university or advanced learning.

Is sixth form the same as A-levels?

Sixth form and A-levels are connected, but they’re different. Sixth form is the last part of school in the UK for 16 to 18-year-olds. In these two years, students often work towards getting their A-levels. A-levels are exams students take at the end of sixth form in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. So, think of sixth form as the time you’re in school, and A-levels as the big exams you take at the end of it.

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• Life in Sixth Form Compared to Life at University: 13 Key Differences

Although university can be seen in one way as simply a continuation of your education, you’ll encounter many fundamental differences when you take the step from A-level student to undergraduate.

You should also read…

• The Definitive Guide to Choosing the Best University for You
• 13 Vital Skills Everyone Should Have Before Going to University

These changes in your academic and home life naturally take a bit of adjusting to, so to prepare you, we’ve put together a list of the key differences you can expect to come across when the time comes for you to pack your bags and head off to university to start the next chapter of your life. The changes can be quite substantial but there’s nothing that’s too much of a challenge to get used to if you have some idea of what to expect – and that’s where this article comes in. From studying to living circumstances, here’s how life at university compares to life as a sixth former .

Academic differences

The step up from A-levels to undergraduate degree is a considerable one, and you’ll need to adjust to a somewhat different mode of academic life once you get to university. Here are some of the major academic differences between sixth form and university.

One subject

One of the most fundamental differences between A-levels and university is that at A-level, you’re studying several subjects, while at university, you’re studying just one – for the first time in your academic career. Whether you consider this to be easier or harder depends on your point of view; you may find it easier to concentrate all your thoughts on getting to grip with one subject (and all the different topics that make up that subject), while others may prefer the variety at A-level and may get restless studying the same subject day in, day out. On the plus side, you’ve hopefully chosen your course because it’s something you find genuinely interesting, and for the first time, you can specialise solely in that. Pursuing something that you find interesting should hopefully make it easier to do well. Being able to abandon subjects you didn’t enjoy at A-level will also come as a relief for some – unless those subjects are needed for certain modules of your course, in which case you may find yourself digging out your old A-level notes for some revision (so don’t throw them away just yet)!

It’s difficult to say whether you’ll find the workload bigger or smaller than you did at A-level, because it varies enormously from university to university, and from course to course. For the top universities, however, you can expect your workload to go up, to the point that it’s pretty much always on your mind. The studying you do outside classes and lectures is no longer referred to as ‘homework’ – it’s just ‘work’, and almost certainly a lot of it. You’ll have big reading lists to get through, essays to write, presentations to prepare; as a scientist, add lab reports, problem sheets and so forth into the bargain. Good time management skills will be even more important once you get to university; your revision for A-level exams will have been good practice, but you’ll be needing these organisational skills the entire time you’re at university, not just in the run-up to exams.

Independent thinking

As well as a bigger workload, you’ll not be surprised to hear that you will also find the work itself considerably harder. There’s much less spoon-feeding of facts, and much more independent research . Original thinking is valued even more, as is a spirit of enquiry, and you’ll be expected constantly to question your sources. Your opinions will be challenged, and you’re in for a much more academically rigorous experience at university than at sixth form.

Style of teaching

After the monotony of the sixth form classroom, you’ll be pleased to find that there’s a bit more variety in teaching style once you get to university. You’ll experience some new ways of learning, most notably lectures, for which you’ll need to acquire good note-taking skills . University teaching styles vary from institution to institution, and from course to course, but other methods you may encounter include seminars, classes and tutorials, all of which are likely to demand greater involvement from you than you might be used to. Expect to take part in discussion groups, give presentations to your fellow students and be given reading lists to work from in your own study time.

Research skills

You’ll probably be spending a lot more time in the library than you’re used to, as an undergraduate degree requires you to develop research skills. You’ll be given a reading list, and if you’re lucky, specific chapters or page numbers to read, but after that you’re on your own when it comes to researching essays and finding relevant information – and you’ll still need to filter out the pertinent points from the reading material you’ve been set. This way of doing things can come as a shock after sixth form, when teachers will photocopy relevant passages from books for you, or tell you specifically where to look for information.

Essay requirements

You probably got used to rattling off 500-word essays at sixth form, but your essay-writing skills will need to go up a gear for university, as the requirements are rather different. You’ll be expected to back up everything you say with academic references, usually in the form of carefully formatted footnotes quoting the book from which you got an idea. You’ll need to include a bibliography at the end of your essay with details of the books you’ve used in the writing of the essay. What’s more, university essays are usually longer than the essays you wrote at A-level; 2,000 words is common, giving you more time to develop ideas, cite different arguments and demonstrate your own thoughts.

Motivating yourself

While at sixth form your teachers will have been there to support and motivate you for much of the time, you’ll be expected to get on with the work of your own accord once you’re at university. You’ll have a lot more free time than you had at sixth form, but if you’re at a top university then you’re unlikely to be able to consider your spare time as really being ‘free’. The time when you’re not with teaching staff should be usefully employed with independent study, although you do of course have the freedom to decide when and how much you study. You’re a lot more responsible for your own studies at university than you are at school, so it’s up to you to motivate yourself to succeed.

Harder exams

At sixth form, you probably encountered plenty of jumping through hoops in terms of knowing the right things to say in order to please examiners; indeed, it’s said that A-level exams test how good you are at passing exams rather than how good you are at the subject. At university, such considerations go out of the window, and the emphasis is much more on demonstrating your academic abilities. If you thought A-level exams were hard, wait until you get to university! Of course, you’ll be given more than enough time and help to prepare for them, but the toughness of university exam questions goes up several notches and A-levels will often seem ridiculously easy in comparison. The wording of the questions will be harder, and it’s much more difficult to get away with doing very little work and still do well in your exams. Multiple choice questions of the sort found on General Studies A-level papers can be consigned to history, and university exam questions often aren’t so much about getting the question ‘right’, but rather intelligently making different arguments and supporting each of them with evidence. Examiners will see straight through you if you try to bluff, so the only way of succeeding is to put in a lot of hard work throughout your time at university. Your experience in your first year at university may depend to some extent on whether you are assessed by exams at the end of the year. Not all universities require you to sit exams at the end of your first year, but others use exams to determine whether or not you’ll be allowed to continue your course – and that puts a lot of pressure on.

Your relationship with teaching staff

Having grown up addressing teachers as “Mr Smith” or “Mrs Green”, it may come as a surprise to find that there’s usually less formality at university. You’re likely to enjoy a more easy-going relationship with lecturers, whom you’ll usually address by their first name (it’s usually only the older ones who like to be addressed as “Professor” or “Doctor”!). You may find drinks and dinners organised, at which you’ll socialise with your lecturers, and you’ll probably know more about them as people than you did about your teachers at school. What’s more, university teaching staff are generally more free to be themselves than school teachers, with plenty of room for eccentricity!

Lifestyle differences

It goes without saying that the lifestyle differences between sixth form and university life are considerable. Going to university is a significant step towards the world of adulthood, a rite of passage, and it’s a time when you can get used to looking after yourself in preparation for when you leave full-time education and get a job.

Living away from home

Unless you’re going to university in your home town and living at home (not recommended, as you miss out on a great deal of university life if you do this), you’re going to be moving out of your parents’ home for the first time. This won’t be a permanent move, at least in your first year, as you’ll probably be going back at the end of each term, but once you club together with your friends and get a student house, you’ll likely be living there during the holidays as well. Naturally, moving away from home brings with it significant lifestyle changes. There won’t be anyone nagging you to do your homework (you’ll have to take responsibility for that yourself), but there won’t be anyone to cook, clean, or do your washing for you either. Suddenly you’ll have to worry about ‘grown-up’ things, like paying bills, or dealing with landlords, on top of your academic concerns. And you’ll be living with fellow students, which, though fun at times, can also bring with it its own stresses (people stealing your food, for instance, or not doing their fair share of the cleaning).

No real timetable

At school, you’ll have been used to having a carefully planned timetable of lessons, put together by someone else, and all you have to do is turn up to each class at the right time. Once you get to university, all that changes. You’ll be told when lectures and classes are, but it’s up to you to plan your time and make sure you get to everything, and you’ll have to fit independent study and other academic and non-academic commitments around that. You’ll find that you have a lot more free time at university than you did at sixth form, and this has led to the stereotypical image of the student as someone who stays up very late and lies in bed very late. You’ll get to know yourself better and find out when you’re at your most productive.

Your fellow students

There’s a reason why many people make friends for life – or meet their future spouse – when they’re at university. It’s because you’re more likely to meet people with whom you truly feel on a wavelength. At school, people are there because they are required to be by law . University, on the other hand, is optional, and people go to university because they actively want to, not because they’re being forced to. This means that undergraduates are generally more motivated to learn, with a genuine interest in what they’re studying. What’s more, the diversity of university life – its numerous special interest groups and clubs, and the fact that students come from all over the country and beyond – means that it’s easier to meet plenty of intelligent people who share your points of view or interests.

Whichever university you go to, you’re likely to find the atmosphere very different from that at sixth form. For a start, your fellow students are all of a similar age; if you went to the sixth form at school rather than a college, you’ll probably have been used to the lower years tearing around being disruptive. As mentioned above, undergraduates are there because they want to learn, and universities tend to have a more scholarly vibe to them than sixth form – something that should help inspire you to succeed and give you a thirst to acquire ever more knowledge. University will be very different from what you’re used to, but you’ll soon leave the world of sixth form far behind you and grow to love the challenges of your new life – and the characters you’ll meet along the way.

Image credits: banner ; Chemistry ; library ; homework ; professor

How Long is Sixth Form in the UK?

In General by Think Student Editor June 3, 2022 Leave a Comment

The move from high school to sixth form can be a stressful time for students. The new environment combined with different expectations and rules can be a difficult transition. This is even worse if you are moving away from friends. One of the main questions students often have about sixth form is whether it involves different school hours, and how many years you will be there. It can be hard to find information about this online. However, this article will provide a clear and accurate guide to sixth form. This will help you to know what to expect when taking this exciting step in your academic career.

In the UK, students typically attend sixth form for 2 years. However, in exceptional circumstances, such as being ill for a significant portion of the course, students may be required to repeat a year. Most students spend up to 25 hours a week at sixth form. However, this can vary at different schools, and may be less for colleges. Students usually attend lessons during the day, as well as have free periods to complete homework and coursework, form time and other school commitments, similar to in secondary school.

While this paragraph has a short answer to your question, there are many more details included below, so please read on for the full details of sixth form in the UK.

Table of Contents

How long does sixth form last?

In the UK, sixth form is the stage of education undertaken after GCSEs (or equivalent exams) are finished in Year 11. It includes Years 12 and 13 and is usually started by pupils aged 16 until they are 18 years old.

Therefore , sixth form usually takes 2 years . This is because the courses which students typically undertake in sixth form are intended to be taught over two years. Also, most exams are taken at the end of Year 13 (second year). For more information on A-Level course lengths, check out this Think Student guide .

However, in some cases, students may take 3, or even 4 years to complete sixth form. There are many reasons for this, including failing a year or having to switch A-Levels halfway through your course. Also, students with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) may take longer complete required elements, or follow a longer course designed with their needs in mind. For information about what SEND means, check out this governmental guide.

Another typical reason for doing extra years is to fulfil the entry requirements to your course , such as by retaking some GCSE exams. This is sometimes known as a foundation course or foundation year, and is more common in universities, but can also be taken in colleges and sixth forms. If you want to go to Sixth Form, but need to re-do GCSEs, you may take your A-Levels as a staggered course, doing one year with your GCSE resits, then doing the rest the next year.

It is important to note that there is no shame in needing longer to complete sixth form, and if this is what is best for you, then take as much time as you need.

If you feel you need to do extra years at sixth form, ask your school or college about their arrangements for this. Some schools may not offer this option or may require you to pay for the extra year. However, there are many different rules and arrangements. Asking your school is the best way to get information that can help you.

How many hours a week is sixth form college?

Sixth form college is typically full time due to the rigorous nature of the qualifications studied at this level. In total, a single A-Level course is about 360 hours over the two years of classroom study. For more information about this, check out this guide by Bright Knowledge. The academic year in the UK is 39 weeks, click on this guide from Anglo Info to learn more. This averages to just under 5 hours per subject per week. If taking 3 A-Levels, this will be about 15 hours per week of being directly taught.

Some students may spend less time in college on certain days or have a day off once a week . This depends on your course, and what qualifications you are studying for, so check your timetable if you are unsure about your requirements. Alternatively, you may be required to spend all school hours in school, even if you have a free period.

This time is spent in school, although unlike at GCSE there may be different ways that you are required to spend the time. Typically, sixth form students are expected to be more self-sufficient. They will do more independent study and coursework than they may have been required to complete at GCSE.

How much contact time do you have at sixth form?

As stated above, the amount of time you spend in sixth form varies between schools and courses. However, it is typical to have around 15-18 hours of teaching per week . Most people find this significantly less than they had at GCSE.

Students can find it disorienting and difficult to have many less lessons than they used to. They can even feel overwhelmed by the amount of work they are suddenly expected to complete alone. However, with good time management and effective hard work, there is no reason that A-Levels or other sixth form courses should be more stressful than GCSEs.

The lack of contact time is balanced by the increase in independent work that higher level courses require. Most qualifications at this level require some coursework, as well as regular homework and assessments in class that you must revise for.

If you feel you are struggling with A-Levels and feel like you may be failing, this Think Student guide has helpful tips and reassurance to help you get back to a better place.

Do you have a strict timetable at sixth form?

At sixth form, similar to GCSE, it is most common to have a strict timetable. Typically, this has lessons, as well as other extras which students may be required to attend. A typical day for a sixth former may include 2-7 lessons. As well as free periods when you do not have a lesson, form time, and potentially clubs and subject clinics after school.

Some sixth forms also require life skills classes, or PSHE, which may include budgeting, university preparation, and many other important skills being taught. They may also require PE lessons, similar to GCSE. However, this may be more free than lower in school, allowing you to do whatever sport or exercise you enjoy.

If you are unsure what course you would like to take at Sixth Form, check out this Think Student article to help you understand the different qualifications available.

Do you have free periods at sixth form?

Most sixth formers have free periods throughout their week. These will be at different times each day, and some days you may have more than others. People taking more subjects will have less free periods as they require more timetabled lessons, but they may also have more work to do, so time management is key.

If you struggle with free periods, there are a few things that can make the lack of structure easier. Some students find it easier to immediately work on the closest due piece of homework in their frees , to ensure they get things done on time. However, another good method can be dedicating days to specific subjects , then only working on that subject for the day, can help you revise as you go.

Breaking your tasks into small, specific chunks is also very helpful . If you have an essay, task chunks could be writing a plan, writing paragraph one, writing an introduction, proofreading. This helps to make big tasks more manageable by fitting them in to smaller amounts of time throughout the day. Working at break, on the bus, or even when you complete another task in a lesson can really add up to help you manage your work overall.

If you are struggling with concentration in general, this Think Student article provides helpful tips and tricks to help you focus better in every situation.

How to manage your time at sixth form

If you are struggling with the lack of teaching time you have at sixth form, there are a couple of strategies you can try. First, you can consider the following questions:

• What are you finding hard about the lack of teaching time?
• Does it feel like you don’t know what to do with your time?
• Do you feel that you don’t understand the material you’re being taught?
• Do you feel distracted by your free periods and unable to get work done?

If you don’t know how to manage your time or feel distracted, see the section below about free periods for strategies that may help you. If you do not understand the material, ask your teachers for some extra help. They will have had many students ask before, and if you do not understand, it is likely others in your class don’t either, so you will not be alone.

Asking in class if you have a question or do not understand can be stressful, but it is important to get to know your teachers, as well as to pass your course. If you find it too intimidating to ask in front of everyone, stay behind after class to immediately clarify homework instructions or content that you are confused on, or attend a subject clinic.

Subject clinics are clubs held by many schools where teachers have an open classroom for students to come and revise, clarify their understanding, and work with their teachers on things they may struggle with. They are usually not mandatory, which helps if you are feeling overwhelmed by class sizes and the lack of personal teacher contact.

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Should I go to sixth form or college?

In many areas of the country there are schools with their own sixth forms, offering courses which are designed to follow on from your GCSEs .

In other areas you will, depending on the qualifications you have already achieved, have the option of moving on to a sixth-form college instead.

However, in all parts of the country there are colleges which provide a much wider range of courses at different levels; these are usually called 'Further Education' (FE) colleges .

What's the difference between sixth form and a further education college?

A college will offer you a different learning environment to that experienced at a school's sixth form.

This is why some students choose to take their A levels , or vocational qualifications , at an FE college rather than stay on at their local school after taking GCSEs.

This section outlines the main differences to take into account when deciding whether an FE college is your preferred option.

Types of course

One of the first things you will notice at any further education college is that the range of courses is much wider.

Most colleges offer A levels as do sixth forms, but also have a huge number of other qualifications available in different subjects and at different levels.

Not all colleges, however, will offer the same 'mix' of subjects so it’s very important to check carefully what is available locally.

• Level 1 qualifications are fairly basic, building confidence and providing an introduction to a subject, industry or area of work. They include, for example, NVQ Level 1 , BTEC Introductory Certificates and OCR Nationals which are roughly equivalent to GCSEs gained at grades D - G/3 - 1. You would need qualifications at this level before progressing to level 2.
• Level 2 qualifications (eg. NVQ level 2 and BTEC First ) give a deeper understanding of a subject or area of work and are roughly equivalent to GCSEs at grades A* - C/9 - 4. Many employers like young people to have a level 2 qualification as a minimum.
• Level 3 qualifications include A and AS levels , NVQ Level 3, BTEC Nationals , Advanced and Progression Diplomas. This level is almost always required for entry to university and many employers will be looking for Level 3 in applicants for more technical or supervisory roles.
• Levels 4 to 8 may also be available in your local college but are classed as 'higher' rather than 'further' education. They include Foundation degrees , HND/HNC courses , Honours degrees and postgraduate or professional qualifications at a high level.

One of the first differences between school and college you will notice is your timetable! At school you won’t have had much free time and even if you had a 'free' period you were probably expected to spend it studying!

At college, depending on your course, things may be organised quite differently.

There could be several hours between lessons/lectures; you might not even have to attend at all for a full day; or if you are there all day it might start at 8.30am and not finish until 5pm. Sensible students use their free time for homework or study! At college it’s also possible to study on a part-time basis, rather than take a full-time course.

Depending on the college and how courses are organised, you might be able to combine a full-time course with something part time.

For example, attending Monday to Friday studying a BTEC National , together with a GCSE resit one evening per week.

There are likely to be students from a wide range of ages, backgrounds and interests.

At school your classmates were all the same age but at college they could be anything from 16 to 80! So it can be quite a different learning environment. Tutors and teaching staff are different too and sometimes look just like the students! Some tutors work full time so you can contact them any time of the week if you have any problems; others are part time and may only be in college for their actual teaching duties.

Tutors may just have teaching responsibilities but some also take on a 'pastoral' role.

You will have academic tutors who can help with any study problems you have; you’ll probably be assigned to a 'personal tutor' too, who can help you with any other issues to do with college life.

You’re likely to be on first name terms with most of the staff and all other students, whatever their age.

Unlike school, there probably isn’t one! so this is one less thing to think about, and you can enjoy wearing what you want at college.

So, is a further education college right for me?

As always, talk to family, friends, school staff and your careers adviser and make sure you have all the information you need before making any decisions.

Also, use your interview at college well; ask questions about pass rates, drop-out rates and try to speak to current students – they will certainly tell you what it’s really like!

Try to have a tour of the college to see the facilities in the teaching areas, library, common room (though try not to spend too much time there when you’re a student!) and eating areas. Many people say that colleges treat students 'more like adults' than is the case in a sixth form. This is probably true in that you are not told where to be all the time, when to eat, what to wear etc. However, it doesn’t suit everyone.

Some students prefer a learning environment which is very regulated rather than organising things on their own. You need to take a look at yourself and work out where you would achieve better – after all, that’s what matters in the end. Remember - up until now you have progressed from one academic year to the next automatically. It doesn’t work like that once you have finished Year 11 – in a sixth form, sixth-form college or FE college you will more than likely need to succeed in the first year of your course in order to enter the second year.

Further information

For more tips and advice, please see:

• Vocational Courses
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Oxford Education Blog

The latest news and views on education from oxford university press., do you set 6th form students homework over the summer holiday.

It is a strange time of year if you teach in FE, a Sixth Form or have A-Level classes on your timetable. Second year students have sat their exams, and have flown the nest. Many of them you will miss in some way; the occasional one evokes Greg Davies’s speech to his Sixth Formers in The Inbetweeners … AS and 1 st year A-Level students have sat either internal or external exams, so are in a mixed state of elation and relief at the exams being over, and a kind of exhausted fug; much like their teachers really.

What might prevent students from doing as much work as we would like them to across the summer?

In short: they have a life.  Part-time jobs will be practically full-time over summer; they have the kind of social-life that for many a wizened teacher is a hazy memory; and there is the obligatory holiday away with their mates somewhere sunny in the Mediterranean. Something else we should perhaps consider is that they are just likely to be tired.

The best laid plans of mice and men….

Unsurprisingly, A-Level teachers have lofty ambitions for what they would like students to do in the gap between the first and the second year of A-Levels. I put a question to the Edu-Twitter Team English hive-mind asking, ‘What seemed like it [the work set] would be useful, or successful, but wasn’t?’ I have lost count of the times I have set overly optimistic deadlines for A-Level NEA. Fool. It was a relief to find out I was not the only fool in this respect.

@BorisMcDonald responded to this question with, ‘Writing their NEA’ while @dantjenks replied similarly with, ‘It always seems like a good idea to get Lang’ kids to do some work on their investigations during the holidays.  It very rarely actually turns out that they do any at all and even fewer who do some worthwhile [work] – I never learn.’ While I read this Tweet, I nodded along sagely, picturing myself deservedly wearing the cone of shame.

So, how do you ‘sell’ getting some A-Level work done over the summer?

There are times when I wish I could say ‘Go on, have the summer off!’ but in my sector, where we have a very real issue of reduced lesson time for teaching A-Levels, this is absolutely not an option.

Recently, I used Google sheets to compile a coursework calendar for September to Christmas period for the students, with Christmas being the hand in date for the NEA. So that this is actually achievable, there MUST be some work set over summer, but not anything that is too intimidating.

At the top of their course work calendar, they have a table like this:

Much of this has been constructed based on (bitter?) experience of the kind of errors I have made in the past, and the kind of questions this current cohort of students were asking me during the lessons that introduced the coursework to them.  The ‘benefits’ column is the real sales-pitch, because unless you can explicitly show the students, ‘What’s in it for me?’ you’ll be lucky if they give any summer holiday work a second thought at all. Assume they want to achieve, be clear you want and expect the best of them, and you might, just might, get the odd student giving you your ‘Unicorn moment’ and doing more than you expected.

Have a lovely summer break yourselves. I’ll be off to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, using my flying pig as transport, and a unicorn to carry it back for me.

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