Sixth Form or College?

[benjamin]

Over the past few weeks I've really been trying to think about what I want to be doing in a little over a years time, after I've left at the end of year 11.

I still can't decide, and to be honnest I don't really know much about either of them, can anyone give me like the pros and cons of Sixth Form and/or College?

[:Liam]

Heres some info :):
School Sixth Form, Further Education or Sixth Form College?
Studying at a further education (FE) college or sixth form college is very different to being at school, so it's important to weigh up the pros and cons of each. Here are some questions that are worth asking:

* Would you be happier staying on at your school where you know people, teachers etc, or do you fancy a change?
* Does your school do the subjects you'd like to study?
* Who provides the best facilities for your course and your needs?
* Is the location easily accessible? What about the travelling times/costs?
* Do you know any students already attending the sixth form or local Further Education colleges and are they enjoying it?
* Does the college have an open day so you can check it out for yourself?

School Sixth Forms

* Sixth forms vary in size and in the range of courses they offer.
* As they're still part of a school, they may have a more formal and structured timetable than a college.
* Classes are generally small and you may already know the teachers.

Further Education Colleges

* Further education colleges have a very different feel to school, as most students are over 16.
* Many offer a wide range of full-time and part-time courses in academic and vocational subjects. Others specialise in areas such as art, agriculture or technology.
* They're usually larger than sixth form colleges, although some students may be part-time or may go to classes at night.

Sixth Form Colleges

* In the past, sixth form colleges have mainly restricted themselves to academic qualifications: GCSEs, AS Levels and A2/A Levels.
* These days, most are now broadening their range to include Key Skills and job-related qualifications, such as NVQs and Vocational A Levels.
* Courses tend to be full time, although part-time and evening courses are available too.




My school has a sixth form, and you need atleast 5 C's at GCSE to get in. Tbh, I'm not really worried about the grades I get because I'm aiming for A's mostly - but I really don't know which would be best for me, staying at my school sixth form, going to another, or going to college. I'm looking into studying Business, Media & ICT hopefully - they are the main ones, will porbably study more too but I'm still not overly sure.
I would study that sort of thing (business, media, IT) somthing that has alot of options so your not restricted in a career.

[benjamin]

My school has a sixth form, and you need atleast 5 C's at GCSE to get in. Tbh, I'm not really worried about the grades I get because I'm aiming for A's mostly - but I really don't know which would be best for me, staying at my school sixth form, going to another, or going to college. I'm looking into studying Business, Media & ICT hopefully - they are the main ones, will porbably study more too but I'm still not overly sure.

[today]

'I was the same, though i had a meeting with connections in my town and they explained everything in much detail which has helped me choose "6th Form College"

[Barkseh2131]

If yo're able to go to sixth form.

college is full of thick people like myself :rolleyes:

[benjamin]

Well I got a connexions thing at my school, I might go to see them.

But I still don't have anything that's like pulling me to either one of them.

[today]

Well I got a connexions thing at my school, I might go to see them.

But I still don't have anything that's like pulling me to either one of them.
'As saud i was the same though connections gave me information on both, pro's and cons, explained subjects in much detail, which one is best for which subject and such.

So i think you should go see them, they'll help you! :) Let us know which one you pick.

[Tash.]

I didn't have much choice when I finished my GCSE's as my school didn't have a sixth-form. But, if it did i'd have checked out all my possibilities in the area, check their grades in past years for the possible subjects you want to study & if you are comfortable going to a completely new place with new people or not. That should make it a bit clearer, but if not then definitely go see a careers/connexions advisor.

[dirrty]

go sixth form. you smart enough too so go. what do job do you want when your older?

my college is from yr 10 - yr 13 & i plan to go sixth form anyway.

[Mr.Sam]

I Chose sixth form, we also have connexions at our school.

Sixth form is cool - you know everyone already, the teachers are a lot better and it's fun ^_^

also you get a lot of guidance about further education or jobs, like going to open days at uni's and doing work about them.
You could go see connexions and the head of sixth form - they would be able to help you.

[Turnip]

it also depends what you wanna do? :).
Check to see if the courses you want are at either & at the level you want.
Im going college to study Business at Diploma lvl i would of gone 6th form but a) i dont like my skl and neither does my dad & b) they dont do business in 6th form there. :)

[Jazza]

[Sorry If I offend anyone]

Sixth form is usually more academic; like another 2 years of school whereas college is for people who are less smart.

[.Nickie]

I go to sixth form and am glad i did, case most of the mates who i talk to say they wish they stayed on at sixth form cuase you get more help. But if you are more of an independant person then go for colelge. I do have to say that 4 of my mates who went to colelge have came back to our sixth form. So yanno.. but if you really dont know then get advice :D

[Carlos]

Most of my mates stayed on for sixth form in my last school. I chose to goto College, and I absolutely love it!

My course is a 2 year btec full time computing course. It's only 3 days a week! The teachers are like your friends and everyone is mature.
People who I speak to who are in sixth form always complain when its the end of the christmas or easter holidays because they have to go back. It doesn't bother me as I love college!

[brandon]

i personally am gonna go to college coz i cnt stand school.

[,Jess,]

A lot of my mates are going to college but I'm staying on at 6th form because it's the same teachers and it means I don't have to adjust to a new place but if you don't mind that then college would be good especially if you want a wider variety of courses.

[Ramones]

i personally am gonna go to college coz i cnt stand school.

me to, iv'e applied for college next year coz my school is crap and all the teachers are gay, and i'm bored of all the peope at my school, there gets to a point after 5 years where you can't get a girlfriend anymore because everyones your friend :(

[English]

Well I'm coming upto the finishing the first year of 6th form (it's called AS for the first year) and it is crap. I regret coming to 6th form, should have gone to college or just got a full time job. I am looking for a job at the moment but still in 6th form 'til I find one. To be honest there are quite a few plus sides; you already know most people there, you know the teachers, free periods are cool. However overall it's proper boring, there is loads of homework set(especially if you do 4 lessons like I do), I also have 9 exams at the end of this academic year which means LOADS of revision. Some of the teachers are pretty unprofessional aswell and there is lots of stupid rules for 6th formers. I don't think 6th form could compete with a "specialist" college for the subjects you are wanting. If you think about it, at school/6th form a lot of the teachers teach quite a few subjects and to many ages so they have to adapt to changing their styles of teaching. However at college you get teachers who only teach one age group(17/18 year olds) and usually only teach 1 subject and don't generalise like quite a few do. A few of my mates are in full time work(getting a trade behind them & working themselves up, i.e from apprenticeships) and they love it, they always have loads of money and have plenty to spend. Once they finish work at whatever time they do, they don't have to bother with homework/revising like you would at college/school for exams and homework! However if you only want to go to 6th form or college then I would choose college.

[today]

Well I'm coming upto the finishing the first year of 6th form (it's called AS for the first year) and it is crap. I regret coming to 6th form, should have gone to college or just got a full time job. I am looking for a job at the moment but still in 6th form 'til I find one. To be honest there are quite a few plus sides; you already know most people there, you know the teachers, free periods are cool. However overall it's proper boring, there is loads of homework set(especially if you do 4 lessons like I do), I also have 9 exams at the end of this academic year which means LOADS of revision. Some of the teachers are pretty unprofessional aswell and there is lots of stupid rules for 6th formers. I don't think 6th form could compete with a "specialist" college for the subjects you are wanting. If you think about it, at school/6th form a lot of the teachers teach quite a few subjects and to many ages so they have to adapt to changing their styles of teaching. However at college you get teachers who only teach one age group(17/18 year olds) and usually only teach 1 subject and don't generalise like quite a few do. A few of my mates are in full time work(getting a trade behind them & working themselves up, i.e from apprenticeships) and they love it, they always have loads of money and have plenty to spend. Once they finish work at whatever time they do, they don't have to bother with homework/revising like you would at college/school for exams and homework! However if you only want to go to 6th form or college then I would choose college.

'The only 6th form i know off in my town is not within any school its alike a college but just 6th form. So you meet all new people and all, anyhow it depends on what subjects you take, and how you feel inyourself. There's pro's and cons to both. Though only you can pick =]

[Pelfe]

im going to 6th form :) xx

[France]

I stayed on at sixth form because it's much more personal, whereas college is usually a lot bigger, there are no strong bonds (initally, anyway). I continued into the sixth form at my school because I knew the environment and it was just much easier that way.

[beth]

i'm going to sixth form, because i can't be arsed to look anywhere else and they gave me an unconditional place, oh i'm lazy {:

[Eamonn]

I'm going sixth form at the end of year 11, but not my schools one because it is pretty rubbish, got to start applying in September and I'm hoping to go to the boy school because it's practically the best sixth form in town and you only need to get 5 A/B grades :)

[Nixt]

I'm going to a sixth form. It's brand new and better than almost all of the other colleges in Bristol. From what I've been told the learning environment is better, you're treated like an adult but it still bears some similarity to school as you get a little more attention from the teachers and things.

[the wombats]

If yo're able to go to sixth form.

college is full of thick people like myself :rolleyes:

good to see you admit you make colleges look like they full of thick people. anyways, it depends what course you pick. for IT i think it's best picking a college.