College or Sixth Form?

[uje]

I chose college, mainly because I am a musician who wants to teach music to others. The only sixth form near my area uses the secondary schools rooms and equipments and is also a sports school. That said the facilities for music were horrible, there were no drum kits, no pianos or anything and really after asking a teacher what grade she was I was shocked to find I was the highest grade musician in the whole department (including the teachers) which really swung my decision.

I am at a college with its own two buildings for music and creative arts, studios, the latest software by logic and Protools and Reason and other great mixing programs, and EVERY teacher has a degree in music, a grade eight qualification in an instrument and also has had some professional musical background.

So my choice was…. A school with no musical facilities, low rated teachers and the only courses available were A levels or a Business course OR a college with great facilities, amazingly qualified teachers and the best equipment you could ask for as a musician. Oh and a course that not only covers music theory, composition, background work into music and performing, also covers in recording techniques, mixing and mastering and that’s me only saying two days of a weeks timetable.

I think the decision I made was the right one, but really for other places it could be the other way round, your sixth form may have better facilities and teaching standards than my one. I am just merely stating my experiences.

I also thought that going to college would give me some life lessons, meet new people and possible future contacts in the music industry (since we are all out to be in that industry one way or another be it teaching or making music) and also to make new friends than to be stuck in the same little bubble I was in for about five years.

[Immenseman]

I don't think the question can really be generalised. In some regions, colleges are seen as being less academic and for people who want to do more hands on courses. There are two colleges in my region, one which is more BTEC and hands on practical approach and another which is a mix. There are obviously a variety of 6th forms. I just chose to go to 6th form because it wasn't attached to a school so there are no children because I couldn't deal with that and it was practical for me to do so as well as matching my criteria for a good place to study.

[uje]

I don't think the question can really be generalised. In some regions, colleges are seen as being less academic and for people who want to do more hands on courses. There are two colleges in my region, one which is more BTEC and hands on practical approach and another which is a mix. There are obviously a variety of 6th forms. I just chose to go to 6th form because it wasn't attached to a school so there are no children because I couldn't deal with that and it was practical for me to do so as well as matching my criteria for a good place to study.

Yeah exactly, at the end of the day it does come down to matching the criteria, I would find it very odd for a musician to do sixth form and for someone who wants to do business to do college (well were I live that is) because to be honest, the sixth form I live near does a great business course. Also a flaw at my local sixth form is that they do not do as many a levels as my college does, they are very basic doing English, English lit, the sciences, maths ect, most of them were what you could also pick as GCSE because this is what they had the staff for. However at college when I originally applied to do A levels I saw there was psychology and photography and many different history courses, there was also computing which the local sixth form does not have.

Immenseman, your lucky your sixth form is not attached to your local school. If I were to go to a sixth form with kids everywhere I would have lost the plot. I guess when a teacher treats five years of students the same way and then try to say they will teach sixth formers differently I thought it was a sham But with a sixth form that is JUST for sixth formers they have no excuse not to treat you like you want to be there and with a little bit more respect. Because to be honest when it comes to Key Stage 5 most drop out.

[Immenseman]

Yeah exactly, at the end of the day it does come down to matching the criteria, I would find it very odd for a musician to do sixth form and for someone who wants to do business to do college (well were I live that is) because to be honest, the sixth form I live near does a great business course. Also a flaw at my local sixth form is that they do not do as many a levels as my college does, they are very basic doing English, English lit, the sciences, maths ect, most of them were what you could also pick as GCSE because this is what they had the staff for. However at college when I originally applied to do A levels I saw there was psychology and photography and many different history courses, there was also computing which the local sixth form does not have.

Immenseman, your lucky your sixth form is not attached to your local school. If I were to go to a sixth form with kids everywhere I would have lost the plot. I guess when a teacher treats five years of students the same way and then try to say they will teach sixth formers differently I thought it was a sham But with a sixth form that is JUST for sixth formers they have no excuse not to treat you like you want to be there and with a little bit more respect. Because to be honest when it comes to Key Stage 5 most drop out.

Yup, for sure. I couldn't hack that for any longer. The atmosphere around the 6th form is much more relaxed and people generally get on with things. We have a bit of a poor reputation but it didn't stop me and others who attend from getting 3/4 As, thus it can't be that bad.

All of the chavs and people who can't string a sentence together stop education as it is no longer compulsory and go and do their apprenticeships or hairdressing, depending on their gender

[ifuseekamy]

Yup, for sure. I couldn't hack that for any longer. The atmosphere around the 6th form is much more relaxed and people generally get on with things. We have a bit of a poor reputation but it didn't stop me and others who attend from getting 3/4 As, thus it can't be that bad.

All of the chavs and people who can't string a sentence together stop education as it is no longer compulsory and go and do their apprenticeships or hairdressing, depending on their gender

Plus it lets you experience independence before going to uni. My school had its own sixth form but I went to a sixth form college instead. The people I know that stayed at the school's sixth form aren't really independent; most of them didn't get good grades and do foundation courses or they're staying at home to go to uni.