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Is Your Child in Year 11?
A Guide to Selecting the Right Sixth Form or College
Finding the right sixth form or college can be difficult. To help you and your child make this important decision, we have put together a simple guide of key things to consider when making your choice.
OFSTED Inspection Results
Every school and college is inspected by OFSTED which marks each institution on several measures with marks of ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Inadequate’. OFSTED inspections take place every few years, and reports can be accessed at www.ofsted.gov.uk.
Success / Pass Rates
Pass rates indicate the number of students who passed a particular course, whereas success rates combine academic pass rates with the number of students who complete their course and progress to the next stage of their education. This can also be broken down by the subject area your child wishes to study. This information can usually be found in your chosen college’s prospectus or on their website.
Support During Your Child’s Application and Beyond
Find out what support is offered to students, such as support from teachers, additional support for learning disabilities such as dyslexia or any other disabilities, or help in completing applications for jobs or for university.
Qualifications Options
You should be confident that the course your child wishes to study is the right course and level for them. There are many different qualifications available to study, depending on your child’s predicted or achieved grades, for example:
| Predicted or Actual GCSE Grades | Appropriate Study Level |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade A*- C |
A Levels* |
| 4 GCSEs at grade D or above | BTEC Level 2 Higher Diploma Advanced Apprenticeship |
| 4 GCSEs at grade E or above | Level 1 Foundation Diploma or Certifcate |
| No previous qualifications | Entry Level Foundation |
*Some subjects require a specific grade or qualification, e.g. maths courses require a grade B or above in a maths related subject.
Vocational vs. Academic Courses
Whether your child chooses an academic route such as A Levels or a vocational qualification such as a BTEC, once they have completed their qualification they will have the opportunity to go onto Higher Education (e.g. university) or straight in to work.
Academic
A Levels are made up of an AS Level (Year 1) and an A2 Level (Year 2). Each part makes up 50 per cent of the overall A Level grade. Most students study four subjects in the first year and three subjects in the second year. With the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) you study six subjects over two years, maintaining a broad programme of education which leads to an internationally recognised qualification. Both A Levels and the IBDP focus on traditional study skills and normally take two years to complete full-time. You can choose from a wide range of academic subjects, as well as some work-related subjects.
Vocational
Vocational qualifications are well respected by universities and employers as they give students practical and professional expertise, theoretical knowledge and the study skills needed to progress to Higher Education or directly into employment. Results are based upon continuous work throughout the year and assessment is predominantly based on coursework instead of exams. The qualifications often give students the opportunity to put theory into practice through work placements, teaching relevant skills for a particular sector/industry and applying them to a real working environment.
Student Surveys
Most colleges or sixth forms conduct surveys of their student’s opinion, so you may want to ask how many students would recommend their course and college to a friend or relative.
Progression
This shows how many students on a particular course go on to a higher level course at the college or sixth form and how many go into Higher Education. You could also find out detailed information as to which universities they progress to.
Careers
You may be interested in finding out if the college of sixth form has a dedicated team providing confidential, unbiased careers information and higher education advice.
Facilities
To ensure your child gets the most from their course it is important that the facilities and equipment are up-to-date. You may want to check what computer and library facilities are available, as well as facilities such as theatres and laboratories that are specific to a particular subject area.
What to do next:
- Consider what is most important to you and your child
- Do your research – look at league tables or independent inspections or surveys
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
- Attend open days and see the college or sixth form for yourself
City and Islington College
At City andIslingtonCollege, we have an excellent track record for getting the best out of our learners. Our last OFSTED inspection in 2008 concluded the College to be ‘Outstanding’ joining only a handful of colleges in theUK, and the onlyFurtherEducationCollegeinLondon, to achieve this status.
Also in 2011, our students celebrated record A Level success with a pass rate of 98.8%.
We’re proud of our students’ achievements, but we also understand that college is a life enhancing experience. At City andIslingtonCollege, there are lots of things your child can do alongside their studies, such as sports, drama productions, student union activities and many other clubs and societies. Our students tell us that they have made life-long friends, find the environment welcoming, and 95% would recommend the college to a friend or relative.
We are committed to supporting all of our students, and this means making sure they are safe both inside and outside of the college. As such, we have a team of safeguarding champions on hand at all times, as well as teams to provide tutorial support, additional learning support and other academic staff to ensure learners achieve their goals.
With vocational and academic courses offered at all levels as well as excellent personal and academic assistance in place, we believe that City and Islington College can offer the right course in the right environment for students wishing to progress into the world of work or a place in Higher Education. For example, at City andIslingtonCollege, 1,241 learners went on to university last year alone. These learners were supported by a team of dedicated careers advisors who supported them through the UCAS process.
Our specialist, self-contained vocational Centres, all of which are situated within the borough of Islington, offer state-of-the-art facilities to support learning at all levels.
How to Apply
The easiest way to apply to City and IslingtonCollegeis to visit www.candi.ac.uk, where you can access our courses page. Applicants can apply for up to two full-time courses (please note: six A Level subjects are equivalent to one full-time course). If you do not have access to the internet, you can call our Course Information Unit on 0207 700 9200 to request a paper form.
To find out more about City and IslingtonCollegeand the courses we offer, come to one of our Open Days / Evenings. You must book as places are limited. Either book online at www.candi.ac.uk/opendays or call our Course Information Unit on 020 7700 9200. All attendees under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult, such as a parent, carer or careers advisor.
Open Days
Sixth Form College
(All A Levels and the International Baccalaureate)
Saturday 12th November 2011: 10.30am-3pm
Centre for Applied Sciences
(Vocational courses in Applied Sciences, Forensic Science, Medical Science, Optics, Sports Science, Environmental and Animal Care)
Wednesday 25th January 2012: 4-7.00pm
Wednesday 14th March 2012: 4-7pm
Centre for Business, Arts and Technology
(Vocational courses in Art and Design, Performing Arts, Dance and Music, Media, Fashion, Business Studies, ICT)
Wednesday 25th January 2012: 4-7pm
Wednesday 14th March 2012: 4-7pm
Centre for Health, Social and Child Care
(Vocational courses in Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing, Child Care, Health and Social Care)
Wednesday 25th January 2012: 4-7pm
Wednesday 14th March 2012: 4-7pm
Case Studies
Ahamodur Choudhury
Course: A Level Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Economics
Ahamodur will be studying medicine at King’s College London after he gained three A* grades and one B grade in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Economics.
Ahamodur says, “The College is amazing and I've really worked hard to get the top grades. I've made great friends and enjoyed the wider community of the College, meeting all sorts of different people from different backgrounds.”
Sophie Cooper
Course: BTEC National Diploma in Medical Sciences
Sophie is starting a degree in Biomedical Sciences at MiddlesexUniversityafter successfully completing her BTEC National Diploma in Medical Sciences.
Sophie says, “Talking to students who will be on my university course, I found I had a lot more hands-on experience than many of them, and had studied a wider variety of subjects. Personally, my course at College was right for me and if I could go back in time I would not change my decision to choose a vocational course.”