Starting Sixth Form or College: What Parents Need to Know
Starting sixth form or college feels like quite a big change. Not just for our teens, but for us parents too.
After years of school timetables, uniform, homework and fairly regular communication from teachers, suddenly they’re expected to be much more independent.
They might have free periods, a completely different timetable and, particularly if they’re heading off to a sixth-form or further education college, a lot more freedom during the day.
And while they’re still in education, it can sometimes feel like we’re pushed a little further into the background too.
So whether your teen is staying on at their school’s sixth form or heading somewhere completely new for college, here’s what you can probably expect when they start.
Sixth form or college is very different to Year 11
One of the biggest changes is the independence.
If they’re taking A Levels, they’ll probably go from studying eight or nine GCSE subjects to just three or four subjects, but in much more depth. If they’re doing a vocational course, their timetable and way of learning could look quite different again.
Either way, they’ll be expected to take much more responsibility for keeping on top of work, meeting deadlines and actually asking for help when they need it.
Depending on where they’re studying, they might also have gaps in their timetable and be allowed off-site when they don’t have lessons.
After five years of pretty much every hour of the school day being accounted for, that’s quite a lot of freedom all at once.
It’ll probably take a bit of getting used to.
The workload can be a bit of a shock
Going from eight or nine GCSE subjects down to three A Levels sounds like it should mean less work.
Sadly, not quite!
A Levels go into much more depth and there’s a lot more independent work expected. Reading, making notes, practice questions, research and going back over things they didn’t quite understand in class.
College courses will obviously vary depending on what they’re studying, but again, they’re likely to be expected to manage much more of the workload themselves.
They might not always have traditional “homework” either, which can make it quite hard for us to work out how much they’re actually doing.
I’d try not to get too caught up in how many hours they’re sitting at a desk. Are they keeping up? Getting work handed in? Do they seem to understand what they’re doing?
That’s probably more useful than trying to police a set number of study hours every night.
Free periods aren’t really free
Worth mentioning this one before they start!
A lovely big gap on the timetable isn’t necessarily two hours to wander around town with their mates.
Well… I’m sure some of it will be.
But those gaps are also a chance to get independent study done.
They’re obviously not going to spend every free period sitting silently in the library. They’re 16.
But if they can get into the habit of using at least some of that time for work, it’ll make life a lot easier once assignments and assessments start piling up.
And getting some of it done during the day hopefully means less to do when they get home too.
Their timetable might look completely different
This is another thing that can feel quite strange after secondary school.
They might start later on some days. Finish earlier on others. Have a massive gap in the middle of the day.
If they’re going somewhere new, there’s the journey to think about too.
Suddenly we’re working out trains, buses, what time they actually need to leave home and what they’re supposed to do if they’ve got two hours between lessons.
It’s worth looking at their timetable together when they get it, especially if they’ll be travelling independently for the first time.
Although chances are they’ll know their route better than we do within about a week.
They’ll be treated much more like an adult
This is one of the nice things about sixth form and college, but it can take a bit of getting used to. For us as much as them.
Students are generally expected to sort more things out for themselves.
If there’s a problem with a lesson or they’re struggling with some work, they’ll often be expected to speak to the teacher or tutor rather than us emailing on their behalf straight away.
Communication with parents can be different too.
You’ll still get important information, but you might not get the same level of day-to-day updates you were used to at secondary school.
I think this is probably one of the stranger adjustments as a parent. We’re still responsible for them, but at the same time we’re supposed to start letting them get on with things themselves.
Not always easy!
Attendance still matters
More freedom definitely doesn’t mean they can just turn up when they fancy it.
Sixth forms and colleges have their own rules around attendance and punctuality, and they’ll be expected to attend lessons, tutorials and anything else that’s compulsory.
The slightly confusing bit can be working out when they actually need to be on site.
If they’ve got free periods, late starts or early finishes, make sure they understand the rules at their particular sixth form or college rather than just assuming an empty timetable means they don’t need to be there.
What if they don’t like one of their A Levels or courses?
It happens.
Something can sound brilliant when they’re choosing their subjects and then turn out to be completely different once they actually start studying it.
A Levels can feel very different from GCSE. And the same applies to a new college course they’ve never studied before.
There is often a short window at the beginning of term when changes might be possible, but every sixth form and college will have its own rules. It also depends on whether there’s space on the new course and whether it fits their timetable.
If they’re really not happy, I’d encourage them to speak to their tutor sooner rather than struggling on for months hoping it’ll magically get better.
Changing might not always be possible, but it’s much easier to ask at the beginning.
If they’re still having doubts about their A-Level choices, have a read of Helping Your Child Choose the Right A Levels.
Do GCSE grades still matter once they’ve started?
They can do.
Their GCSE grades may affect which A Levels or courses they’re able to take in the first place, particularly where there are specific subject requirements.
And GCSE grades can crop up again later when they’re applying to university. Some degree courses have specific GCSE requirements, often around English Language and Maths.
But once they’re settled into sixth form or college, the focus will start moving onto what they’re doing now rather than everything being about GCSEs.
I’ve gone into this in more detail in Do GCSE Grades Matter for University? What Parents Need to Know.
What if they didn’t get a grade 4 in English or Maths?
This bit is slightly more complicated.
If your teen is starting a 16–19 study programme in England and hasn’t got a grade 4 or above in GCSE English or Maths, they’ll usually need to carry on studying the relevant subject alongside their main course.
What that looks like depends partly on the grade they got and whether they’re studying full-time.
For example, full-time students with a grade 3 are generally expected to continue studying towards the GCSE. With a grade 2 or below there’s more flexibility, and they may work towards GCSE, Functional Skills Level 2 or another approved qualification.
Their sixth form or college should explain what applies to them when they enrol, so you shouldn’t have to work all of this out yourself.
I’ve also covered it in more detail in \GCSE Resits: What Parents Need to Know.
Making new friends can take time
This is probably a bigger worry for some teenagers than the actual studying.
Even if they’re staying at their school, friendship groups can change. Some friends will go elsewhere, new students might join and they’ll suddenly be spending more time with people who’ve chosen the same subjects.
Starting at a completely new college is obviously another thing altogether.
They don’t need to find their new best friend on day one.
It can take a while.
Friendships often happen naturally through lessons, tutor groups, clubs or just repeatedly ending up sitting next to the same people.
I’d give it a bit of time before worrying that they haven’t immediately found “their people”.
Help them get organised… without doing it for them
This is the tricky bit.
They need to start managing their own workload and deadlines, but they’re also still only 16. I don’t think we need to suddenly step away completely and hope for the best.
Having folders, somewhere to keep notes, a calendar for deadlines and a decent place to work at home can all help.
But I’d let them work out their own system as much as possible.
What worked for GCSE revision might not work now. Part of starting sixth form or college is figuring out how to organise themselves without us constantly reminding them what needs doing.
Although I’m not promising there won’t still be the occasional reminder!
Expect the first few weeks to feel tiring
New timetable. New teachers. New subjects. New people. Maybe a new journey every morning too.
It’s a lot.
Even a teenager who’s really excited about starting can come home completely wiped out for the first few weeks.
I probably wouldn’t fill every evening and weekend with plans while they’re settling in.
They might also suddenly seem to need loads more sleep again.
It doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. Getting used to a completely different routine can just be exhausting.
When should parents step in?
Giving them more independence doesn’t mean we leave them completely to it.
There’s a difference between having a few wobbles while they’re settling in and something genuinely not being right.
If they’re regularly missing lessons, falling behind with work, constantly overwhelmed or becoming increasingly unhappy about going in, that’s when I’d start paying closer attention.
Where possible, encourage them to speak to their tutor, teacher or pastoral team themselves first.
But if they’re really struggling and aren’t managing to sort it out, there’s nothing wrong with us getting involved.
They’re becoming more independent.
They’re not suddenly adults overnight.
Starting sixth form or college is an adjustment for everyone
I think it’s quite easy to focus on whether they’ve picked the right subjects and forget what a big change this actually is.
For them, it’s the start of having much more responsibility for their own education and their own time.
For us, it’s another one of those parenting stages where we’re trying to work out when to help and when to stand back.
There will probably be forgotten deadlines. Free periods that weren’t used quite as productively as intended. Maybe the odd morning when they’re still rushing out of the door five minutes later than they should be.
That’s all part of it.
Those first few weeks are really about finding their feet and working out what this next stage looks like for them.
FAQs about starting sixth form or college
What is the difference between sixth form and college?
Both offer education after GCSEs, but the experience can be quite different. A school sixth form is usually attached to a secondary school, while sixth-form colleges and further education colleges are separate institutions and often offer a wider range of courses. I’ve explained the differences in more detail in Sixth Form vs College: Which Is Right for Your Teen?
What should they take on their first day?
Probably less than you think.
Pens, a notebook or folder and anything their sixth form or college has specifically asked them to bring is a good starting point.
They might need a laptop or tablet depending on the course, but I’d check first before rushing out and buying anything expensive. Their college may have specific recommendations or provide access to devices.
Is sixth form harder than Year 11?
It can definitely feel like a jump.
With A Levels, they’re studying fewer subjects but going into much more depth and doing more independent work.
The first few weeks can feel quite full-on while they work out what’s expected of them. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve chosen the wrong subjects or aren’t coping. Sometimes it just takes a while to adjust.
How many hours should a sixth-form student study at home?
There’s no magic number.
Different subjects and sixth forms will have different expectations, and they might get quite a bit done during study periods too.
I’d be more interested in whether they’re keeping up with their work than trying to make them sit at a desk for a certain number of hours every night.
Can you change A Levels after starting sixth form?
Often you can, particularly right at the beginning, but it depends on the sixth form, available spaces and whether the new subject works with their timetable.
If they’re thinking about changing, get them to ask sooner rather than later.
Can students leave during free periods?
Sometimes.
Some sixth forms and colleges allow students off-site during free periods or lunch, while others have different rules. There can also be different arrangements for Year 12 and Year 13.
Definitely check rather than assuming.
Do parents still get reports?
Usually there will still be some form of progress reporting, parents’ evenings or updates, but don’t be surprised if communication feels different from secondary school.
Sixth forms and colleges tend to expect students to take more responsibility for their own progress too.
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