Is Sixth Form the Right Choice for My Child?
Once GCSEs are nearly done, attention quickly turns to what happens next.
For some teenagers, sixth form feels like the obvious choice. Especially if they’re planning on doing A Levels and possibly going to university later.
But it isn’t the right option for everyone.
Some will be desperate for a change after five years at secondary school. Others might prefer something more practical, or already know they want to do an apprenticeship. And some genuinely won’t have a clue what they want to do yet.
Which, at 16, is completely understandable.
So how do you work out whether sixth form is actually the right choice for your teen?
What Is Sixth Form?
Sixth Form is the two years of education after Year 11, usually for students aged 16 to 18.
Some secondary schools have their own sixth form, so students can stay somewhere they already know. There are also sixth-form colleges, where everyone starts somewhere new after GCSEs.
Most students taking A Levels will study three subjects, although some start with four or take another qualification alongside them.
Either way, it’s quite a change from Year 11.
They go from studying lots of GCSE subjects to concentrating on just a few, but in much more depth. There’s usually more independence too, and much more responsibility for keeping on top of their own work.
Does your teen actually want to do A Levels?
I’d probably start here.
Not can they do A Levels.
Do they actually want to?
It’s easy to get caught up in grades and what they could do, especially if they’ve done well at GCSE. But being capable of A Levels doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll enjoy them.
A Levels are pretty academic and there’s a lot of independent study involved.
For a teenager who enjoys certain subjects and is happy learning in a classroom, that might suit them perfectly.
For one who’s spent most of Year 11 saying they can’t wait to leave school, another two years of academic study might not be quite so appealing!
And that’s fine too.
Have they chosen subjects they actually like?
Three A Levels doesn’t sound like much when they’ve just done eight, nine or even ten GCSEs.
But they’ll be spending a lot more time on each one.
I’d be wary of choosing a subject just because they got a good grade in it, their friends are taking it or someone has told them it’ll look good for university.
They have to actually study the thing for two years.
Obviously they’re not going to love every lesson or every topic. That’s probably asking a bit much.
But there needs to be enough interest there to keep them going when the workload ramps up.
If they’re still trying to decide, I’ve shared more about helping your child choose the right A Levels.
What if they have no idea what they want to do?
This can feel quite worrying as a parent.
It can seem as though everyone else has a plan. One teen wants to be a doctor, another has picked their university course already and yours is shrugging when you ask what they might like to do.
But they’re 16.
They really don’t need to have their whole life mapped out yet.
If they don’t have a particular career in mind, I’d concentrate more on choosing subjects they enjoy, are reasonably good at and which keep their options open.
Open days can help too. Sometimes actually visiting a sixth form or college makes it much easier for them to imagine themselves there.
What about their future plans?
If they do have an idea about what they’d like to do later, it’s worth doing a bit of research before they settle on their subjects.
Some university courses require particular A Levels. Others may want certain GCSE grades too.
And this is definitely something I’d check rather than relying on what another parent has heard or what someone did a few years ago. Entry requirements can vary quite a bit between universities and courses.
If university might be on their radar, I’ve looked at how much GCSE grades matter for university.
But university isn’t the only option.
College courses, T Levels and apprenticeships can all lead to further study and careers too.
Sometimes there are several different ways of getting to roughly the same place.
Would staying at school suit them?
For some teenagers, staying at their school’s sixth form is exactly what they want.
They know the building. They know the teachers. They’ll probably know quite a few of the other students.
After all the upheaval of GCSEs, there’s something quite reassuring about that.
It can also mean there’s a bit more continuity between Year 11 and Year 12.
But other teenagers are absolutely ready for a change.
They might want to meet new people, have more independence or simply feel like they’ve outgrown school.
Neither reaction is wrong.
What about a sixth-form college?
A sixth-form college can feel like a bit of a halfway house between school and university.
There’s usually more independence and they’ll be mixing with a much bigger group of students, many of whom won’t know each other either.
That can be exciting.
It can also feel pretty daunting at first.
There might be a longer journey to get there too, which is something I think is quite easy to underestimate when you’re looking around on an open evening.
A 45-minute commute doesn’t sound terrible once.
Doing it twice a day, five days a week is slightly different!
If they’ve already decided where they’re going, I’ve shared more about what to expect when starting sixth form or college, from free periods and workload to making new friends and having more independence.
Are they ready for more independence?
This is one of the biggest changes.
At sixth form or college there may be free periods, fewer lessons and much more independent study.
And generally, less chasing.
Teachers aren’t necessarily going to remind them five times that something is due. They’re expected to know what’s going on and organise themselves a lot more.
Some teenagers love that freedom.
Others take a while to work out that a free period doesn’t always mean two hours in Costa.
And I suspect plenty are somewhere in the middle.
Being a bit disorganised doesn’t mean they aren’t ready. They’re still learning how to manage all of this.
But if your teen does need quite a lot of support with deadlines and organisation, I’d ask what support their chosen sixth form or college has in place.
What if they’re worried about not knowing anyone?
This is a big one if they’re moving somewhere new.
They might love a college at the open day and then suddenly panic because none of their close friends are going there.
I’d try not to let that make the decision for them.
Friendship groups change quite a bit after GCSEs anyway. Even if they stay at school, they may not share many lessons with the same people.
And at a new sixth form or college, lots of other teenagers will be in exactly the same position.
They don’t all walk through the doors on day one with a ready-made group of friends.
It might take a few weeks. That’s normal.
Does sixth form fit with what they want to do later?
If your teen is thinking about university, A Levels are one of the most common routes.
But I wouldn’t choose sixth form purely because university might happen one day.
Look at what they actually want to study now and where it could take them.
If they already have a particular degree or career in mind, check the entry requirements.
If they don’t, that’s okay too.
Plans change.
What they are completely certain they want to do at 16 may look very different by 18.
What about their confidence and wellbeing?
I think this matters just as much as grades.
You can find a sixth form that looks brilliant on paper, has excellent results and offers exactly the right subjects.
But your teenager still needs to feel reasonably happy there.
Do they like the atmosphere?
Can they picture themselves going there every day?
Did they feel comfortable when they visited?
Sometimes teenagers pick up on things we don’t. And sometimes we get distracted by league tables, results and facilities when they’re thinking, I really don’t want to spend two years here.
I’d listen to that.
It doesn’t necessarily mean immediately ruling somewhere out, but it’s worth finding out what’s behind it.
What if they choose sixth form and then change their mind?
The decision can feel incredibly final when you’re making it.
It isn’t always.
If they start sixth form and quickly realise one of their A Levels is wrong for them, there may be a short window where they can change subjects.
That will depend on timetables, entry requirements and whether there’s space, so they need to ask sooner rather than later.
And if sixth form itself really isn’t working, speak to their tutor or pastoral team.
Sometimes it’s just the initial adjustment.
Sometimes it’s the course.
And sometimes another route genuinely would suit them better.
Try to let it be their decision
Easier said than done, I know.
As parents, we’re looking at all the practical stuff.
The journey. The grades. Whether they’ll cope. University requirements. Whether we think they’re making a massive mistake…
But ultimately, they’re the one who has to get up and go there every day.
We can help them research. Take them to open days. Ask questions they haven’t thought of. Point out the practical things.
But I think they need to feel that the final decision belongs to them.
They’re much more likely to make it work if they’ve chosen it themselves.
So, is sixth form the right choice?
Maybe.
And I don’t think there’s a neat answer that applies to every teenager.
For some, sixth form is absolutely the right next step. They enjoy academic subjects, want to do A Levels and are ready for a bit more independence.
For others, college or an apprenticeship will suit them far better.
Getting good GCSE grades doesn’t automatically mean they should go to sixth form.
For me, it’s more about finding the route that suits the teenager you’ve actually got in front of you. How they learn, what they enjoy and what they might want to do next.
And if they don’t know exactly where they’re heading yet?
That’s okay.
They’re 16. There’s still plenty of time to work that bit out.
FAQs about choosing sixth form
Is sixth form better than college?
Not necessarily. It depends on your teen, what they want to study and the sort of environment they prefer. Some like the familiarity of a school sixth form, while others are ready for the extra independence of college.
Do you have to go to sixth form after GCSEs?
No. In England, young people need to stay in education or training until they’re 18, but that doesn’t have to be sixth form. College, apprenticeships and other education or training routes are options too.
How many A Levels do you normally take?
Most students take three A Levels, although this can vary. Some may start with four or take another qualification alongside them.
What GCSE grades do you need for sixth form?
It depends on the sixth form. There may be an overall entry requirement as well as minimum grades for individual A-Level subjects, so check the requirements for the places your teen is considering.
Is sixth form harder than GCSEs?
It’s different. They’re studying fewer subjects but in much more depth, and there’s usually a lot more independent work. That jump can take a little while to get used to.
Can you change your mind after choosing a sixth form?
Potentially, yes. It will depend on available places and how far through the enrolment process you are. If your teen is having second thoughts, I’d contact the sixth form or college as soon as possible rather than assuming it’s too late.
Related GCSE guides for parents
About The Author
