After finishing your GCSEs you will have to decide what you want to study next and where you want to study it. Chances are, you will be making the tough choice of choosing between college and sixth form. Whether you are considering a further education college or a private sixth form, this blog post is here to help explain the benefits of both and what you should consider when making the choice for yourself.
Benefits of college and sixth form
Is it better to go to Sixth Form or College?
When choosing between college and sixth form it is important to remember: college is not better than sixth form and sixth form is not better than college. Both offer different experiences and opportunities that play to different students’ strengths and weaknesses. So, when choosing between college and sixth form, do not ask which one is better, ask which one is right for you.
The Benefits of FE College & Small Paragraph on Apprenticeships
There are two kinds of colleges: further education colleges and sixth form colleges. FE Colleges can be bigger with a wider choice of subjects to study, and generally take a more informal approach to education, not requiring you to wear a uniform, letting you choose how to spend your time outside of the classroom and not having teachers watching over you. This can help you develop soft skills such as self-discipline and independence that will come in handy at university or at work.
Colleges also provide access to apprenticeships and vocational training courses. Apprenticeships enable you to learn and earn at the same time from the age of 16 onwards. In England they come in four categories: intermediate, advanced, higher, and degree. Scotland and Wales have similar but slightly different systems. Apprenticeships take between 1 and 3 years to complete and train you for a specific role so it is important that you know as much as possible about what career progression is available to you once your apprenticeship is completed. If it is important that you start earning as soon as possible but want to continue your education, apprenticeships are a good option.
The Benefits of Sixth Form
Sixth forms on the other hand offer a narrower choice of subjects to study but include alternative qualifications such as BTEC diplomas. Public and private sixth form are more relaxed than normal school but more intense than FE college, the teaching is more rigorous, students are monitored more closely by teachers and have more contact time with their classmates through having a more structured schedule outside the classroom. If your school already has a sixth form then you know the teachers, the campus, and your friends already. Familiarity is an important source of confidence while learning and can aid personal development. If you respond well to a more structured environment and want to focus on academics and university, then moving from the public sector to a more academically rigorous private sixth form could be a good choice.
Sixth Form Colleges
If you are finding it difficult choosing between college and sixth form, sixth form colleges are a halfway house that could be worth considering. They lack the more intense organisation of a sixth form in a school but not being as hands off as an FE college either. When choosing between college and sixth form, sixth form colleges could offer you a good compromise between personal autonomy and breadth of learning.
What students should consider when making the choice for
How do I Choose a Sixth Form College?
When choosing between college and sixth form it is vital to do your research properly and visit the campus of the college you are interested in yourself if possible. The best way to do this is to attend an open day, call the college and organise a tour for yourself and to thoroughly research what courses the colleges offer online to make sure you do not waste time and effort visiting a college that does not offer the subjects you are interested in.
Is college easier than Sixth Form?
College is neither easier nor harder than sixth form. As we already know college puts the responsibility for the bulk of your learning onto you but usually does have educational support facilities available to those who need and ask for them. In this sense the more initiative and maturity you demonstrate, the easier college will be.
As sixth form is more strictly organised and monitored than college it might actually end up being harder for you if you work more effectively with more freedom but is certainly easier than college in terms of taking the admin off your to do list when studying.
Does it matter which Sixth Form you go to?
Yes. It is important choosing between college and sixth form to pick a sixth form that offers the subjects that you want to learn and will teach you well enough to get the grades you want. Do your research and remember to look up the previous exam results of your chosen school or college from previous academic years to get an idea of how effective the teaching there is and whether they offer the qualifications you need in the subjects that you want to study.
Conclusion
Taking everything into account, when deciding whether college or sixth form is right for you; if it is important that you start learning as soon as possible but want to continue your education, apprenticeships at an FE college are a good choice. If you want a more university style experience and you want to meet new people, then sixth form college might be the route to go. Finally, if you respond well to a more structured environment and want to focus on academics and university, either a public or private sixth form would suit you best.