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You are wrong.
6th form for the smart and college for thick people ?
- Thread starter Robbod
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You are wrong.
Soldato
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Same, no sixth form at my high school so I opted for Newcastle College of Tertiary Education. Starting to think it was a poor choice though, all these years later and I still don't have a Gucci belt.
It come from the snobbery of others i guess
I don't think it ultimately matters.
What I will say is I went through 6th form and it was great, suited me perfectly, I wasn't that mature and would have just been too relaxed at College. I know this because a few mates jumped ship to college and they literally got drunk most nights, partying to excess and squandered their time, I'd have been doing that too!
We have let both our kids decide for themselves, we took them to the College and School open days and just wanted them to do what they felt most comfortable with, and my eldest is just finishing her A Levels at School, our youngest has just enrolled for 6th form next year. Had they chose college, I'd not have minded either..
Ultimately its down to the individual IMO..
What I will say is I went through 6th form and it was great, suited me perfectly, I wasn't that mature and would have just been too relaxed at College. I know this because a few mates jumped ship to college and they literally got drunk most nights, partying to excess and squandered their time, I'd have been doing that too!
We have let both our kids decide for themselves, we took them to the College and School open days and just wanted them to do what they felt most comfortable with, and my eldest is just finishing her A Levels at School, our youngest has just enrolled for 6th form next year. Had they chose college, I'd not have minded either..
Ultimately its down to the individual IMO..
Soldato
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At high school our work experience "person" back the late 80's/early 90's Stoke told us all that 6th form was only for those wishing to go to University and that it was mainly more classroom based "theory" to prepare you for that, whilst College was more for Vocational or "practical" learning so things like trades, even if the trade was quite complex and required BTEC ONC/HNC/HND etc down to simpler things like City and Guilds etc.
How accurate that breakdown we were given by our teacher was I've no idea. I'd decided since I was small what job I wanted and knew what qualifications I needed to get to do it and, as my job was a "practical" one, I picked my local college, got my qualification and got my job and never thought about doing anything differently along the way.
How accurate that breakdown we were given by our teacher was I've no idea. I'd decided since I was small what job I wanted and knew what qualifications I needed to get to do it and, as my job was a "practical" one, I picked my local college, got my qualification and got my job and never thought about doing anything differently along the way.
i was told Santa was real when i was growing up......
lots of people were told Santa was real when they were growing up......
Soldato
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My understanding is that A-levels taken by 6th form students in school are 17 or 18 years old. College can be for any age from school leavers up to older adults, where they can take GCSEs, A-levels and all sorts of other courses such as NVQs. Then there are night classes which is ideal for 9-5 workers if you want to pick a hobby subject such as photography and it's a way of meeting new people outside of your 9-5 work.
Associate
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Very old fashioned view.
I did A-levels / University but tbh looking back I think I could have got just as much value from the right college course.
I did A-levels / University but tbh looking back I think I could have got just as much value from the right college course.
Soldato
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At my old Grammar school in the early 1980s, the very bright kids went into 6th form and onto uni. The next tier down went into apprenticeships which featured the local polytechnic for BTEC or C&G courses. The rest went into factories and retail.
Man of Honour
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I did both, did okay in sixth form but really didn’t take to uni. Went back to college and did an apprenticeship and I’m much better off for it, just sucks this wasn’t advertised anywhere near as much as uni. That one year cost just under 30k last I checked :/
Soldato
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Some students go to college to do practical courses - hairdressing, carpentry, plumber etc. Which you can't do at 6th form.
I have been in 6th form and college. My first choice of 3 A-levels I couldn't do as 2 subjects were in the same group (ie lessons at the same time) and forced to study a 3rd A-level to keep the numbers up on that subject. I gave up after Feb half term. Which then I worked in the paper shop I did my paper rounds from. for 16-20 hours a week. Then did a course at a college for 2.5 days. They even had a 2 hour lessons for GCSE English and Maths. I didn't attend them as I had my C and B in them. My parents got phone calls asking why I wasn't attending them. I was 18 at the time so the college had no rights to contact my parents. Why should I sit in lessons for qualifications I already have?
I have been in 6th form and college. My first choice of 3 A-levels I couldn't do as 2 subjects were in the same group (ie lessons at the same time) and forced to study a 3rd A-level to keep the numbers up on that subject. I gave up after Feb half term. Which then I worked in the paper shop I did my paper rounds from. for 16-20 hours a week. Then did a course at a college for 2.5 days. They even had a 2 hour lessons for GCSE English and Maths. I didn't attend them as I had my C and B in them. My parents got phone calls asking why I wasn't attending them. I was 18 at the time so the college had no rights to contact my parents. Why should I sit in lessons for qualifications I already have?
Yeah that is the impression i always got
Yeah pretty much with me also
Similar to my perception/experience.
What will really confuse the OP is that I did a year of A levels at 6th form, second year at college and then did HNC -> HND - > Degree at college
Which did you prefer ?Similar to my perception/experience.
What will really confuse the OP is that I did a year of A levels at 6th form, second year at college and then did HNC -> HND - > Degree at college
Soldato
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What high school did you attend? Oakhill/Trent Valley here and they told us the same thing, but I still went to Newcastle College to do my A-Levels rather the Sixth Form up by Fenton baths.
Was it? It sounds like only you were lead to believe that.
To me 6th form always seemed a bit immature, it was essentially just an extension of secondary school - did you still have to wear a school uniform? Did you still have to refer to the teachers as Mr/Miss/Mrs? Did you still have to ask to go to the toilet? Were you given the freedoms of skipping lessons, or leaving early etc.
College was more about treating you as an adult, and letting you make your own decisions on your education. I guess less so nowadays as I believe it's mandatory to be in FTE until 18?
It seems evident based on your replies and a few others that were discussing college/6th form in the 80s and 90s that it's a generational thing.
It's certainly not been thought that way since the year 2000.
Berryhill High in Bentilee. Went to Burslem College for an electronics C&G.