sixth form | Schools Week

‘We’re not magicians’: Sixth forms’ fury over cash squeeze

Leaders say funding gap could threaten their ability to offer a broad range of subjects and hold down class sizes

Prestigious sixth-form drops ‘sir’ and ‘miss’ over cultural misogyny

The term ‘miss’ conjures up images of Edwardian shop assistants and plays into a ‘gendered view’ of the world, according to Harris Westminster Sixth Form’s executive principal

Step aside Eton: new trust joins ‘elite’ sixth form race

The plans have had mixed responses from local education chiefs

School leaders form pact not to show off A-level results

Some trust and school chiefs are avoiding ‘tempting’ PR about A-level and GCSE grades, warning Covid makes comparisons ‘ridiculous’

Ofqual proposes stricter controls on BTECs that survive qualifications cull

Ofqual is consulting on stricter controls over alternatives to A Levels and T Levels, with BTECs and other qualifications in limbo ahead of a planned cull

Schools and colleges call on chancellor to ‘Raise the Rate’ of sixth form funding

Twelve associations representing school and college staff and students have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to urge him to increase funding for sixth form education in next week’s Budget. The letter marks the launch of the ‘Raise the Rate’ campaign, calling for an increase to the funding rate for all 16-18-year-old students, which has […]

‘No need to finish your A-levels,’ universities tell school pupils

School pupils are being told by universities that they don’t need to finish their A-levels, it has been claimed. Pupils are “increasingly the subject of persuasive strategies” from universities, according to Bill Watkin, the chief executive of the Sixth-Form Colleges Association. Some are even encouraging pupils to quit school early and take up foundation degrees. […]

Schools open 3-year sixth forms to boost pupil numbers

Schools have begun to offer three-year stints in sixth form to pupils whose grades are too low to start A-levels or BTECs. At least three schools and one academy trust have set up a “transitionary” year 12 in which pupils with grades below C at GCSE can take level one or level two courses, before […]

Small school sixth form judicial review costs taxpayer £76,000

A legal challenge brought against the Department for Education over the opening of a small-school sixth form has cost tax payers over £75,000. The case, which was settled out of court at the very last minute, ended with the DfE paying out £60,000 to cover the Association of Colleges’ costs – on top of the […]