Paying For Sixth Form 10 April 2018 at 3:49PM in Student MoneySaving 11 replies 1.5K views

VinylDegu

I’m not sure if I’m posting this in the right place, apologies if it doesn’t belong here! I’m a 17, almost 18-year-old student who didn’t get his GCSEs in school, but might be given a chance to study at one of the best sixth forms in the UK in the next academic year. I come from a low income family, and we can’t afford the tuition fees, but this is an opportunity that could completely change my life. What do I do? :eek:

BrassicWoman

Ask about scholarships, or try a local college instead. What will be different for you this time around to improve your results?

BorisThomson

I'd be concerned about one of the best sixth forms offering a place to someone with no GCSEs, you'd expect them to be oversubscribed with students with top grades. Have you fully researched this, what are their claims of being one of the best based on?

John-K_3

Think carefully about why you failed your GCSEs, and what will be different the next time around. Do you really mean that you failed them all, or that your grades were not what you expected?

If you got nine F grades, then what happened?

jonesMUFCforever

Stop trolling?

thorsoak

Is this a private fee-paying Sixth Form you are talkng about? Sixth Form colleges are not fee-paying, whether they come under local authority jurisdiction or Academy sponsorship. Or are you enquiring about some sort of income for you/your family? Your parents/guardians can claim child benefit whilst you are in education up to the year in which you are 20.

VinylDegu

Thanks for the helpful advice, thorsoak! I wasn’t aware my mum could claim benefits for me or my education after the age of 18.

It’s probably partly my fault for not elaborating further in my original post, but I didn’t fail my GCSEs; I just didn’t get them. I was forced to leave school in Year 9 because I was badly bullied, both verbally and physically, and so I missed my chance to take the exams. Not to blow my own horn, but I’m more than capable in education; I’ve been to college and studied a diploma since dropping out, and am on my way to achieving a second one that is the BTEC equivalent of 1.5 A Levels. That’s why I’m being considered — I can reassure everyone that this is a truthful post and that the school is legitimate (fee-paying & private).

shortcrust

Doesn't add up.

Edit to give the benefit of the doubt:

What do the school say? If they're considering giving you a place then they already know about your circumstances and they'll already have thought about how the fees will be paid. Who at the school is supporting you through the application process etc? They're the person who you should be talking to about this.

Sncjw

How can you do btec when you don!!!8217;t have GCSEs . You do realise you could do your GCSEs in college for free the basic maths and English courses.

Sncjw

When I did a btec National disploma it was equivalent to 3 a levels not 1.5. What level is your btec I find it odd you can do that before any GCSEs

happyandcontented

Is this a level 1 or 2 BTEC course? Most colleges do have GCSE criteria for level 2 courses and above.

I would think carefully before paying for GCSE's at your age.

If you are academically bright then the further you go up the ladder the less GCSE's are taken account of (apart from Maths and English which I assume you are already studying as they are a compulsory element of any BTEC course if you don't already have them at C or 4/5)

I would do the next level BTEC and then look at HND/University after your current course ends.