All You Need To Know About Sixth Form Colleges And How To Pursue 11th and 12thFrom TheUK

By Anjali Bailin

1. What is a Sixth Form College?

A Sixth Form College is the equivalent of 11^th and 12^th in India. In the UK, at the age of 16, students give their school final exam called GCSE, which is also known as matriculation or SSC board exams in India. Students go to a Sixth Form College after giving the 10^th board exams.

A Sixth Form College is where students choose their subjects according to their interests to pursue Advanced Level, also known as A-level. There are roughly 90 sixth form schools, 200 colleges, and around 50 sixth form colleges currently to choose from in order to study in the UK.

2. How long do students have to attend the Sixth Form College?

Students attend the college for two years, similar to the 11^th and 12^th classes in India. These consecutive two years are referred to as Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth.

3. What are the curriculum and program structure like in a Sixth Form College?

Almost all subjects are taught at Sixth Form Colleges, with some colleges offering up to fifty subjects. The curriculum includes lessons for subjects, career advice, pastor’s care and extracurricular activities. In a Sixth Form College, every student has a personal tutor.

Students usually have to study a minimum of three A-level subjects. Academically strong students can opt for four to five A-level subjects. Another option is the AS (Advanced Supplementary) which is taken along with A-level subjects. AS subjects are additional subjects taken up for skill enhancement and are considered as ‘half the syllabus of an A- level’. For example, a student may choose Physics, Chemistry and Biology as the A-level and a foreign language course as the AS-level subject. A-level is typically a two-year course, and AS-level is for one year.

4. What is the difference between a college and a Sixth Form College?

A Sixth Form College is where you study A-level to go a university. But a college is for higher education or a vocational college such as a degree in hairdressing.

5. How can a student apply to a Sixth Form College after completing Class 10^th from India?

Schools in the UK is divided into state funded (free for UK students) and private (fee paying). Students from India will have to apply to a private Sixth Form College which could be a very expensive option.

The application process is done online. The majority of the colleges will also take personal interviews of international applicants through Skype. International students including those from India must take the IELTS to prove they have sufficient English language knowledge. Students should visit the respective Sixth Form College websites for admission related information. Interested students can email or call them for further assistance.

6. What is the examination and grading process in a Sixth Form College?

Students take their final A-level exam after two years.  Examination results are given in the form of grades. These grades are issued from A* to E, with A* being the highest grade and E being the lowest. No marks, percentages, ranking or positions are given like in India. Students securing 80 % to 100% are typically awarded grade A*. There is also an option of taking the exam after the first year if the student feels confident enough to do so.

7.  How can a student apply to a university after completing Sixth Form?

In India you apply to a university on the basis of the class 12^th examination results however in UK Sixth Form you apply to a university while you are still in the first year of college which is Lower Sixth.

Students get a ‘Predicted Grade’ for each subject and a testimonial from the teachers on the basis of which students will get an offer from a university. This offer is ‘Conditional’ and students must meet or even exceed the grades predicted. They are entitled to apply to six universities. They may not get offers from all. Some universities conduct interviews such as universities of Cambridge and Oxford. Also, all medical courses require an interview for admission.

8.  Who is an ideal applicant for a top sixth form college?

An ideal applicant would be a highly academic candidate and interested in some extra- curricular activities. They prefer someone who can contribute to the school and the society.

9.  How much does it cost to study in a Sixth Form?

The tuition fee for an A-level course may cost around £5,500 - £20,000 per year. Students must also consider living expenses.  Places like London, Oxford, and Cambridge etc. are very expensive whereas places like Glasgow, Sheffield etc. are comparatively affordable. Exceptionally bright students are also considered for scholarships.

10. Your advice to young students from India looking for high school studies in the UK?

Studying in a Sixth Form College means a wider choice of courses and subject combination, personal tutors, career counselling and lessons on skill enhancement. Students should choose a Sixth Form College only if they are aiming for further university studies. If a student is looking for an immediate career then he/she should not be opting for a Sixth Form College but instead apply to a local college. Gaining admissions to a Sixth Form itself is very competitive and therefore students must groom themselves from secondary school onwards.

11. Which are some of the popular Sixth Form Colleges?

Some of the most popular Sixth Form Colleges are Cardiff Sixth Form College, CCSS - Cambridge Centre for Sixth Form Studies, Ashbourne Independent Sixth Form College, D'Overbroeck's College – Oxford, Oxford Tutorial College, Roedean Sixth Form, Abbey College Cambridge, CATS College Cambridge, Brampton College – Hendon, and Rochester Independent College.

About the Author:

Anjali Bailin, a long-standing expert on Shiksha, became the first woman to receive a PhD in Physics from Sussex University in 1968. She spent a couple of years as a post-doctoral scholar and a teacher before finally moving to Roedean Sixth Form in the UK where she worked for nearly 20 years as the Head of Sixth Form before an early retirement in the year 1997.