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Helping Students Choose

Some Questions to Ask

What is the motivating factor behind their study?

Some students enjoy academic work for its own sake and will be motivated by their interest in the subjects they choose.  Others will need to feel that the course is relevant to their chosen career path, or giving them specific skills they need to get a particular job.  Motivation is probably the most important ingredient of success in the sixth form.


What is the favoured type of assessment?

Does your son/daughter do well in exams, or have their GCSE coursework marks been higher?  Success in GCSEs suggests that students can cope with both coursework and exams and can safely go on to A-level programmes.  Other students will benefit from taking options that are more coursework based such as Applied A level or BTEC.  Students who have well developed practical abilities rather than academic skills may benefit from the practical assessment of NVQ options.

What are the career plans? 

Some careers will require very specific qualifications and checking this will need to be part of the process of choosing post 16 options.

Whose choice is it? 

Occasionally students run into trouble at college because they are following the courses their parents chose for them rather than the ones they really wanted.  Although parents have a vital role to play in these important choices, students do need to have a personal commitment to the programme they are following at college.