As parents, we're always thinking ahead and putting our children's best interests first. This is no more apparent than when we're dealing with their education. Ever since they were little, we've wanted the absolute best education possible for them. Thankfully, in the UK, we're blessed with so many great public schools that we don't need to pay for. We won't get into the whole private school debate here, but the gist is that a lot of kids achieve great things via the public school route.
Eventually, your child will turn 16 and do their GCSEs. After this, they have a big decision on their hands. Those that want to go to university will need to pursue their A-Levels, meaning there are some decisions to be made. Clearly, choosing their subjects is a big concern, but they also have to figure out how they want to study.
Typically, there are three options:
Sixth form
College
Learning from home
Each of these options has benefits and downsides, so which one is the best for your children?
Sixth Form
Sixth form is basically an extension of the normal school years. Once your child finishes their GCSEs, they can stay at the same school and move on to sixth form to study their A-Levels. This has benefits, the main one being that they can stay in an environment they're used to, letting them remain with friends and teachers that know them. Having teachers they know and trust can be super helpful in getting guidance and help throughout the two years of A-levels.
Of course, they can always move to sixth form in a different school, which some kids do if there are subjects they wish to study that aren't covered in their school. However, this does touch upon one of the key downsides of sixth form, which is that you may struggle to find some niche subjects, regardless of the school your kids move to.
Overall, the main benefit is that it's a good option for kids that want to stay at their school or enjoy the school learning environment.
College
Luckily, there are plenty of educational colleges in the UK that are free to apply for. Here, kids can choose from loads of niche subjects that could help them get onto specific university courses. There's definitely more diversity with a college, and the learning style is slightly different. Timetables are more diverse, and there's a lot of coming and going. If anything, it better reflects the university style of learning, which can help prepare kids for the future.
The plus side of colleges is that they incorporate a new learning style and provide a wider range of subjects. The downside is that your kids might have to move away from their friends, and the college they want to go to could be hard to get to. Realistically, this is a fantastic option if your kids are sick of the school environment but still want to get A-level qualifications - or if they need to study something that's not covered in a school sixth form.
Learning from home
Alternatively, you can wave goodbye to both of these educational systems and opt to learn from home instead. Your children might prefer this, particularly if they want a more direct and personal learning experience. It's a good option if they really want some help with tough A-Level subjects. Things like physics and maths are always hard to grasp at this level, and the school or college education systems don't make it easier. In this case, you could easily find A-Level maths and physics tutors to teach your kids from home. It can all be done online, giving them expert educational help.
The only downside of this approach is that it is the only option to cost money. Kids usually take three or four A-Level subjects, so you'd need to pay for multiple tutors. It can add up, which is why a better approach is to combine learning from home with one of the other options. Your child could maybe go to Sixth Form to study one or two A-Levels, but also have home tutoring for specific subjects. It helps them get the best of both worlds while saving you money.
Overall, we can't tell you what's best for your kids. So, how do you find out which option they should choose? It's pretty simple; ask them! Talk to them about their A-Level subjects and from here you can find the most suitable approach. If all their subjects are available at their current school, there's no reason to move - unless they'd prefer to go to college for a different experience.