Our daughter wants to change schools for the sixth form...

Q. Our daughter has been at an all girls independent school from age 11 to year 11. She is just taking her GCSEs but feels that she would benefit hugely from moving to a co-ed independent. Her view is that it will prepare her better for university as the school is much larger and she will need to learn to cope with the distraction of boys. While her current school is excellent, I can see her point as it is very sheltered and has nurtured her to achieve very well but in a bubble. Do you have any views on this?

A. We openly acknowledge that some schools, mine included, can be described as a ‘bubble’. However, when we speak to year 11 students we talk at length about the leap they will experience between being at a school or college to being at University. If you see school life as an escalator, up until now, the escalator moves everyone along steadily and on the whole the diet of examinations and core subjects has been the same (although we like to think we have added numerous enriching experiences along the way!). Stepping off that escalator to go to university is such a huge step (for everyone) that we believe it is vital to prepare for it during the sixth form years with opportunities for independent study, small seminars, one to one tutorials, etc. Study at sixth form level is challenging for everyone, but the methods used by some schools mimic those used for university study and so can help prepare students better. When choosing where your daughter should spend the next two years, do consider what opportunities of this nature the school is offering.

Secondly, the university admission process is so competitive now, it is essential that the grades for UCAS are met, the right work experience/community service undertaken, experience and opportunities for leadership, teamwork, participation, initiative, etc are taken and reflective practices are induced. Now some schools and colleges will state they do all this, but there are more opportunities in some schools to lead younger pupils, and in a school where you are already known, the process is much faster and doesn’t interfere with the real task of study!

My final message to you as a parent is that, yes the nurturing aspects of a girls’ school are present and valued from 11-16 as you acknowledge, but I believe are just as essential in the 16-18 phase. In my 20 plus years of being in 11-18 schools, I have seen many girls mature into accomplished young women in those two years, whereas their confidence and achievement levels may have been knocked if they had changed environment and classmates at this crucial time. Good luck.