Settling into the Sixth Form...dealing with jitters

Life in the Sixth Form offers so many new possibilities for your daughter. She’s chosen which subjects to study, she may not be wearing uniform anymore, she has more time on her hands in school (what we call ‘study periods’ and what the girls inevitably call ‘free periods’…) There are a wealth of different opportunities on the horizon for her – but what happens if she is coming back from school anything but overflowing with all the excitement that abounds?

One of the most common causes of concern can be that she feels she has chosen the wrong combination of subjects. While everyone needs enough time to get a real feel for the subject on offer, especially the jolt associated with the gap between GCSE and A Level standard, it will become clear very quickly to some girls that they have made the wrong choice. If so, time is of the essence and insist that your daughter speaks to her subject teacher, her tutor or Head of Sixth Form immediately. Changing subjects in September is manageable; gritting her teeth and hanging on only to find out in February that her gut feeling was right all along leaves her in a no-win situation.

Concerns over friendships can raise their heads early on, especially if your daughter has chosen subjects that are very different to those of her established group of friends. Encourage her to throw herself into her lessons and be as open as possible; part of moving into the Sixth Form is the widening of her social experience. Firm friendships can often be established in the Sixth Form between girls who never encountered each other between years 7 and 11!

Very quickly, girls in the Lower Sixth will start hearing about UCAS, especially as the Upper Sixth are in the thick of it in September. It’s only natural for your daughter to feel that everyone else has their career path precisely mapped out while she is floundering. This is certainly not the case; most girls have little idea at this stage of what they will choose to study. It is never too early to seek careers guidance, and if your daughter really is concerned that nothing appeals to her for future study, encourage her to make an appointment to see the school careers advisor as early as possible. Of crucial importance is doing as well as she possibly can across the board, as her commitment throughout her AS courses will inevitably influence her predicted A Level grades , whatever she chooses to go on and study.

Other issues that can arise early on are finding the balance between academic and extra-curricular life. A broad and varied programme is essential, not only for your daughter’s wellbeing, but also so that her UCAS application will paint her as the well-rounded individual that she is. Encourage her to be involved across the board – activities, form prefect, helping out at open morning – and also always to honour her commitments. Your daughter does, however, need to keep her academic work as her utmost priority and should be encouraged to take as much responsibility as possible for her own progress. Having chosen to study these subjects, Sixth Form teachers are expecting her to prepare, to contribute and to communicate. If she wants to get a suitable part-time job, agree to it on the proviso that if it begins to interfere with her school work, then the job will have to go. If you feel the balance between work and play is swinging too far one way or the other, then do raise this issue. Encourage her to talk to her tutor or Head of Sixth Form, who will always be willing to offer advice on time management and priorities.

The two years in the Sixth Form offer endless opportunities, yet are also nurturing your daughter’s independence and individuality. It’s bound to be daunting at times and communication is the key; we’re all in it together!