The benefits of sixth-form boarding

Sixth-form colleges provide high quality academic education for 16- to 18-year-old pupils enabling them to progress to university, the workplace or higher-level vocational education. There are 277 colleges in the UK and 62 are designated as sixth-form colleges, offering an extensive range of academic, technical and professional courses as well as apprenticeships. Sixth-form colleges have a reputation for academic excellence, many of them being rated Outstanding by Ofsted. However, they do not have a history of offering boarding accommodation – something we have changed at Richard Huish College in Taunton.

While state boarding schools are well established, boarding at a sixth-form college is a relatively rare concept. Each year, state boarding schools regularly outperform other state schools with a good number topping academic league tables around the country. The combination of the excellent statefunded education and a boarding community enables pupils to make the most of their talents and abilities. However, these schools offer Level 2 (GCSE) and Level 3 (A level) qualifications and are for pupils aged 11 to 18, while a sixth-form college only has pupils who are between 16 and 19 years. Admission to a state boarding school is for pupils who hold a full UK passport or who can meet the eligibility funding criteria from the Educational and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), e.g. British Nationals Overseas, Dependents. Sixth-form colleges and FE colleges can apply for a Sponsor Licence to attract international pupils to study their Level 3 (usually A level) qualifications. Many of these sixth-form colleges offer homestay accommodation to their pupils but a few offer full boarding facilities, operated by the college, including Richard Huish College. Several FE colleges offer boarding, but they are still in the minority.

WELCOMING ALL PUPILS

At Richard Huish College, based in Taunton, the boarding house opened its doors to pupils from around the world, including the UK, in 2017. The house has 53 study bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. The College has been welcoming pupils from around the world for many years but knew that while homestay parents do an amazing job of nurturing pupils new to the UK, there were also some pupils who would prefer the boarding house experience. The boarding house means the College can offer choice and flexibility to pupils and their parents – essentially offering an independent school sixth-form experience at a fraction of the cost.

Emma Fielding Principal, Richard Huish College

Sixth-form boarding at a state college is also an option for UK pupils who travel long distances daily. Flexi-boarding or weekly boarding is a great option when a late sports fixture or exam preparation needs to take priority. Many of our pupils live rurally – parents see the advantages of flexi-boarding while pupils are excited by the opportunity of becoming more independent.

Boarding at a sixth-form college, FE college or state boarding school, your son or daughter can expect plenty of home comforts and a warm welcome from the houseparents. Their confidence and independence will be nurtured and the experience will give them essential preparation for university life. Boarding students make a great circle of friends in the boarding house, often friends they will have for life. A rigorous set of Ofsted boarding standards is adhered to, ensuring the pastoral welfare and academic development of all pupils.

Boarding at sixth form can be affordable if you expand your search criteria to include the state sector. Many state boarding schools have specific areas of expertise you may wish to access, such as links with Huish Tigers Basketball Club, Bristol Bears Rugby and Somerset Country Cricket Club at Richard Huish College. Your child will have the best of both worlds – the benefits of a dynamic college environment bringing together large numbers of talented and aspirational young people who can explore their independence, while still providing a controlled and safe college environment.

Admission to Richard Huish College is for pupils who hold a full UK passport, pupils from UK military families based in the UK or abroad or pupils who can meet the eligibility funding criteria of the ESFA, e.g. British National Overseas, Dependents. For further information, go to www.huish.ac.uk/boarding

Emma Fielding became Principal at Richard Huish College in 2020, taking over from John Abbott who moved to become Chief Executive Officer of the Richard Huish Trust. Emma began her career in education as an Educational Researcher at the University of Cambridge before going on to train as a History and Sociology teacher. She has since worked in the post-16 educational sector for more than 18 years.