Choosing a College

If you or your child is starting Year 11 this September, you’re probably starting to think about the next step – college.

Keep an open mind

You might have set your heart on your current school’s sixth form, or on a local college, but it’s still a good idea to explore all your options. The sixth form experience is often very different from what you’ve experienced so far, so don’t discount it just because you’ve had enough of school. Likewise, don’t choose it just because it feels comfortable. Remember, there’s nothing stopping you from applying to a different school’s sixth form or to a college that’s an extra train stop away. You will need to factor in transport costs and travel time though.

Subjects

First and foremost, you need to decide what subjects you want to study, and in what format. Are you looking to do A-levels or a vocational course? Do you fancy doing an apprenticeship? You’ll need to consider which courses are achievable given your predicted grades, and which ones will help you to achieve your career goals. Have a look at all the different options in your local area. You may find that the perfect course is one you’d never even considered. Once you have a good idea of the route you want to take, you can check which colleges offer it.

Past performance

Do some research into each of the colleges on your list. How well have they performed over the last few years? What do their Ofsted reports say? Are there

any independent reviews on sites such as www. goodschoolsguide.co.uk?

Other considerations

How could each college help you to get where you want to be? What links do they have to the industry you want to work in? What are the facilities like for your subject? What kind of well-being and career support do they offer?

Open days

You’ll want to have a good read of each college’s website and prospectus, but nothing beats a real-life visit. Some colleges can sound great on paper but turn out to be run-down and outdated. Likewise, a modern, hi-tec facility with little consideration for student well-being might not be the best place for you. Go to as many open days as you can, even for colleges you’ve discounted. Open days don’t just help you to judge a particular college, they help you to compare it against others in your shortlist and may give you more questions to consider. Ideally, you’ll want to hear from some of the people who would be teaching you, along with the principal and current students. You’ll want to have a good look around at the facilities, classrooms and workshops, and consider how the place makes you feel. Do you think you’d enjoy studying there? Listen to your gut as well as your head. Does the thought of attending this college excite you? To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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