POST-16 EDUCATION
A crucial part of the process is ensuring that the relationship with the school is strong and supportive, says Alice O’Donnell, director of sixth form at Kimbolton School. “You’ve got this parent, child and school triangle, which is really important when the children are younger… but it’s got to stay that strong even when they are increasingly independent.” Sixth form pupils may be old enough to drive a car, but, as she recognises, “that doesn’t mean that the relationship between school, their parents and themselves becomes any less important.” Path finding While sixth form offerings in our area are notable for their high quality, they aren’t identical, so educators urge getting to know schools and colleges in depth and allowing enough time to make an informed decision. Bishop’s Stortford College, like others, reports a steady flow of families visiting up to two years in advance – when children are at the start of their GCSEs in year 10, a sensible decision whether a young person is planning to move somewhere new for sixth form or stay on after GCSEs. Getting the right subject combination is the starting point, say schools, and this is where parents can have a crucial role. “One of the biggest things you can do as a parent is to help your child find out what they
GET AHEAD OF THE GAME It’s a sensible idea to check out local schools like Kimbolton (top) and Bishop’s Stortford (above) up to two years in advance of enrolment
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK NOVEMBER 2025 67
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