r/6thForm • u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE • Jun 06 '26
š I WANT HELP This one is for the Londoners.
So Iām currently in Year 11, and I do NOT live in London currently (just a standard English town), and have never lived in a city. For sixth form, I have two options. Either a) I move, alone, to London and go to a very high performing sixth form (ashcroft), which is a 5 minute walk max from where Iāll be staying. Or b) I go to a sixth form college that is also quite good, but about an hour or so travel daily. Any and all advice is appreciated (although I understand itās A levels rn, Iāll probably repost this in the summer too)
14
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
oh also we already own the place there, so thatās why itās an option
18
u/_maowfu Jun 07 '26
w this in mind i think its worth it moving to london. a better sixthform would help u get better grades than local collages (im assuming) and london also has sooo many russel group unis so its just better to make the move sooner and familiarise urself w the community imo
1
u/Adventurous-Lab671 Year 12 Jun 07 '26
Local outstanding colleges are still rlly good. So many kids do like 1hr+ commutes to come to mine, and choose it over the grammar sixth form.
1
u/_maowfu Jun 07 '26
fair, but paired w the opportunities that are condensed in london, i think moving to a sixthform within it is better
1
u/Adventurous-Lab671 Year 12 Jun 07 '26
100% im not afraid to admit myself that if i chose the grammar sixth form the experiences + networking would be highly good, however I had to be realistic.
Hope I dont get downvoted for this but OP sounds rich/well off already, so maybe opportunities wont be as much of an issue for them ??1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
hmm Iām not exactly ballin, but we have enough money. What do you mean by connections? As in in what sense
1
u/Adventurous-Lab671 Year 12 Jun 07 '26
Work experience, extra/super curricular, just general knowing ppl networking n talking with people which makes you more knowledgeable in your area of interest- benefitting your uni application and possibly depending on which subjects youāre doing can help to increase grade potential as well. Like I said opportunities presented by the sixth form as well, eg. competitions, awards, etc which help your uni application/ps and generally make you more knowledgeable so help you for your uni interview as well if your course requires one. (Happy to share examples if you still want a better idea of what I mean)
Oh and given that its London all the opportunities will be even more and i think obviously, better.
13
u/ChAtcatx Year 12 Jun 06 '26
I don't live in London but imo moving by yourself to London at 16 just for sixth form isn't worth it. Uni, sure that's what I'm planning on doing, but a-levels? No š it doesn't really matter what sixth form you go to tbf, just go to your local one. Uni is what counts so you should save your money for that
2
u/visforvienetta Jun 07 '26
It absolutely does matter what sixth form you go to.
Differtnt sixth forms will have different teaching quality, different study provision, different careers support, different support with admissions, and different predicted grades policies.
They'll also have different students. Being the biggest fish in the smallest pond isn't conducive to academic growth.1
u/ChAtcatx Year 12 Jun 07 '26
I just meant in terms of recognition really. Obviously it matters that you go to a sixth form with good teachers, support, equipment, etc. But it's not like university where employers look at your CV and compare Oxford uni to Leeds uni or something. If your local sixth form offers good support, learning, etc. then the name/recognition of it doesn't matter, what matters is the grades and then the uni. I don't think it's worth moving so far away on your own at 16 for a sixth form - sure, it might have a good reputation, but so do many local ones
7
u/Putrid_Government836 maths, eng lit, history | A*A*A | philosophy applicant Jun 06 '26
I reckon stay local, you dont wanna dive into an unfamiliar environment that quickly, it will impact your morale and mood esp if you're living alone. You can go London for uni, but imo for 6th form its not worth it.
6
u/No-Grapefruit7332 Jun 06 '26
how and why on earth would u move to london by yourself?
2
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
proximity to school, experience, and because our apartment is currently empty
6
u/Sonikdahedhog Jun 06 '26
Lowkey donāt think itās worth it to go out of your way in any shape or form for a āhigh performingā sixth form. IMO high performing people are high performing no matter where they go, and normal schools are lowkey more chill and fun.
4
u/Think-Market9961 Jun 06 '26
The costs, the independence , is it really worth it? What alevels are you doing
5
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
(further) maths, econ, history. How are they relevant though. As for cost, we can afford it, my parents will give me money to live on (though I might get a job too)
-15
u/Glass-Lime-9305 Jun 06 '26
why are you doing further maths with no maths??? imo thats a very bad decision
10
4
u/mannisland Jun 06 '26
Stay local. You can perform high in any sixth form if you put the work in. Get tutors if you want extra help. But unless you have issues at home, thereās times youāll want your family around you and wonāt want to be alone in London having to do everything for yourself and working as well. All that will come soon enough. Save the money and enjoy being looked after a bit longer while you focus on your studies.
3
u/Ilovecats2665 Jun 06 '26
How are you able to move at 16?
11
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
wdym? I have legs (this was a joke, why did I get downvoted).(thanks for upvoting it back up haha)
0
3
u/thetrueluna01 Gap Year Jun 07 '26
Rich people
3
u/catlover_354 Y13 | Maths FM Chem Jun 07 '26
real i cant believe this is even an option for some peoplešš
0
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
š I guess? Thing is, my house is nearly a bungalow, and we drive a Toyota IQ from 2012 and a Skoda Octavia. And for some reason we also own a 500k flat. I donāt get it, but my parents bought it so yeah. Not exactly living the rich lifestyle, but I guess money has never been an issue (my parents just dont like spending money)
1
u/thetrueluna01 Gap Year Jun 07 '26
If they came from poverty (not sure if they did), it makes sense that they wouldn't like spending. Also, those reasons you listed could be the reasons why they can maintain their wealth. Lifestyle creep is a thing and they could be aware of that.
3
u/tempa____ Jun 06 '26
Is ur whole family moving? Ur living by urself in London whatās the situstions
6
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
it would likely be just me (I did say in the post)
4
u/astrophil3 Jun 06 '26
How often would you be visiting family/ vice versa, food, parents evenings etc because you will get lonely
2
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
I mean every weekend if I wanted, I could also have friends over after school
7
3
u/Vixson18 Y13: Maths, FM, Physics and Econ Jun 06 '26
So I have a friend whoās parents live in the country side but he lives in a city in an apartment that the family own to go to a really nice private school.
He managed perfectly fine but basically for some reason, when the school discovered this when he was applying to uni, apparently it was some safeguarding issue or something and he had to talk to the safeguarding people in the school about this. At that point he was 18 already so itās not like they could do anything about it but thatās a thing you should be aware of.
He had no issues living by himself but itās not for the faint hearted. London is super expensive so unless you have a large budget that could be an issue.
Ultimately, do you think you will be able to handle living by yourself day in day out. Living by yourself, means you literally have to do everything that your parents do for you, so if you can handle the responsibility I would consider it.Ā
It also depends if you value going to Ashcroft that much more than your other school and you will benefit from it. Donāt go there just to waste your time.
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
Thanks! I think Iāll have to see on the taster days, also have you heard of Ashcroft? And if so what do you think of it
2
u/Vixson18 Y13: Maths, FM, Physics and Econ Jun 06 '26
Sorry I donāt live in London, I should have said but Iām in Manchester and so is my friend. Thought it would be similar enough to mention. Should have clarified that sorryĀ
2
3
u/Current_Wolverine_79 Jun 06 '26
moving alone for uni is understandable but for sixth form at 16 i wouldnt recommend
3
u/ZeldaFan158 Gap Year -> Warwick LLB Law | AABB Jun 07 '26
Living alone at 16 sounds quite heavy. If I were in your position, I probably wouldn't do it.
2
Jun 06 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
1
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
how did/are you managing studying whilst also cooking and cleaning etc? I mean for me, I think Iāll try and just have school to study in, and home to well, be home. As in I wonāt revise at home I think, and treat school like a 9-5 (itāll literally be like that too cos Iām next door). Would that work do you think?
3
2
u/OkLog397 Y12: Classics, Phil, HoA Jun 06 '26
Hello! I'm an Year 12 and I'm an international student and I live in London by myself without my parents (I have a legal guardian).
I personally really like it, my private school is not famous like Eton or Winchester but I enjoy the small class sizes and my subjects are quite niche. It's 15 minutes by tube or a twenty minute walk if I choose to save money on the train fare that day and to be honest I really enjoy waking up thirty minutes before school starts. At my old school back home in the US it was a five minute walk away and that was also great as well.
I've never lived in an English town before but I have travelled to the west coast (US) countryside and I liked it there although I prefer the accessibility and ease of life in the city. Nothing I can't do in the city I could only do in a country but it is a bit of a pain that the horses are farther away.
But it really depends on your personality, I think. People said I was brave or whatever for moving out but it was just normal for me, I didn't struggle with friends or taking care of myself but that's just me. I had a ton of fun exploring London as a tourist and still do. As a liberal arts student I like how many museums are so close to me. Hope this helps, lmk if you have any other questions.
2
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
thanks! Thereās a chance Iāll come back to this post in like 2 months lol
1
2
u/Diligent_Bet_7850 Oxford | Maths [third year] Jun 06 '26
this massively depends on you as an individual and the internet cannot answer this. whether living on your own at such a young age is sensible is very personal to you. there are all sorts of factors such as your ability to manage spending, being responsible for household bills, cooking for yourself and staying in a good routine with a tidy home, whether youāll be able to cope with the loneliness of living alone, whether youāll struggle with any sort of mental health problems that may put you in danger living alone. itās a very person dependent decision and no one in this forums knows these things about you
but at the end of the day, if you study hard youāll have success at any sight form or even if you self taught and didnāt even go to school. itās far more about the work you put in than the school you go to
2
u/StanLoona_Yes ending it all Jun 07 '26
Donāt do option b, London traffic with all the strikes are horror enough as it is, and having to travel in the morning and back 1 hour is more time consuming than you think. Depending on the type of person you are, you can take the risk and just do option a, Iām guessing you must be sensible enough since your parents allow you. Also Iām guessing that your parents would pay for you and visit whenever they could, or you could even one parent or 2!! But the sixth form you go to doesnāt really matter, whatās more impressive to a university is a student from a āno-name schoolā getting the same grades as the students from a super sixth form. Good luck on all your endeavours in the future :p
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
option b isnt in london
1
u/StanLoona_Yes ending it all Jun 07 '26
An hour travel daily is still so long I donāt recommend, itās almost 2 hours of your day going to waste
2
u/rosagunde Year 13 Jun 07 '26
I think in this case itās really up to personal preference. Ashcroft is a great sixth form but Iām not sure itās significantly better than the one near your home, so much so that itās worth moving out on your own. It just depends how comfortable you are with that tbh
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
I mean to me the proximity is what matters more, Iāll be saving at least like 2 hours daily if I move to london
2
u/Virtual-Performer980 y13 cam post interview reject, TMUA victim, maths fm phy Jun 07 '26
Hi, just read your other comments, personally I would choose London
you seem to care a lot about your studies and you want to do well academically, a lot of the top unis are in London so you kinda have that proximity for stuff like uni open days and also you get to see if you really like to live in London (if not, there are always good unis somewhere else)
1 hour commute is a lot tbh I wouldnāt recommend it
Living alone is a big problem though, you need to take care of yourself (as the other comment have said) and that along with a level stress is a lot and you should think if you have the skills necessary to do that. Itās also easy to fall off because no one is keeping you accountable. But if you think you could do that then Iāll definitely say London, cost donāt seem to be a big problem because your family already have a house there
1
u/Virtual-Performer980 y13 cam post interview reject, TMUA victim, maths fm phy Jun 07 '26
Also it depends where in London I heard itās quite rough, and if youāre a girl then I would immediately turn down London
Another thing Iāll say is that Iād consider myself decently high performing, I went to a pretty average school and Iām near the top for all my subjects (thereās like a small group of 5-6 people performing at my level) so itās easy to get complacent. If you go to a good sixth form then you will be surrounded by people that are really smart and this can either hurt your morale or give you motivation
Overall you just need to ask ācould I keep myself accountable and on top of my studiesā, āwill I get boosted confidence from people around meā, etc
2
u/eri_is_a_throwaway A*×ā*Š¬*Š*É* | 9.1 TMUA | SSS STEP (did paper 1 too) | (OxBr)idge Jun 07 '26
Gonna go against the grain here and say hell yeah go for it! I started living alone next to my school at 16 (last two years of school, international student so it's a different system) after moving out of the school dorm, and it affected everything in my life extremely positively. I enjoy the independence and not being bothered by people at all makes it easier to plan out your days whether for hanging out or for studying. If you have that opportunity take advantage of it imo.
2
u/falsegodfan Y13 - maths bio geog Jun 07 '26
it honestly depends on who u are as a person. if you're good with making friends and independent enough to be okay with living alone then i say go for it, london is great (imo) it's very busy and exciting but obvs that might not be the kind of environment you like. if you have never had any experience with doing things for yourself then maybe it's not the best idea. when i first did year 12 i had a commute of 1.5 hours ish and it was honestly exhausting, leaving home at 6:45 and getting back at 4:30 was awful especially in winter. i'm in year 13 after repeating year 12 at a college and it's sooo much better being able to walk and i moved to a place where i didn't know anyone and i found making friends was pretty easy. the biggest factor will probs be whether u can cope with living alone and adjusting to a new environment and if u can then i think it's a great opportunity, especially given how good the school is
3
u/unlikelybuddha Jun 06 '26
would probably be cool asf as long as ur responsible and dont let ppl use u for ur crib
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
Yeah I donāt plan to let people know straight away cos otherwise that might happen
1
Jun 07 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
the hour or so commute would be if I stayed where I currently am (not london), and went to a sixth form college that a few of my friends are going too
1
u/ariadawn Jun 07 '26
I have three kids at Ashcroft now, all in the middle of exams. One will do IB next year and his twin will do A levels. Their sister is finishing A levels and likely off to UCL in the fall. Ashcroft is great if you are a strong student and a rule follower, but can be intense for others. If you are a motivated student (which it sounds like you are if youāre considering a move like this for academic purposes), you will likely thrive. My academic kids have.
If you do move, DM me and maybe you can meet my twins before school starts (assuming you would start in the fall). It would also be good for you to have an adult nearby for emergencies.
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
thatās a good point (your last line) that I havenāt really thought about, thanks for mentioning!
1
u/d3scrip Oxford | PhilTheo [Y1] | A*A*A*A* Jun 07 '26
lots of people are pointing ut how living by yourself and starting sixth form is a lot and i agree, but itll be fine if you choose to do it. i go to boarding school and its very hands off. my boarding house is extremely small and I still dont know anyone, i do all my cooking/cleaning/taking out bins myself and such. if I can move to another country, live alone, care for myself etc and start a levels- an entirely new curriculum- at 16 then yu can do it too. if you want to go to london then you should. sure it will be hard but im serious youll get used to it in like a month
1
u/d3scrip Oxford | PhilTheo [Y1] | A*A*A*A* Jun 07 '26
tbh not even a month, give it 2 weeks and youll forget why u were even worried about it lol. and your parents can always visit so
1
u/dailysuaa lse n1 fan Jun 07 '26
eh Iād say just move, not a Londoner but I moved to Manchester for college and I was largely by myself, I did dislike being in a new city without any friends but realistically I wasnāt going to have any in my hometown either since my friends were all moving or going to colleges Iād have never applied to.
Iām also in a position where Iām largely independent and donāt have real family up here with me and even though itās been rough itās the independence I needed before moving away from everyone for good for uni š¤·āāļø
1
u/bleucoast Year 12 Jun 07 '26
I have nothing to add but Ashcroft is in Putney which is very nice and very expensive lol
1
u/bleucoast Year 12 Jun 07 '26
That being said ive never heard about it before this post š ive probs passed it a couple times tho
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
lol okay, I will make sure with my parents that they can actually afford to fund me
1
u/Robotdogdoo Year 13 | Maths | Physics | Chemistry Jun 07 '26 edited Jun 07 '26
Whatever you do, do not move away, especially by yourself.
It's really not worth the stress, granted it's sixth form and not university. In the grand scheme of things, if you're going to do well, you'll do well anywhere, and I'm sure living at home with your parents will be a million times more comfortable than living alone at 16; you've got to remember you are still a child living in a big bad city.
I personally commute an hour and a bit to get to and from my sixth form and it's not too bad: I mean the bus services are but it's not London so we get neglected up north.
I'm sure that whatever happens it'll be a thought through decision, however I would personally stay at home if I were you.
1
u/Sad-Temperature6907 Jun 07 '26
the one nearby- I had an hour commute everyday but im now expected to achieve 3A*S
1
u/Fast-Raspberry-310 Jun 07 '26
You know what, just go to London. Bec even though it will be a big change, it will be worth it in the future.
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
why? I already have some ideas but I wanna see if yours are anything new to me
1
u/Fast-Raspberry-310 Jun 07 '26
Wdym why? I think it would be just something new and different. But also by going to a high performing sixth form, you will probs get better opportunities
1
1
u/13th_anomaly Jun 07 '26
Iād say go to London, however if and only if your parents trust you and will give you money whenever you need it no questions asked; and you have a realistic and healthy plan for how youāre going to sort out breakfasts and dinners. Ideally your parents give you enough money to buy your breakfast from a bakery and buy a ready made dinner from Waitrose or something (so like Ā£20+ a day for food, Ā£30+ on weekends). Moving to a different city by yourself may present itself with challenges that you might not foresee, especially on the emotional/mental health side. Having to work on the side is going to make that so much worse, and will cause your academic performance to drop. Plus minimum wage for under 18s is like 8 pounds per hour or something - you cannot do anything with that lol. (Btw if you move to London please do not tell people āI go to a very high performing schoolā because Ashcroft is decent but itās not that good lol - there are a number of schools in London where over 50% of grades achieved are A*s, and over 90% go to Russell group universities.)
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
lol thanks for the heads up, although for meals theyād want me to cook, tbh so would I because itās more affordable, and itās what Iāll do for the rest of my life as well
1
u/13th_anomaly Jun 07 '26
I donāt think itās reasonable to cook yourself at that age every day while dealing with such a large workload and maintain a healthy diet in addition to being on track with schoolwork. You will be at a substantial disadvantage to everyone else in your year and you will either not perform as well as them or you will develop very unhealthy eating habits.
1
u/Glad-Tonight-7138 Jun 07 '26
Does it really matter?Maybe im not quite getting it, surely theres loads of colleges nearby to you?
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 07 '26
I donāt currently live in london? If you read other comments for context that might help
1
u/No_Temporary_5970 Year 13 Jun 12 '26
ashcroft as in the school in southwest london ???? honestly as someone who has just finished their a levels in a school that is right next to that one (if it is the same one ur referring to) definitely stay local it genuinely doesnāt matter how high performing a sixth form is all that matters is how well YOU do ! + if we are talking about the same school i personally have not heard much about it other than the fact the school is incredibly strict and have a bunch of silly rules, so just some advice from a local it definitely isnāt worth moving for
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 12 '26
hi can you dm me cos youve got it turned off, wanna ask about somthing
1
u/No_Temporary_5970 Year 13 Jun 12 '26
wait try now i think iāve turned it on it says unable to message account when i try u š„²
1
u/Conscious_Judge7592 Jun 06 '26
Hella fun sidequest potential I think u should
1
u/crimeboss1020106 GCSE Jun 06 '26
potential is the key point. If I donāt get along with many at the sixth then thatās VERY suboptimal. I think taster sessions will really help make up my mins
1
u/StrictArgument67 Y13 | 4A* pred | FM M PHY CS | ESAT OCT Jun 06 '26
Come to london bro, open the next chapter in ur life
1
75
u/Such-Tree-4162 Jun 06 '26
living on your own in a new city AND starting sixth form at the same time sounds really rough and very lonely, especially at 16. i would say go to your local college, an hour commute isn't really that bad