Changing Sixth Forms Plays Key Role in Sophie's Success Story

Choosing to leave a school that’s been ‘home’ for years and joining somewhere different can be a daunting prospect, but sometimes change can bring the best out of us.

Sophie Hatherly is one of any number of Sixth Form College students who stands testament to that, as she enjoys the summer break safe in the knowledge that she has an unconditional offer to her chosen university and a scholarship grant for when she gets there.

Sophie left her fee-paying secondary school in 2015 and joined the College to complete her A Levels, having felt that she wasn’t reaching her full potential at the school that she’d been at since the age of ten. Finding the independence that she sought to allow her to flourish at The Sixth Form College, Sophie went on to sit a scholarship exam at her first choice university of Aberystwyth. Securing a first-class score equivalent of 74% in both Maths and Geography, the oldest university in Wales offered her an unconditional place to study a joint Bachelor of Science degree of Physical Geography and Mathematics, a reserved place in halls of residence for all three years, and a £1000 grant for her freshman year: a result that she feels may not have happened if she didn’t take the leap of changing schools last year.

Sophie said: “I 100% stand by my decision to leave my old school and come to the College. It was the best thing for me and I don’t think I would have achieved what I have this year if I’d have stayed where I was.”

Awaiting A Level results in Maths, Geography and Biology next month, Sophie explained: “I needed a bit more independence and the College definitely gave me that. It’s given me a real insight into what university’s going to be like, and how to manage my time and my studies, which helped with revision for my A Levels. It’s not like being at school at all.”

On deciding to leave her previous school, Sophie said that she was firmly set on joining the College despite having other options: “I have quite a few friends in other Grammar Schools in Wirral but I just don’t think they were for me and I wouldn’t have felt as comfortable. There can be a lot of pressure put on people doing their A Levels but the independence and the support at The Sixth Form College has helped me produce the best that I can.”

With her future career options still open, Sophie wanted to study a degree programme that she knew she’d enjoy so chose Maths and Geography. Only six universities offered the combination BSc; Sophie applied for five and was accepted by all of them.

Sophie’s mother, Sara Hatherly, candidly admits that she was ‘blinkered’ by the notion of fee-paying schools being the best option for her children, and says that her eyes have been thoroughly opened by Sophie’s experience.

Sara said: “It’s been a learning process for me. I had a private education myself from the age of five up to 18. I suppose fairly naively, I’d been quite blinkered into thinking it was the best thing for my children because I had a great time at school. Bearing in mind that I’ve been paying for my kids’ education virtually their whole lives, I came to the college and got a whole different perspective. I just didn’t think there was anything out there that was any better than private education, but now I’ve eaten a great deal of humble pie! I’ve been mightily impressed by what is given and offered to students at the college.”

Describing Sophie as a ‘whole new person’ due to the independence at the college and the way that she’s been treated and spoken to, Sara continued: “I’ve been blown away by the level of support that’s offered in terms of her personal tutoring by Jen (Foden, Sophie’s Personal & Guidance Tutor) and her UCAS application for university. I also loved the fact that the university option wasn’t forced upon students. In other places, it’s viewed very much as the only avenue but knowing that tutors encourage investigating all the options was really pleasing. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the whole system.”

Sophie’s mother concluded that she will definitely be coming to the college with her son to explore his options when it comes to sixth form education.