Excellent state-funded education in a boarding community makes the most of pupils’ talents and abilities. Emma Fielding, Principal at Richard Huish College, reports.
Sixth form colleges provide high-quality academic education pupils aged 16 to 18, enabling them to progress to university. the workplace or higher-level vocational education. Sixth Form Colleges in the UK offer an extensive range of academic, vocational and professional courses, as well as apprenticeships.
Sixth-form colleges have a reputation for academic excellence, where students achieve exceptional progress and top national results. 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 an excellent state-funded 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 aged between 16 and 19 years.
Whilst many sixth-form colleges offer homestay accommodation, few offer full boarding facilities operated by the college in the way that Richard Huish College does.
ALL WELCOME
At Richard Huish College, based in Taunton, the boarding house opened its doors to pupils in September 2017. The house has 53 study bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. The college has been welcoming pupils from the UK and around the world for many years. But it knew that while homestay parents do an amazing job of nurturing pupils to settle, there were also some pupils who would prefer the boarding 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.
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 young person 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 for life. A rigorous set of boarding standards is adhered to, ensuring the pastoral welfare and academic development of all pupils.
IT’S AFFORDABLE
Boarding at sixth form can be affordable if you expand your search criteria to include the state sector. Many state boarding colleges have specific areas of expertise you may wish to access, such as the 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. A dynamic college environment brings together talented and aspirational young people to explore their independence, while still providing a controlled and safe setting
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 for example British Nationals Overseas Dependents. For further information, go to www.huish.ac.uk/boarding.
Emma Fielding became Principal at Richard Huish College in August 2020, caking 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 20 years.