What to Ask Your Child's Sixth Form When You Can't "Read" the School Yet

When families move to the UK, one of the quieter challenges is not the timetable or the uniform. It is understanding how the school works: who to talk to, what "normal" looks like, and how to tell whether things are going well. In your previous system you may have known instinctively how to read a report or when to contact a teacher. In a new country, those instincts may not apply yet.

This guide offers practical questions for the first term in a sixth form or college in England. It is not a guide to choosing A-level subjects. It is about settling in and learning to read the school.

Why sixth forms can feel hard to read

Sixth forms in England often give students more independence than families expect. There may be free periods for private study, fewer formal homework checks, and an expectation that students will ask for help themselves. Contact with parents can also be less frequent than in some systems, and often happens by email or through an online portal rather than in person.

None of this means the school is not interested in your child. It usually reflects a belief that sixth-form students should start taking responsibility for their own learning. But it does mean that families who are new to the system may need to ask more questions at the start.

Who's who: finding the right contact

Titles vary between schools, so it is worth asking early who does what. Common roles include:

• Form tutor or personal tutor: usually the first point of contact for general questions about your child's progress, attendance and wellbeing.
• Subject teachers: for questions about a particular subject, such as Chemistry homework or a test result.
• Head of sixth form or head of year: for wider concerns or if a question has not been resolved.
• Pastoral or wellbeing staff: for concerns about how your child is settling or feeling.
• Exams officer: for practical questions about exam entries and arrangements.

A good first question is simply: "Who should I contact first, and how?"

First-term questions to ask

You do not need to ask all of these at once. Choose the ones that matter most to your family.

About communication

1. How does the school usually contact parents, and how often?
2. What is the best way for me to contact my child's tutor, and how quickly should I expect a reply?
3. Is there an online portal for reports, attendance or homework, and how do I access it?

About progress

4. When will we receive the first report or progress update?
5. How are grades or progress shown on reports, and what does each part mean?
6. When are the main assessments or mock exams this year?

About expectations

7. What does the school expect students to do in free periods?
8. Roughly how much independent study is expected each week?
9. How will we know if my child is falling behind?

About settling in

10. Is there anyone who supports students who have recently arrived in the UK?
11. Are there clubs, societies or activities that might help my child make friends?
12. Who should I talk to if my child seems unhappy or isolated?

Reading the signals

Once you have some answers, a few signals can help you understand how things are going:

• Reports and comments: UK reports often use measured language. A comment such as "would benefit from more independent study" can be a gentle but important message.
• Silence is not always good news: if you hear very little, it may be worth checking in with the tutor rather than assuming all is well.
• Your child's account: ask open questions, such as "What did you find hardest this week?", rather than "Was school fine?"

When there is a concern

If something is not right, start with your child's tutor or subject teacher, and put your question in writing if that is easier. If the issue is not resolved, ask how to take it further within the school. GOV.UK sets out how to raise a complaint about a school, and every school should have its own complaints procedure.

For questions about school places or moving schools, the relevant local authority is the usual starting point. Families in Solihull, for example, can find information on the Solihull Council school admissions pages. GOV.UK also has general information on school admissions and on the different types of school.

Give it time

It is normal to feel uncertain in the first term. Most families find that, after one or two reports and a parents' evening, the school becomes much easier to read. Asking questions early is not a sign of being a difficult parent; schools generally welcome families who want to understand how things work.

Where to go next

Understanding school contacts, communication and independent-study expectations can help you follow your child’s progress and settling-in.

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