WE are at the stage in the school year where students in Year 11 are starting to consider seriously where their futures may lie. It’s one of those moments in life where one emerges from a tunnel and suddenly there are a bewildering number of options to choose from, each offering something different and every one going in a subtly different direction.

For schools and colleges it is a time to show off, to explain strengths, to highlight exam results and to outline opportunities. For both providers and consumers the stakes are fairly high and yet the chemistry needs to be right, as there is nothing worse than seeing a boy or girl who has made a less-than- optimum choice for the following two years. Fortunately (in my experience) this is fairly rare, but it still does happen.

Bishop’s open evening for prospective Year 12 joiners was last Thursday; it was pleasingly crowded and there was a real buzz about the school as parents and boys (yes, just boys this year!) migrated around the site to talk to staff from the academic departments and (most importantly) students who are already enrolled and in lessons. It really is a chance to shine and I thought that the school emerged from the event in fine fettle; the same will have been so at every other post-16 provider in the city.

What is certainly true is that boys and girls in Year 11 have a stronger and more diverse local choice that ever before, and the days of having to travel great distances to access a range of course sixth form providers are consigned to the past.

At the BWS open evening I try to be as open handed as possible with the 400 or so parents and boys, giving them right at the start three key questions to consider when they make their choice.

Firstly, school or college? There are arguments in favour of each of course, and it really depends upon what the student wants their day-to-day existence to be like. Freedom or structure, pastoral support or greater self-reliance and determination?

Secondly, academic or vocational (or perhaps a mixture of both)? This tends to be a bit of an easier decision, as it will be informed by prior progress, though some students can accelerate through Year 11 more quickly and successfully than their teachers expect of course.

Finally, what lies beyond lessons, what opportunities will there be for sports, music, arts, culture, trips and expeditions, leadership, team competitions, enrichment and so on? This is about self-fulfilment and character education at a vital stage in a youngster’s learning journey.

Get the answers to those three questions right and the course will be set for success – wherever that course may be heading…