Pupils receiving GCSE results ‘may face more competition for sixth form places'
A rising number of 16-year-olds and a growing interest in sixth forms could mean teenagers are turned away from oversubscribed settings, the head of the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) said.
Meanwhile, an education expert has warned that competition for the most selective sixth forms will be 'fiercer' as the VAT change on private school fees may lead to more families seeking state-sector places.
It comes as pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their GCSE and vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results on Thursday to help them progress to sixth form, college or training.
Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, told the PA news agency: 'I think as the population continues to grow – and the opportunities to increase capacity, to build new classroom blocks, is held back – it is going to go on getting more competitive.'
He said that the success of sixth form colleges with their A-level results last week could drive up the demand for sixth form places even further.
Overall, the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades rose again this year – remaining above pre-pandemic highs.
More than a quarter (28.3%) of UK A-level entries were awarded A or A* grades, up from 27.8% in 2024 and 25.4% in 2019 – the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic.
Mr Watkin told PA: 'Colleges are already very well attended and we expect that to go up.'
He said: 'It's not just that they're feeling the effect of the population bulge, but also they are enjoying considerable success which makes them doubly popular.'
Speaking ahead of GCSE results day, Mr Watkin said: 'Some have got some spare capacity and can increase the number.
'Some have managed to build a new classroom block and increase capacity that way, and some are almost certainly going to have to turn some young people away because they are oversubscribed.'
Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said competition for top sixth forms may be higher this year as more private school parents look to move into the state sector.
The Government's policy to impose 20% VAT on private school fees was introduced on January 1.
Prof Major told PA: 'Competition for the most selective sixth forms will be fiercer than ever, with fears over VAT on private schools likely driving more families to seek out places in the state sector.'
He added that sixth-form admissions was the 'Wild West' of the education system as entrance requirements varied significantly from one place to another.
Prof Major said: 'We need a fair admissions code at 16, just as we have at 11, to stop sixth-form entry becoming a postcode lottery and ensure every teenager is fairly treated and has an equal chance to progress, wherever they are from.'
When asked whether teenagers could face more competition for college places this year, Catherine Sezen, director of education policy at the Association of Colleges (AoC), told PA: 'I think it will be tight.
'I think it will be much tighter.'
She said that it would be easier for a college to offer flexibility in a classroom-based subject rather than in a vocational technical subject.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'There is extra pressure on secondary and sixth form admissions at the moment, due to a pupil population bulge at that age.
'Some sixth form colleges may be oversubscribed, especially in certain areas of the country – for example in areas with large amounts of new house building – which could mean competition for places for some students could be high.
'However, there are a very wide range of post-16 options for young people including school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and FE (further education) colleges.'
Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Any students and parents planning transition into post-16 education will want to consider a range of factors when selecting where they want to continue their studies.
'For those in independent sector schools, it isn't clear to what extent the implementation of VAT on school fees will play in that decision or how any increase in demand in the state sector would be accommodated.
'Funding is very tight in post-16 education and providers have to walk a financial tightrope ensuring that group sizes work educationally while also being financially viable.
'It seems sensible that the Government should monitor demand and how this is being met.'
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Alexander Isak, Newcastle and Liverpool: What happens next?
The Alexander Isak saga took another twist on Tuesday, with the Newcastle United striker issuing an incendiary statement outlining his grievances at being denied a transfer by the club. Newcastle then responded in kind, insisting they had never promised he could leave and that they could not foresee circumstances in which he could depart this summer. So, with Newcastle determined not to sell and Liverpool still keen to buy, what happens now? The abridged version — a more exhaustive explanation can be found here — is that Isak feels Newcastle know he has long wished to leave and that he could do so this summer, something Newcastle have always refuted. The striker's camp claims that in the spring of 2024, it had been intimated by Amanda Staveley, Newcastle's former co-owner, that talks over an improved contract would take place the following summer. 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Having been named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season for 2024-25 despite not attending (Newcastle and Liverpool officials were at the dinner in Manchester), Isak wrote on Instagram that Newcastle had broken 'promises' to him and that their 'relationship can't continue'. A blindsided Newcastle responded with an equally extraordinary statement three and a half hours later, saying 'no commitment has ever been made by a club official' that Isak could leave this summer. They conceded for the first time that 'players have their own wishes', but that they must protect the 'best interests of Newcastle United'. They added that 'conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired' and 'we do not foresee those conditions being met', before saying that a rapprochement with 'the Newcastle family' was still possible. Newcastle have been steadfast that Isak is not for sale and their stance has only been hardened by his outburst on Tuesday. Senior club figures were angered and insisted that they will not be 'bullied' into selling, particularly given the message it may send to other star players, such as Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento. Advertisement There is also the issue that PIF will not want to lose face. Those with connections to PIF believe this will only strengthen their resolve to keep Isak, even if he is unhappy. Eddie Howe has always trodden a delicate line. He has tried to keep Isak away from the squad so that he is not a distraction, but has not overtly criticised him, insisting he will be able to rejoin the squad once the window closes. Seemingly, that remains Howe's viewpoint, even if there is an acceptance that Isak's actions cannot go unpunished. Newcastle are yet to confirm whether Isak has been disciplined, but having missed the Villa match, the expectation was that he would be. As outlined in the Premier League's handbook, the club can fine Isak up to two weeks of his basic wage (around £150,000 a week) for a first disciplinary offence and 'up to four weeks for subsequent offences' inside a 12-month period. Anything beyond that would need to be approved by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), who have not yet been asked to intervene by either party. The PFA did not comment when approached by The Athletic. Newcastle have always intended to keep Isak, but that does not mean they have not considered the possibility of him departing. Once Isak absented himself from first team duties, it would have been negligent not to have at least looked into alternative options, and the club have scouted multiple top-level centre-forwards, just as they do for every position. Newcastle's stance is that the board may have sanctioned Isak's departure had they signed two strikers, one of whom they deemed to be of Champions League standard, and received an offer close to their valuation of around £150m. Advertisement Following Callum Wilson's departure, Newcastle needed a centre-forward regardless of the Isak situation. Joao Pedro was their top target, but he opted to join Chelsea, while an ambitious move for Hugo Ekitike was thwarted by Liverpool. Ironically, Ekitike's transfer to Merseyside made a departure for Isak less likely because, although he was targeted to play alongside the Sweden international, he was also seen as a potential long-term replacement. Once Ekitike joined Liverpool, Isak became more militant, which did not appear coincidental. Newcastle then aggressively pursued a deal for Benjamin Sesko, despite their feeling all along that the Slovenian preferred Manchester United. 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The response has not been homogeneous, although Dan Burn and Gordon pinpointing the 'team spirit' and 'togetherness' during post-match interviews after the Villa draw seemed to be part of a coordinated message. Newcastle fans were quick to pounce on Bruno Guimaraes, the captain, posting a captionless photo of himself in a black-and-white club shirt on social media a few minutes after Isak's statement dropped, although his intentions are unclear. Advertisement Some players are said to feel disappointed by Isak's actions, but others are more sympathetic, echoing similar sentiments to Howe, who, earlier in the summer, said he understood that players' careers are short and they have their own ambitions. Clubs can be ruthless when it comes to discarding players and there is a recognition of that, although others in the squad have flirted with leaving and have not behaved in this manner. Isak — who is especially close to Sven Botman and Joe Willock — did thank his colleagues and 'everyone at Newcastle' in his statement. He is regularly described as 'complex' by those who know him, but he has a dry sense of humour and led the celebrations following Newcastle's Carabao Cup victory. Isak is on Tyneside and, despite reports to the contrary, has not moved out of the area. The long-term lease on his house in Northumberland has not been renewed, but this is due to multiple break-ins at that property, rather than being directly connected to his desire to leave Newcastle. Last month, Isak temporarily trained at Zubieta, the training ground of his former club, Real Sociedad, although Howe only discovered this through the media. Isak has now been in north-east England for almost three weeks, attending individual sessions at Newcastle's Benton facility. But he was not invited to a squad-and-family BBQ earlier this month and his training programmes are orchestrated so they do not overlap with the first-team squad. Some supposition is required here, given Isak did not specify and Newcastle have subsequently denied that any 'commitment has ever been made by a club official' that he can leave this summer. However, it is believed Isak is referring to the suggestion in 2024 that talks over a new-and-improved deal may have been forthcoming. The perception of those close to Isak is that an assurance was made, only for that to be reneged upon once the hierarchy at the club changed and a vow was made internally to ensure the club never again got into a mess with profit and sustainability rules. Advertisement Some viewed Isak's comments on Tuesday as an attack on Howe, given he is the only person to have spoken on the record this summer, and Isak referred to his own silence with the 'allowing people to push their own version of events' comment. Equally, it may be a reference to media coverage in general, which has been sourced by other figures with connections to Newcastle. 'He can't just walk away, he's under contract,' says Jibreel Tramboo, sports law barrister at 33 Bedford Row. 'If he says he won't play, then he's technically in breach of contract, and that's enforceable if Newcastle wanted to. 'The reality is that Newcastle hold the cards. They can block him from leaving. There are no grounds for termination of contract.' There is a framework in which players are able to terminate their own contracts, but that would require the club to not fulfil its contractual obligations. That scenario typically arises when clubs fail to pay players on time. Isak is yet to submit an official transfer request, although there is little to suggest it would have much effect, given he has already made clear his intentions of not playing for Newcastle again. There would, though, be potentially significant financial ramifications for Isak should he take that step. 'If a player hands in a transfer request, then it can affect some of their loyalty bonuses in the contract and some of those can become void,' adds Tramboo. 'I don't think handing in a transfer request does much for a player in terms of negotiation. It has no real legal power. In practice, it's a political tool, which is why you rarely see them anymore.' Similarly, the idea that Newcastle have not fulfilled a gentleman's agreement is legally flimsy. 'He's arguing he's been given assurances by the club that he can move on, but that's not going to trump the provisions of the contract,' says Jamie Singer, partner at Onside Law. 'But because his registration is so valuable, he does have that player power. He will know his value can come down if he's an unhappy player, not playing to the best of his ability.' Advertisement Isak's camp is insistent that he will still refuse to play. With the Champions League beginning next month and a World Cup next summer, that seems remarkable, but even if he does eventually relent, Newcastle's pathway to reconciliation may be a slow one. There is an international break immediately after the transfer window closes, so theoretically mediation could occur then, though Isak may be called up by Sweden to face Slovenia and Kosovo. The grey area is whether Newcastle consider Isak to be in breach of his contract. The Premier League's standard contract stipulates that Isak must attend matches and training sessions when instructed to by a club official and 'play to the best of his skill and ability at all times'. But Isak was seemingly given permission not to join the club's pre-season tour and has since reported to training, albeit in a pattern that avoids him being part of the first-team's schedule, so proving he is in breach may not be straightforward. Isak's statement on social media is another move that risks him breaching his contract. 'There are provisions about acting in the best interests of the club and there are non-disparagement provisions in the contracts as well,' explains Singer, partner at Onside Law. 'Isak is getting closer to being in breach, but the question then becomes what are the consequences of that? It's pretty limited.' A legal action against Isak is an option for Newcastle, but there is no precedent for this, and for good reason. The forward remains the club's greatest asset and reconciliation would appear the only means of protecting that if Isak fails to get his move. This, for now, is a domestic dispute between player and club. FIFA can become involved in such cases if an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) is being disputed, but attempting to join Liverpool would ultimately need a challenge to the Premier League's rules. Advertisement There could be long-term implications for this kind of stand-off in light of the recent Lassana Diarra legal case, but a landmark ruling (explained at length here) that brought changes to Article 17 of FIFA's regulations does nothing to alter Isak's position this summer. 'The problem for Isak is that he can't tear up his own contract, so you can't force Newcastle to pass on your registration,' says Singer. 'Premier League rules are very strong and, at the moment, there's no other club involved. It's just the player who is employed under a Premier League contract at a Premier League club, who both submit to the authority of the Premier League and its rules.' Newcastle's swift rejection of Liverpool's £110m offer meant Liverpool felt that submitting an improved second bid would be futile. However, the Premier League champions haven't pursued an alternative target and remain keen to secure Isak's services if Newcastle's stance changes. Liverpool have the funds to break the British transfer record for Isak. They have embarked on the biggest spending spree in their history this summer, with around £320m, including add-ons, committed to new signings, but have also generated up to £220m from sales. Arne Slot has made it clear that he feels Liverpool need to sign another attacker in this window, but will be only too aware that Isak agitating for a move won't necessarily improve their chances of getting him. Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho behaved similarly when they were pursued by Arsenal and Barcelona respectively. However, on both occasions, Liverpool refused to sanction a sale in those summer windows. Isak's statement only inflames tensions further from a Newcastle perspective. Advertisement Newcastle supporters have been critical of what many perceive to be Liverpool's covert backing of Isak's stance. The feeling is that this is a deliberate attempt to force through a transfer at a fee substantially lower than Newcastle's valuation, a view shared by some figures at the club. From Liverpool's perspective, Isak's statement and talk about 'broken promises' is an issue between the player and Newcastle. Earlier in the summer, Liverpool were baffled by reports that they had hijacked Newcastle's pursuit of Ekitike. Club officials had been in contact with the player's camp since January and Slot held talks with the player in May. They believed Newcastle were simply late to the party. The two clubs were also in competition for defender Giovanni Leoni, who arrived at Anfield from Parma last week. Fenway Sports Group CEO of football Michael Edwards, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, and Newcastle manager Eddie Howe have been friends since their time together at Portsmouth more than two decades ago, but business is business. On the field, meanwhile, a 'mini' rivalry was already emerging, at least from the Newcastle side, following March's Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool. Howe has also yet to beat Liverpool in the Premier League and is desperate to change that. Wor Flags, the Newcastle supporters' group that orchestrates displays at St James' Park, is planning a pre-match reveal. Security-wise, Newcastle insist they always put on adequate provisions and there is no suggestion of special measures being laid on. Whether Edwards and Hughes will attend as part of the visiting delegation is unclear. Edwards and FSG technical director Julian Ward were both present at the corresponding fixture last season, as they tied it in with a visit to see Ben Doak, then on loan at Middlesbrough. The Liverpool executives who attend away matches vary between the likes of CEO Billy Hogan, club ambassadors Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush (both former Newcastle employees), club secretary Danny Stanway, and chief legal and external affairs officer Jonathan Bamber. Extremely unlikely. Harry Kane at Tottenham and Wayne Rooney at Manchester United both pushed to leave their clubs and ended up fully reintegrated, but in the social-media-dominated landscape of 2025, it is difficult to envisage the resentment and hurt many Newcastle fans feel dissipating entirely. Advertisement That does not mean it is unthinkable that Isak will play for Newcastle again. He is a world-class centre-forward and Newcastle desperately need goals. If he plays, shows commitment and scores, then the strength of feeling may begin to wane, if never entirely dissipate. Isak, too, may get frustrated at not playing, but as an olive branch to fans, a public apology would feel a minimum requirement. Either way, Isak's reputation among Newcastle fans has been irretrievably damaged. Additional reporting: James Pearce Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
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5 legitimate federal student loan repayment loopholes (not closed by the Big Beautiful Bill)
As a certified student loan counselor, I'm often asked if there are any quick fixes or secret hacks to getting rid of education debt overnight. (Spoiler alert: There's not.) There are, however, ways of 'working the system' in a perfectly legal fashion. So, when I sought to catalog legitimate loan repayment loopholes, I checked in with the country's foremost experts. What I got back was a mixed bag of responses: I don't have time for this. I'm not well versed in this. I think I better stay away from this. I'm not sharing things I'd reserve for my clients. I'm happy to share a bunch of underutilized loopholes! These responses, in and of themselves, offer a lesson: Determining whether to use a repayment loophole — including whether it's feasible, let alone ethical — is a personal choice. I can't recommend a way to legally circumvent the Department of Education any more than I can try to tie your shoe from a mile away. Bankrate's take: The word 'loophole' has a connotation of sneakiness, sure, but nothing we cover below is illegal. That doesn't mean some of these tactics aren't risky, however, since they often require being on point with documentation and timing. Still, as you're navigating through repayment, I land on the side of the argument that knowledge is power, especially when it has the potential to help even one person. A primer on student loan repayment loopholes Loopholes aren't a novel concept. The country's top higher education debt expert, Bankrate contributor Mark Kantrowitz, has been spotting them for years. However, some loopholes are less realistic than others. You could stay in school forever: Yes, it's possible to avoid federal student loan repayment by maintaining at least half-time enrollment and, therefore, in-school deferments. You explore living outside the US: Your income-driven repayment (IDR) amount is determined, in part, by your adjusted gross income (AGI). Plus, the IRS has a Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. So, you could earn up to six figures from a US employer, live in another country and get a $0 IDR payment. Of course, you might not want to be a lifelong college student or an expat — or might not want to plan on it, only for the Education Department or the IRS to suddenly change the rules on you midstream. That's the problem with loopholes in general — they rarely last. Related: What happens if you never pay your student loans? As for the loopholes that are more widely feasible, they're also more closely guarded. In an early June newsletter to subscribers, Student Loan Planner founder and CEO Travis Hornsby wrote, '… sometimes we risk a strategy being repealed if we scream it from the rooftops to the hundreds of thousands of borrowers who follow us.' At the risk of being the guy to ruin it for everyone else, here goes. 5 Federal loan repayment loopholes to consider 1. Preserve a low IDR payment with your married-filing tax status Who it's for: Married borrowers who utilize federal IDR plans. How it works: Referred to as the 'reverse breadwinner loophole' by Hornsby, it requires a tax-filing status of married filing separately. As a result, it shields your spouse's income from being included in your IDR, resulting in a lower monthly due. Also, if you live in a community property state, you might need to file IRS Form 8958 and document the situation for your federal loan servicer. Fine print: If a married filing separately tax status increases your taxes — perhaps by making you ineligible for valuable deductions or credits — by more than you'd save with a lower IDR payment, it might not be a worthwhile loophole. Also, as with all matters involving the U.S. government, it's wise to consult a certified tax professional. 2. Lower your IDR monthly payment by maxing out your pre-tax payroll contributions and timing your IDR recertification Who it's for: Federal loan borrowers enrolled in IDR who want temporarily or permanently lower monthly dues. How it works: Since your discretionary income and your AGI impact your IDR payment, lowering these figures can decrease your monthly dues. This loophole calls for you to accomplish this via your employer: increase your payroll deductions for programs like your 401(k), Health Savings Account (HSA) and other contributions. Then your take-home pay — and IDR dues — will suddenly fall. Related: What is employer student loan repayment? In advising his clients, student loan lawyer Stanely Tate has said that traveling nurses and real estate agents working on commission, among other workers with variable income, are examples of borrowers who can use this loophole to make sure their loan dues better reflect their 'immediate financial reality.' On the other hand, if your income is consistent but modest, this loophole can also drop your monthly dues. But the payment is not necessarily going to go all the way down to $0 on current IDR plans, or $10 on future federal loan repayment programs. According to Kantrowitz's calculations, you could only qualify for a $0 monthly IDR payment if your income falls below a certain threshold. Age group Under 50 50 to 59 60 to 63 Maximum income to qualify for a $0 monthly IDR payment $46,975 $54,475 $58,225 Fine print: When you recertify your income for an IDR plan, you can supply a recent pay stub instead of a tax return, also known as Hornsby's 'alternative documentation of income' loophole. So, you'd need to adjust your pre-tax payroll deductions in advance of IDR certification. Related loopholes: Hornsby's 'tax extension strategy' loophole refers to requesting a tax-filing extension to delay the arrival of your return. Delay or defer income, such as a bonus, until after certifying your income for IDR. Lower your AGI by claiming the student loan interest tax deduction, unless you're a married borrower filing taxes separately. 3. For a limited time only: Access IBR as a Parent Plus Loan borrower Who it's for: Federal Parent PLUS Loan holders. How it works: This is a new version of the past 'double consolidation' loophole that closed July 1, 2025. It is a newer circumvention created, likely accidentally, by the Big Beautiful Bill and helps to accomplish the same end: repay a Parent PLUS Loan on an IDR plan via the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan. Parent PLUS Loan borrowers need to enroll in ICR before July 1, 2026 in order to be moved to the more advantageous Income-Based Repayment (IBR) on July 1, 2028. Fine print: At the risk of being repetitive, this bit is worth a second mention: If you want the lower monthly dues that IBR offers, you must enroll in ICR before July 2026. Otherwise, you'll be stuck on your current plan and higher monthly dues for the long haul — Parent PLUS Loans aren't eligible for the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) either. 4. Consolidate to replenish deferment and forbearance allotments Who it's for: Federal loan borrowers who exhaust repayment pause options. How it works: By combining some or all of your federal loans into a new Direct Consolidation Loan, you reset your access to deferment and forbearance — both types of payment pauses. Though this loophole serves a niche audience, if you have paused your loans for three years, consolidating them could give you up to another three years' worth of postponement, if you need it. The Big, Beautiful Bill's impact on deferment, forbearance The Trump Administration's landmark legislation shrinks repayment pause options for loans borrowed after July 1, 2027. Specifically, it repeals the economic hardship and unemployment deferments and limits forbearances to nine months for every two years of repayment. Fine print: When you consolidate with the federal government, you run the risk of resetting your progress toward certain forgiveness programs or forfeiting certain features of your current federal loans, such as subsidized interest for federal Direct Subsidized Loans. Speaking of accruals, when you opt for a deferment or forbearance, interest typically tacks onto your balance. 5. Partial PSLF for medical professionals Who it's for: Medical and some dental school graduates who plan to work in public service. How it works: This loophole, detailed in 2011 by Kantrowitz, allows doctors and dentists, if applicable, to receive Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) credit during their postgraduate residencies. Fine print: In a House version of the Big Beautiful Bill, lawmakers attempted to close this loophole. But the Senate and the final version of the legislation kept it alive, for now. Tips for a savvy student loan repayment Unfortunately, repaying education debt is messy, complicated and rarely works out exactly as you plan. And as my borrower clients have heard me say ad nauseam, there's no overnight solution. Even loopholes take time to work. Also, loopholes come and go. For example, the Big Beautiful Bill eliminated the 'Pellionaires' loophole that allowed families with low income but considerable assets to qualify for the supposedly need-based Pell Grant. So, while being crafty about working around the Federal Student Aid system can be helpful in certain situations, it shouldn't be central to your repayment strategy. It also shouldn't tempt you to engage in fraud, such as exaggerating your family size to qualify for a lower IDR payment. With that in mind, consider loopholes, sure, but quickly move onto solidifying your overall repayment strategy. You might get especially aggressive about paying off your loans quickly, perhaps via student loan refinancing. Or, if it's a better fit, you might investigate what's left on the menu for student loan forgiveness programs. Either way, it's time to get moving. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
