Admission Policy – Seniors
Introduction
Admission to Pitsford School is open to all regardless of gender, race, religious, socio-economic or cultural background. However, Pitsford School is an academically selective school, the admissions policy therefore takes into account that our curriculum is not suitable for all children. In broad terms, we currently accept into the School, pupils in the upper 50% of the academic ability range.
Admissions to Years 7 to 10
Pupils are admitted to the Senior School subject to their performance in the entrance examination and a satisfactory report from the Head of their previous school(s). Judgement is also based on the availability of a place in the class/set commensurate with their academic attainment and potential. This has two implications;
a) the minimum academic standard of pupils entering any particular year will depend on the academic standards of the pupils already accepted into that year, and
b) at other than normal entry points, a place may not be available in the class appropriate to the academic standard of a new pupil, even though they meet the entrance criteria.
Admissions to Year 11
Pupils are not normally admitted to Year 11 (or part way through Year 10) because they will already be some way into their GCSE courses and a change of school in this instance is not generally helpful to the pupil’s academic progress. However, under some circumstances, pupils will be accepted into the School. In these cases, it must be borne in mind that the GCSE options they may have been following at their previous school may be unavailable at Pitsford School.
Admissions to the Sixth Form
Pupils are admitted to the Sixth Form subject to satisfactory academic attainment and potential, as well as a satisfactory report from the Head of their previous school(s). Our normal minimum requirements for entry into the Sixth Form are at least 6 GCSEs at grade C or higher, and a grade B in those subjects wished to be studied at Advanced level.
Offers of a Place
An offer of a place to a candidate at Pitsford School is valid for 14 days (after which time, the place may be offered to another child on the waiting list). If the acceptance of an offer of a place is dependent on financial assistance, then an application for a bursary must be made within the 14 day offer period. Very limited bursarial awards are available. Applications will be considered by the Bursary Awards Committee following the Spring Entrance Examinations.
Upon acceptance of the offer of a place, parents are asked to place a £600 Acceptance Deposit. The Acceptance Deposit is reimbursed to parents when the candidate leaves the School, but is forfeited should the candidate not take up the place offered.
Over Subscription
If more candidates fulfil the entrance criteria than there are places available in any year group, children who attend our Junior School and children with siblings already enrolled will have priority. Then places will be awarded based on performance in the entrance examination. Candidates who are not offered places but otherwise have passed the entrance criteria, will be offered a place on the waiting list. If Pitsford School is required to decide between two or more candidates of approximately equal academic ability who have met all the admission requirements, we may give preference to:
A child whose parent(s) will pay full fees.
A child with a particular skill, talent or aptitude.
A child who has been registered for a considerable period of time.
Children with Special Educational Needs
Pitsford School has limited facilities for learning support other than that offered to all pupils through our normal academic and pastoral systems. Parents of prospective pupils who anticipate that their child may require some form of learning support should check with the School in order to confirm whether their child’s needs could be supported. If, after a pupil has been accepted into Pitsford School, the teaching staff feel that the child has Special Educational Needs, then, either the child’s Tutor or the SEN Co-ordinator will inform the parents and open up dialogue in order to ensure the best possible support. In some cases it may be the School’s opinion that the education needs of the child cannot be successfully catered for at Pitsford School.
Candidates Age
Very occasionally, Pitsford School may offer places to pupils one year ahead or behind their standard year group, if we consider (as a matter of professional judgement, based on their assessment, academic criteria and maturity) that this would be in the best interests of the pupil and the school.
Overseas Candidates
Each year we are prepared to take a small number of overseas pupils. Offers to candidates for whom English is not their first language will be assessed by way of interview, written assessment tests and reports or references from the current school. In some cases offers will be conditional on also achieving a certain score in a recognised EFL examination such as IELTS