ADMISSIONS POLICY AND PROCEDURES

ADMISSIONS POLICY AND PROCEDURES General Leicester High School for Girls is an independent day school for pupils from ages 3 to 18. The School has 435 places. Choosing the right school for your child is very important, and we believe that a personal visit is essential. We very much hope that you and your child will visit Leicester High School. We hold regular Open Days in October and November, plus other times throughout the year, which give a general introduction to the School. Details are published on our website. We are also very happy to welcome prospective parents and their daughters at other times. Please contact our Admissions Officer Mrs Alice Hailes on 0116 270 5338, or email on a.hailes@leicesterhigh.co.uk to arrange a visit. Entry Procedures Leicester High School is an academically selective school and admits pupils on academic criteria, interview and previous school s report. Equal Treatment The School admits pupils on academic criteria, interview and previous school s report. An individual s race, colour and nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability or religious beliefs do not form part of this selection process. Our principal criteria in making our selection is whether the pupil will thrive in a competitive, but tolerant and friendly, environment, and whether she will access the curriculum on offer. Special Needs Leicester High School is supportive of pupils with special educational needs who meet the academic selection criteria, providing we can offer them the support that they require and our site can accommodate them. We strongly advise parents of children with special educational needs, or physical or mental disabilities, to discuss their child s requirements with the Headmaster before she sits the entrance examination, so that the School can make adequate provision for her. Parents should provide a copy of an educational psychologist s report, or a medical report if they have one. The School will discuss thoroughly with parents and their medical advisers the adjustments that can reasonably be made for the child if she becomes a pupil at the School. 1

Registration and Admission Registration for entry can be made at any age, but it is usual for parents to visit the School before registering their daughter. The application form should be completed and sent to the School, together with the registration fee of 85 (UK & EU), 100 (non EU). A small administration charge will be required for fully funded 15 and 30 hour pupils in the EYFS Unit. Your daughter will not be offered a place at the School if monies are owed to another educational establishment. If your daughter is not a UK or EU passport holder, you must declare this at registration so that, if necessary, the School can sponsor her as an international student. The Assessment Process The aim of the process is to identify potential. Leicester High School is looking for well-rounded pupils with a genuine interest in education in the broadest sense of the word, with interests that stretch beyond the confines of the academic curriculum. The School has strong traditions in the Expressive Arts, debating and the Duke of Edinburgh s Award. There are many extracurricular activities, all of which are important in developing a well-balanced, confident individual. Entry to the EYFS Unit The earliest time for joining this class is immediately after a pupil s third birthday. Assessment occurs during an assessment morning shortly before entry is desired. The assessment usually lasts from 9 11.30am. Funded 15 and 30 hour places are available in our 35 hour week. More details are available from the Junior Department. Entry to Year 1 Year 5 The Head of the Junior Department organises assessments in English and Mathematics appropriate to the age of the pupil. Pupils are assessed using standardised assessments, together with the opportunity to participate in lessons with the class. The Head of the Junior Department will request a reference from the current school. Pupils may be tested at any point in the year subject to availability of places. Assessments will last for a full day, enabling the pupil to enjoy a lunch and playtime with her potential classmates Years 1 to 3 Assessments will last one morning. Pupils will have lunch with us. Years 4 to 5 Assessments will last for a full day. Lunch will be provided. 2

Entry to Year 6 Pupils in Year 5 at Leicester High School do not sit examinations to enter the Senior School in Year 6. They also have automatic entry into Year 6 without further testing. Pupils attending schools other than Leicester High School are offered places in Year 6 using the following criteria: entrance examinations in English, Maths and General Reasoning reference from their primary school Entry to Year 7 Pupils in Year 6 at Leicester High School have automatic entry into Year 7. Pupils attending schools other than Leicester High School are offered places in Year 7, using the following criteria: entrance examinations in English, Maths and General Reasoning reference from their primary school Intermediate Entry (Years 8 10) Pupils are tested at other ages subject to availability of places. All candidates sit entrance examinations in English, Maths and General Reasoning. A reference is also requested from their current school. Entry to the Sixth Form Both internal and external applicants are expected to achieve a minimum of 6 GCSEs at grade B/Level 6 or above in rigorous and relevant GCSE examinations, including English and Mathematics. An A/Level 7 or above grade is desirable in those subjects they wish to study at A Level. External applicants spend a day in School when they are interviewed by the Headmaster, meet the Head of Sixth Form, and attend a sample of A level lessons. Offers will be made on the basis of GCSE performance. International Applications Candidates not taking examinations at School must sit at a British Council Office abroad. Ideally all international applicants should provide a UKiset report at the earliest stage of the registration process. UKiset is a cognitive test measuring underlying ability and language proficiency. For more information, visit www.ukiset.com. Scholarships Bishop Williams Scholarships are awarded to pupils of outstanding academic ability at 11+, based on their performance in the Year 7 entrance examinations. Pupils already in Year 6 at Leicester High School wishing to be considered for a scholarship 3

will be required to sit the January Year 7 entrance examination. The decision to award an academic scholarship will be that of the Headmaster. A scholarship will be valued at 5% or 10% of the school fees. This award will not be means-tested. Once awarded, the scholarship will remain in place for as long as the beneficiary remains at Leicester High School for Girls, subject to academic standards being maintained. The Governors may withdraw a scholarship if they feel it is no longer merited. This assessment will be made on the basis of academic performance as indicated by school or public examination results, grades achieved on PPATs and reports and in discussion with the pupil s form teacher and Head of Key Stage/Head of Year. If the scholarship is withdrawn, a term s notice will be given by the School, and full fees will be payable from the start of the following term. Should this result in the parents decision to withdraw a pupil from School, the normal notice period will apply (i.e. a term s notice must be given or fees paid in lieu of notice). Music Scholarships and Awards Applicants should be aged between 10-18 years (Years 6 13). Auditions take place in January and will be awarded to pupils who demonstrate particular potential and aptitude. There are three different levels of award; Platinum, Gold and Year Group Awards. See Scholarships Policy for more detailed information. Scholarship awards will remain in place for the duration of an academic year and are subject to musical commitment in school and at the Headmaster s discretion. Scholars are welcome to re-apply annually for awards. Any successful candidate will be expected to take a full and active part in the musical life of the School and will sign a contract with the Head of Music to ensure this. Headmaster s Discretionary Awards The Headmaster may make a limited number of small discretionary awards. These may be in any academic subject, or any of the above areas and are generally offered in recognition of excellence in candidates who fall marginally below the higher Scholarship standard and whom the Headmaster, in his absolute discretion, considers does not gain satisfactory recognition in any other way. Their purpose in general is to assist academic research or development in a specified area. Siblings Discount Where a parent/guardian currently has more than one daughter at the School, a sibling discount may apply. The level of discount available is 5% basic fee reduction for second daughters at the School, and 10% for third and subsequent daughters at the School. The following conditions apply to the availability of a discount:- - The discount is only available for as long as the relevant sibling is also at the School. For example, where the 5% reduction will be withdrawn when the 4

sibling leaves the School, and the 10% reduction will be reduced to 5% or 0% when the number of sibling daughters at the School reduces to one or zero. - Where fees and extras are outstanding for more than one month, a sibling discount will be withdrawn. - The siblings discount is not offered in conjunction with any other discount, including scholarships and bursaries. Means-Tested Bursaries The Governors of Leicester High School for Girls are committed to broadening access to the School by offering to eligible parents/guardians means-tested financial support with the payment of schools fees. Such support is known as a Bursary and these may be awarded in the form of a discount of up to 100% on tuition fees payable, depending on the financial, compassionate or other pertinent circumstances of applicants. Full details of the School s policy in relation to Means-Tested Bursaries are contained in the Means-Tested Bursary Policy and Procedure document which also contains a proforma bursary application form which can be downloaded from the School s website. Availability of Funds The award of Scholarships, Bursaries and Music Scholarships is subject to the availability of funds. The School reserves the right not to offer Scholarships and Bursaries in any year that funds are insufficient to do so. Deposit On acceptance of a place, a deposit is required. This is returnable after a pupil has left, provided all monies due have been settled with the School. The sum is forfeited in the event of subsequent withdrawal before actually joining the School. The value of the deposit is reviewed annually and is currently standing at 250. The School s Contractual Terms and Conditions A copy of the Parent Contract is to be found on the School s website and will be made available to parents as part of the admissions process. Complaints The School hopes that parents and pupils do not have any complaints about the School s admissions process, but copies of the School s Complaints Policy can be sent to parents on request. 5

Transfers If, for any reason, such as relocation, a parent is intending to make an application to another school, the Headmaster must be informed. Parents should also inform him of the outcome of any application as soon as it is known. In the event of a pupil leaving Leicester High School, a term s notice is required. Withdrawal In the event of a pupil's withdrawal for any reason, one term's notice in writing must be given to the Headmaster, or a term's fees paid in lieu of such notice. For Free Early Education Entitlement eligible pupils, half a term s notice is acceptable. Sponsor update EM/DW School Committee review Leadership Team review Annual June 2017 Governor Committee Education review Committee January 2016 Next update January 2018 6