Admissions
Admissions Policy
OVERALL STATEMENT
Admission decisions will be made on the basis of fair and objective criteria by the Headmaster and the Governors of the School to ensure compliance with the School’s charitable purposes. Twickenham Preparatory School is a Christian school by foundation, ethos and practice.
EQUAL TREATMENT
We welcome children of many different ethnic and racial groups, backgrounds and creeds. Human rights and freedoms are respected but must be balanced with the lawful needs and rules of our school community and the rights and freedoms of others. All candidates for admission will be treated equally, irrespective of their, or their parents’ race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, orientation, property, birth or status. We expect all pupils to attend our church services and school assemblies which are fundamental to our Christian ethos. However, parents may withdraw their children from collective worship.
DISABILITY AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
The School currently has limited facilities for the disabled. Children with mobility difficulties would find the Pre-Prep an ideal environment, being all on one floor; in the Prep department access is more problematic as there are numerous ‘half landings’ and several small classrooms that would make movement difficult for a fully wheelchair bound child.
However, the School will do all that is reasonable to comply with its legal and moral responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, in order to accommodate the needs of applicants who have disabilities for which, with reasonable adjustments, the School can cater adequately. The School needs to be aware of any known disability or special educational need which may affect a child’s ability to participate in the admissions process and take full advantage of the education provided at the School. Parents of a child who has any disability or special educational needs should provide the School with full details prior to the admissions procedure, at registration, or subsequently before accepting the offer of a place.
The School needs this information so that, in the case of any child with particular needs, the School can assess those needs and consult with parents about the adjustments which can reasonably be made to ensure that the application procedure is accessible for the child and that the School can cater adequately for the pupil should an offer of a place be made.
The School will do all that is reasonable to ensure that the information and application procedure is accessible for disabled candidates and will make such reasonable adjustments as necessary.
Similarly, if special educational needs or a disability become apparent after admission, the School will consult parents about reasonable adjustments in order to allow the child to continue at the School.
ACCESSIBILITY/DISABILITY ACCESS PLAN
This policy can be made available in large print or other accessible format from the School Office.
4+ ENTRY
The main point of entry to the School is at 4+. Pupils start in the September following their fourth birthday.
Pupils may be registered for entry at any time after birth. Registration is accepted in date order, although applications from siblings are given priority. When the school considers the registration lists are full, later applicants are placed on a waiting list. In the event of entry being oversubscribed priority will be given to:
1. Children of staff at the School
2. Siblings of pupils at the School
3. Those pupils considered to be best suited to the academic nature of the School
Children may be offered places on a waiting list and subsequently offered a place if one becomes available.
In the Spring Term of the year preceding entry formal offer letters requesting a deposit are sent out to those on the entry list. Deposits must be returned by the stated date or it will be deemed that the place is no longer required. These deposits are non-returnable in the event of a withdrawal. For pupils who join the school this deposit is returned when they leave the school. Following the final date for payment of the deposit the waiting list may become operational.
ENTRY AT OTHER AGES
Children seeking ‘occasional’ places after Reception are always assessed before entry. In Year 3 and above this assessment is in English, Mathematics and Reasoning, and children are offered places if their ability and potential is of a similar standard to the group they would be joining. The School reserves the right to hold an assessment morning if appropriate.
DISCLOSURES
Parents must as soon as possible disclose any particular known or suspected circumstances relating to their child’s health, allergies, disabilities or learning difficulties.
This policy is available here as a PDF.