Admissions

Royal Grammar School, Worcester and The Alice Ottley School: Admissions Policy and Procedures

Introduction

1. The Royal Grammar School, Worcester and The Alice Ottley School (“the School”) is an academically selective co-educational independent day School for pupils aged 11-18 years.

2. Selection is based on academic merit, assessed through an entry examination, an
interview at the School and references from a candidate’s previous school or schools.

3. The usual points of entry are at 11+ (Year 7), 13+ (Year 9) and 16+ (Year 12) although consideration is given to candidates at other ages if a place has become available.

4. This policy and its procedures have been authorised by the Governing Body of the School in compliance with the Education Act 2002, the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 and related legislation.

5. This policy is for guidance and will be adapted by the School from time to time as
circumstances require.

Admissions procedure at 11+ and 13+

6 Candidates for admission at 11+ and 13+ are interviewed during the Admissions
Examination process, on a Saturday in January or February.

7 A confidential report about the candidate’s academic and other abilities and character will be requested from the Head Teacher of the candidate’s current school.

8 Each candidate is required to sit three papers: Verbal Reasoning, English and Mathematics.

No special preparation is expected or required for these tests but past papers in English and Mathematics are sent to parents and candidates on receipt of the Registration Fee.

9 11+ entry questions are aimed at National Curriculum Levels 4 and 5 with elements of Level 6.

10 13+ entry questions are aimed at National Curriculum Levels 5 and 6 with elements of Level 7.

11 Details of the three papers are set out in the table below:

Verbal Reasoning Paper	10 minute practice paper 45 minute test paper	This paper tests a range of intelligence skills and will include questions on words, shapes and numbers. Candidates are given a short practice before the real test.
English Paper	30 minute Reading Comprehension exercise 30 minute Writing exercise	This paper offers candidates a number of different Reading and Writing Opportunities, and seeks to test important English Skills, such as spelling and punctuation. The English Paper will require candidates to complete a reading comprehension test, and a piece ofcontinuous writing where there will be opportunity to write both creatively and factually.
Mathematics Paper	One hour paper (calculators are not permitted)	This paper checks basic numerical skills and gives candidates the opportunity to tackle real-life and theoretical problems contained within the National Curriculum

12 The Head Teacher’s report and the wider interests of the candidate and any other
available information are taken into account at the selection meeting. Potential, not just current attainment, is looked for in the test papers and the interviews.

13 Academic Scholarships at 11+ and 13+ are awarded at this time based on performance in the Entrance Examination.

14 Bursaries are awarded on the basis of financial need and are subject to annual review.

15 Music Scholarships are awarded following an audition and on the basis of performance in the Entrance Examination. Art Scholarships are awarded following an interview with the Head of Art, inspection of a portfolio and the completion of a set piece of work, as well as performance in the Entrance Examination.

Admissions Procedure at 16+

16 Senior staff and Subject specialists interview Sixth Form candidates and they sit a Verbal Reasoning test in February/March. As a result of these interviews, the VR test results and on the basis of a candidate’s potential GCSE results, conditional offers are made.

17 Bursaries are only available in exceptional cases and are dependent upon the financial need of the family. They are subject to annual review.

Selection

18 The preconditions for selection are that:

The candidate is of the appropriate age and sufficient maturity.
The School is able to provide adequately for any special educational needs the candidate may have (see further below).
The School, having made reasonable adjustments, is able to cope with any disability
the candidate may have (see further below).
The candidate’s present School reports satisfactory attitudes and conduct on the part
of the parents and the candidate (if applicable).
Fees (if applicable) at the present school have been paid.

19 The academic criteria for selection are:

Success in the Admissions Examination (11+ and 13+) or at GCSE level (16+).
A positive recommendation from the Head Teacher of the candidate’s present school.
A satisfactory interview at the School

20 The preference factors subject to sections 18 and 19 above, are that the candidate has special aptitudes or gifts. The School is looking for well-rounded and balanced pupils and those with exceptional abilities in sports, music and the arts.

Equal Treatment

21 Factors which will not be taken into account in assessment of a pupil for admission are: the candidate’s skin colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religious faith, sexual orientation, marital status or sexual orientation of parents, area of residence or socio-economic group.

Bursaries & Scholarships

22 Bursaries are means tested and parents will be required to provide financial information with supporting evidence and may be interviewed by the Bursar in relation to their application. A Bursary application form is available on request from the Bursary. The level of bursary and parents’ current financial circumstances will be reviewed annually. The award of a bursary is entirely at the discretion of the Governors.

23 The award of a scholarship recognises a candidate’s exceptional promise in academic work or in art or music. A scholarship provides a partial remission of a percentage of annual tuition fees. The Governors may require the repayment of fees remitted for scholars in cases where the pupil opts to leave the School early (eg. The end of Year 11).

24 Scholarship awards are subject to satisfactory progress and behaviour on the part of the pupil and the support of both the pupil and parents for the aims and good name of the School.

25 Scholarship remission does not apply to any term for which fees in lieu of notice are payable. The value of the award is deducted from fees before any other allowance such as a bursary is calculated. In all other respects, the School’s standard terms and conditions apply.

Disability and Special Educational Needs

26 The School has limited facilities for the disabled but will do all that is reasonable to comply with its legal and moral responsibilities under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 in order to accommodate the needs of candidates who have disabilities for which, with reasonable adjustments, the School can cater. (See Disability Policy and Appendices).

27 Parents of a child who has any disability or special educational needs must provide the Registrar with full written details when registering for admission and at least one week before attending an interview, open day or Admissions Examination. A Disability Needs Assessment Form is available from the Registrar.

28 This information is required so that, in the case of any child with particular needs, the School can assess those needs and endeavour to make sure that facilities can be provided adequately for those needs throughout the admissions process (including at interview, any attendance at the School and during the Admissions Examination as appropriate).

29 The School will consult with parents and their medical advisers about the adjustments which can reasonably be made for the child, subject to the School’s Accessibility Plan and usual routines and budget constraints, both during the admission process and later as a pupil.

30 Where the School agrees to support the provision of additional services, such as the use of extra staff or auxiliary aids, parents or guardians will be charged for these at a level that reasonably reflects the cost to the School of providing the service or facility.

31 Additional time and other special arrangements as are deemed reasonable and necessary will be made available for pupils with special educational needs in the Admissions Examination, provided no later than the Admissions Registrations deadline in mid-January, preceding the Admissions Examination:

notice of such special educational needs has been given to the School; and
the school has been provided with a copy of an Educational Psychologist’s report or
medical report (prepared within the last two years), which must include a
recommendation for such special arrangements.

7 June 2007