Introduction
These procedures serve to ensure that:

• Criteria are clear, fair and objective
• The admission arrangements contribute to raising standards
• Parents have easy access to helpful information

General
There are two ways in which parents may apply for a place at Gad’s Hill.

Either via the main entry points at Nursery (pre-school), Year 6, Year 7 (senior school). Entry at these ages involves a large number of applicants and therefore the admissions process for each is quite detailed and is described below. Or for entry to any other year group in which case admission will depend on there being vacancies and therefore will be a more ad-hoc process.

Applications Procedure

1. Parents wishing to consider the school for their child should first contact the school to request a prospectus and application pack.
2. The school holds two open days each year to enable interested parents the opportunity to see the school.
3. Parents interested in applying for a place should complete a registration form and send this to the school and pay the appropriate registration fee. The registration fee is a non-returnable charge to cover the administration costs in processing the application. Once registered the child will be placed on the school’s waiting list.
4. The pupil and their parents will be offered the opportunity to visit the school and meet with the Headmaster for a tour and informal interview.
5. Assessment of the pupils ability, potential and suitability will take place by interview, entrance examination and/or taster day. A Taster day enables the child to attend school for the day and gives him/her the opportunity to judge for him/herself whether the school is suitable and for the school to assess the general aptitude of the child.
6. An offer of a place will be made in writing. The parents will then be required to read the accompanying terms and conditions of entry before signing the acceptance form (which is a legally binding contract) and return this to the school together with a deposit before a place is guaranteed.
7. A deposit is held against a child not taking up their place or defaulting school fees in which case it will be forfeited. Otherwise it is returned to parents when the child leaves the school. Full details regarding deposits are explained in the school’s standard terms and conditions, which are available upon request.
8. Potential pupils who have a grievance or complaint in relation to the admissions process may use the schools grievance/complaint procedures.

Admission Criteria
Children will be offered a place providing they meet schools standards with regard to the following admission criteria:

• Ability: An assessment of the child’s academic ability or attainment in comparison with his/her age cohort. This is measured by teacher assessment and/or by examination.
  
• Potential: A measure of the child’s ability to make academic progress in relation to his/her current ability. This is measured by interview, teacher assessment and/or examination or school reports.
  
• Suitability: A measure of the child’s enthusiasm, behaviour, work ethic, willingness to learn and general conduct. This is done through interview, previous school report and/or by teacher assessment.

Casual Admissions:
Procedures
Children may apply for admission to the school at any time and for any age group. If there are vacancies then their application will proceed. If there are no vacancies then they will be placed on the waiting list. When a vacancy does arise parents on the waiting list will be contacted in the following order:

1. Sibling candidates
2. Date order of registration

The child will be assessed and providing he/she meets the schools admission criteria will be offered a place. If he/she does not meet the criteria then the next candidate on the list will be invited forward and so on.

Group Admission Procedures
There are three key entry stages at the school. These are Nursery (KN), Year 6 (Removes) and Year 7 (Shell). These age groups attract a large number of applications and therefore the admission arrangements are more detailed.

KN Nursery (Pre-School)
Children commence nursery education in the September prior to their fourth birthday. Their education at this stage may be part time but must consist of at least 6 sessions per week to ensure sufficient curriculum material is covered. Fees are payable as if attending five full days per week. There is no remission of fees for children attending part time. There are a maximum of 20 places available and parents may register their child at any time from birth up until the start of the academic year of entry.

About eight months prior to admission the parents of those children who have registered will be invited to visit the school to enable the children to be assessed and for interview. Places are then allocated according to the assessment criteria in relation to ability, potential and suitability.

Parents who apply after that time will be asked to register and to visit the school for assessment and interview providing there are still places available.

The criteria for selection will be:

• Interview + assessment
• Sibling
• Date of application

Notes:
Once the school has made an offer and the parents have signed and returned the acceptance form and paid the required deposit their child’s place is guaranteed.

It is not unusual for the Nursery to be “full” and no further places available six months or so prior to admission

KR Reception
Children commence their formal, full time education at this stage and join the reception class in the September before their fifth birthday. There are a maximum of 20 places available and parents may apply for registration at anytime from birth up until the start of the autumn term of entry. Parents who apply for entry directly into the Reception class must accept that existing Nursery pupils have priority over external candidates in selection for the Reception class.

Children in the existing Nursery class (KN) will normally proceed into KR automatically. If there are places available the external candidates who meet the school’s admission criteria will then be offered a place in the Reception class and asked to conform their acceptance by a published cut-off date. Places are then allocated on a first come first served basis up to that date.

Parents of pupils who are not existing Nursery pupils will be invited for interview and assessment if there are still places available. Should the places available become oversubscribed at any time in the process the criteria for selection will be:

1. Assessment
2. Sibling
3. Date of application

Notes:
Once the school has made an offer and the parents have signed and returned the acceptance form and paid the required deposit their child’s place is guaranteed.

It is not unusual for the Reception class to be oversubscribed by existing nursery pupils.