Admissions Policy

This policy will be carried out with due regard to our school Mission Statement

'Runnymede St Edward's School is a Catholic Community which reflects the spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice and aims to inspire challenge and support all'.

Although Runnymede St Edward's School is a Catholic school pupils from other faiths are welcomed. However, all pupils and parents must be sympathetic to the school ethos and therefore pupils cannot be withdrawn from religious education lessons or activities. The school is sympathetic to other faiths and pupils are encouraged to celebrate diversity. The school follows the "Here I am" religious education scheme which includes studies of other faiths. The school also prepares pupils in Year Three for their First Holy Communion and for the Sacrament of Reconciliation; this is an integral part of the curriculum.

Procedure

Initial contact from prospective parents is often made as a result of advertising/open days/word of mouth and reputation. A telephone call or personal visit is recorded and a prospectus is sent out. It is always suggested that parents make an appointment for a tour of the school.

This tour is undertaken by the Admissions Director. If the Admission Director finds that parents require further detailed curriculum information the Admissions Director will arrange for the Deputy Head Teacher to telephone the parents later in the day.

If there has not been any contact following receipt of a prospectus or following a visit a follow-up telephone call by the Admissions Director is made.

Once the completed registration form has been returned an appointment is made for a day assessment (in the case of Reception to Year 6 inclusive) or a pre-Nursery/Nursery assessment (approximately twenty minutes). Parents remain with their child during a pre-Nursery or Nursery assessment. A letter is also sent to the child's current school (Reception to Year 6 inclusive) for an academic reference therefore ensuring that prospective parents inform the school of the assessment

Assessment

The pre-nursery assessment is a general development assessment, e.g. motor control, hand eye coordination.

Reception assessment is based upon the Foundation Stage Profiles and pupils undertake a full day.

Pupils in Years 1 to 6 inclusive spend a day in class undertaking the appropriate work set. In addition Year 2 to 6 inclusive complete the NFER Reading Test and Mathematics Folens Test, appropriate to their age and a piece of written work.

The class teacher completes a proforma and returns this to the Deputy Head Teacher who discusses the findings with the Head Teacher and a decision is made over whether an offer of an appropriate placement is made. The Deputy Head Teacher meets the parents at 3:00 p.m. and discusses at length the assessments completed and any other relevant issues. At this point, if a place is offered, this is conditional to a satisfactory academic reference from the child's current school being received and if a pupil is transferring from another independent school, ensuring that the parents have fulfilled all their contractual obligations.

Sometimes a decision is deferred until the school is able to obtain further information. If the school cannot meet the needs of the pupils, this is explained at this meeting also.

The Admissions Director confirms all decisions in writing and sends a contract to parents to be signed and returned.

A place is not confirmed until signed contracts have been received together with the deposit required.

Spring 2009

Review Date: Spring 2011