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St Gabriel’s

St Gabriel’s

Junior School Admissions

A typical Junior School admissions journey will follow these steps:

  • Initial enquiry
  • Attendance at an Open Event
  • Individual visit
  • Registration
  • Junior Assessment and Taster Day
  • Offer of a place
  • Acceptance
  • Induction Day

Most children join the Junior School at the start of the academic year.  However, we understand that family circumstances and work commitments do not always fit into the school year and, therefore, we welcome applications for the Junior School throughout the year.

Registration

The first step in applying for a place in the Junior School is to register your child by completing our registration form and paying a non-refundable registration fee of £75.00 (Reception – Year 2) or £100.00 (Year 3 – Year 6).  The registration fee covers administration costs and is non-refundable.  On receipt of the registration form and fee your child will be placed on our lists for entry to the Junior School.

Applications are considered in accordance with our Admissions Policy and early registration is, therefore, advisable. Please note that registration does not commit you to the school, nor does it guarantee a place.

Reception

In September, we hold a Reception Open Event which is an opportunity for parents of children approaching school age to learn more about Reception and the lower end of the Junior School.  You can reserve your place at the Open Event here.

Entry to Reception is non-selective.

Year 1 to Year 2

Admission to Year 1 and Year 2 is by assessment and a satisfactory progress report from your child's current school.  Potential candidates attend a taster day with their year group, where they will be asked to complete age-appropriate tasks in the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of the classroom.  They will spend the day working and playing alongside the other children in their year group.  Children must be registered before they can be assessed.

For children joining the Junior School at the start of the academic year, taster days take place during the Spring Term prior to entry. 

Year 3 to Year 6

Admission to the Junior School in Year 3 upwards is by selection through assessment and a satisfactory progress report from your child's current school.  Potential candidates also attend a taster day with their year group.  Children must be registered before they can be assessed.

Children registered to join the Junior School at the start of the academic year will be invited to a Junior Assessment and Taster Day during the Spring Term.  Children are assessed in English and Maths with a member of our Individual Needs Department before joining their year group in lessons and activities to experience a typical school day.  Children are teamed up with a buddy and fully engage with Junior School life.  The Taster Day experience is as much for your child as it is for the school to assess whether we are a suitable fit and will be able to offer your child a happy school life.

Pupils who apply for entry to Year 6 will also be assessed on their ability to pass the 11+ entrance examinations to the Senior School.

Educational & Health Reports

Open communication between parents and teaching staff is encouraged by St Gabriel's at the outset of the relationship. It is very important that the school is informed of any relevant background information on a prospective pupil as this means we do not lose time in assisting a pupil's progress when they join the school.

Parents of those children who already have an educational or relevant health report are asked to submit this prior to the Junior Assessment and Taster Day, preferably at the point of registration.

 

Offer of a Place & Acceptance

The allocation of Reception places takes place in the November prior to entry and, following this, children registered for Reception will be offered a place.  Should the Reception class be oversubscribed, and we have to decide between two or more candidates, we may give preference to a child’s date of registration, in accordance with our Admissions Policy

Children in Year 1 and Year 2 and successful candidates in Year 3 – Year 6, will receive confirmation of an offer of a place in the Junior School within a week of the Junior Assessment and Taster Day. 

An Acceptance Form and our Terms & Conditions are sent out with our offer of a place.  The Acceptance Form should be signed by both parents and returned, along with the £500.00 refundable deposit, to the Admissions Office.

To encourage a smooth transition between schools, children joining the Junior School at the start of the academic year will be invited to an Induction Day at the end of the Summer Term. 

Children joining the Junior School during the academic year are welcome to have a further taster day once they have accepted their place.