vAdmission Policy
Admissions Policy
Admissions Statement
Ratcliffe College is a co-educational Catholic boarding and day school, founded by, and in the trusteeship of, the Fathers of the Institute of Charity (Rosminians). Our vision at Ratcliffe College is to educate young people in the spirit of the Gospel and the traditions of the Catholic Church, seeking to nurture the God-given talents and potential of each individual in order that each one may become a confident, responsible and useful member of society. While we operate as a Catholic school, we welcome children of other denominations and faiths whose parents feel that they can share in, and benefit from, the ideals and environment of our school.
Process for Application
Most prospective students and their parents will have their first introduction to Ratcliffe College by attending one of the Open Mornings held in March and October. On these occasions, they will have the opportunity to meet the Headmaster and teaching staff and, accompanied by students of the College, will visit its various departments.
Parents are also welcome to arrange a visit with their son/daughter on a normal school day, when there will be a tour of the School accompanied by a senior student and an individual meeting with the Headmaster.
When parents feel that a place at Ratcliffe College is a strong, possible choice for their son/daughter, they are encouraged to register.
Registration
Parents interested in applying for a place for their child at Ratcliffe College are invited to register their intent. A Registration fee of £75 (UK) and £100 (Overseas) is payable for all students entering Ratcliffe College at all levels.
Parents may register a son or daughter at any age on the understanding that completion of the registration form and payment of the non-refundable registration fee does not constitute a contract for admission. After completion of the registration process, the admission procedure depends on which level the student is entering the School (see below). The Headmaster reserves the right, without stating any reason, to cancel any registration.
The School should be notified of any change of address and telephone number. Offers of places are subject to availability and the admission requirements of the School at the time offers are made. A copy of the current edition of the standard terms and conditions, together with other relevant school publications such as Parents’ and Pupils’ Information Handbooks, will be supplied on request.
Admissions Criteria
The following criteria are used, in no particular order, to determine a student’s suitability for admission:
- Priority shall be given to Catholic families, and to families sympathetic to the Catholic ethos of Ratcliffe College;
- Performance in the School’s entrance examination/assessment (see below for details);
- A willingness and/or ability to participate in the rich variety of extra-curricular activities;
- A positive report from the applicant’s present school. Apart from applications to the Sixth Form, interviews will not normally be held but the School may interview borderline candidates whose particular circumstances warrant it;
- The presence of a sibling already in the School or previous family connections;
- The family might have shown an interest in sending their son/daughter to Ratcliffe College as demonstrated by attending an Open Morning and/or by arranging an individual visit;
- In all circumstances, the School’s aim is to admit students with the academic ability and other qualities to gain the maximum benefit from the curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities available at Ratcliffe College.
The Headmaster, in consultation with the Board of Governors, is responsible for all decisions relating to the admission of students. If there is a waiting list for entry to a particular age group, applicants will be considered strictly according to the fulfilment of the criteria and to the date order of registration for each child. All offers of places are made in writing, either by the Headmaster or by the Registrar acting on his behalf.
Entrance Examinations/Assessment Procedures
Nursery School (3-5 year olds)
Children spend a half-day in school and are informally assessed during this time.
There is a separate Admissions Policy for the Nursery, available upon request, owing to the complexity of Nursery provision and the educational needs of individual children. Under normal circumstances, Nursery children transfer to the Junior Department. Where such transfer is deemed inappropriate (for example, where it is felt that that child will not thrive given the curriculum provided), the Head of Nursery in conjunction with the Headmaster will notify the parents with at least six months’ notice.
Junior Department (5-11 year olds)
Years 1-4: children spend a whole day in school and, during this time, have assessments in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning.
Years 5-6: children spend a whole day in school and, during this time, take examination papers in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning.
An additional form of entry is admitted at 10+ (Year 6) and the day in school, including the entrance examinations, is held on a school day in the first half of the spring term prior to entry in September.
Senior School (11-18 year olds)
Entry is normally at 11+ and 13+ (when an additional form of entry is admitted) and to the Sixth Form, but a small number of places may be available for entry to other years if there are vacancies.
11+, 12+, 13+, 14+ entrance examinations are held on a Saturday morning in the first half of the spring term prior to entry in September. Papers are set in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. For candidates applying for 13+ entry from independent preparatory schools, entry can also be by Common Entrance examinations, held in the summer term prior to entry in September.
Sixth Form
Entrance examinations may be set depending on the applicant’s educational background and the A Level subjects he/she wishes to study in the Sixth Form.
Overseas applicants are usually required to take an English test. In general, applicants will be interviewed and entry will also be based on successful performance in GCSE (or equivalent examinations).
Applicants must obtain at least five passes at C grade or better in the GCSE examinations. For any subject to be studied in the Sixth Form, the student should have at least GCSE grade B in that subject (or, for subjects not taken at GCSE, at least grade B in related GCSE subjects).
Specimen copies of the 11+, 12+, 13+, 14+ English and Mathematics papers are available on request from the Registrar. There are no sample Verbal Reasoning papers, but examples can be purchased from High Street stationers.
Deposit
On acceptance of an offer, after September 2010, a deposit of £500 for students entering the School from the UK and of £1000 for students from overseas is payable on entry to the Junior Department and Senior School. The current deposit amount can be found on the back of the Registration Form. A deposit is not payable on entry to the Nursery School, but will be required when the child moves to the Junior Department. The deposit is not refundable if the student subsequently fails to take up the place. As fees are payable termly in advance, the deposit will be held until the student leaves and may be used to offset charges incurred during the final term. Any balance remaining will be refunded at that time.
When accepting an offer, parents of Catholic students should send a copy of a certificate of baptism for their child or, if there is difficulty obtaining this, a referral by their parish priest confirming baptism, in accordance with the laws of the Church. Where possible, acceptances from families of other denominations and faiths should be accompanied by a letter from a minister of their faith to whom they are known. This information will assist the School in ensuring that appropriate provision is made in the matters of sacramental preparation and religious practice.
Disclosure of Information
It is the parents’ / guardians’ responsibility to disclose, in confidence, to the Headmaster any circumstances which may reasonably be understood to have the potential to affect the pastoral and / or educational welfare, care and management of any prospective student prior to an offer of a place at Ratcliffe College. Failure to do so may jeopardise said student remaining at Ratcliffe College, should any serious matter arise as a consequence of failing to disclose such reasonable information.
Scholarships
Academic scholarships are offered on entry to Year 7, Year 9 and the Sixth Form. At 11+, all candidates take the normal entrance examination papers in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning, and those obtaining the best results will be recommended to the Headmaster for a scholarship. At 13+, candidates take papers in English, Mathematics, Science, History, French and Verbal Reasoning: those obtaining the best results will be recommended to the Headmaster for a scholarship. Students already at the School may enter for the awards as internal candidates.
Scholarships into the Sixth Form are awarded for academic excellence and are based on GCSE results. Students already at the School are also eligible for these awards.
Two Music Choral Scholarships are awarded annually and a limited number of additional awards may be available at the Headmaster’s discretion. Scholarships are reviewed annually by the Headmaster, Senior Deputy Head and Director of Music, by 1st May of each year and, provided good scholastic and discipline standards are maintained, will remain with the student throughout his/her school career.
Copies of all our policies are available on request.
Public Examination Results
