HIGHFIELDS SCHOOL Admissions Policy
1 Introduction
1.1 The Governing Body of Highfields School applies the regulations on admissions fairly and equally to all those who wish to attend this school. The Admissions policy has been kept simple, with regards to meeting educational need and the provision for an appropriate level of acceptable behaviour, so that, as a School, we may continue to appeal to a wide cross-section of the local community
2 Rationale
2.1 We are a non-selective School that welcomes children from all backgrounds and abilities.
2.2 All applications will be treated on merit and in a sensitive manner.
2.3 The only restriction we place on entry is that of number. If the number of children applying for entry exceeds the places available (at the time of writing, 24 per Form), we enforce the procedure set out below in order to determine whether a child can be allocated a place or not. It is our wish to allow parents the right to have a place at the School of their choice. However, this is not always possible, due to the fact that there is sometimes excess demand in relation to the number of School places available.
3 The process of offering a place prior to admissions
3.1 When a prospective parent first visits the School, a place may be offered on the following basis :
- That the Form in question has less than 24 children, and therefore a place is available
- That the admission will be accepted on the understanding that the School must, at the time of admission, feel that it will be able to meet the academic needs of a child, i.e. that the child be able to access a Highfields education
- That a child’s behaviour is of such an acceptable and appropriate level such that, at the time of entry, the child will not disrupt their own education or cause the long-term disruption of the education of other children.
Following a visit / visits by the parent(s) and child(ren), a ‘Desk Day’ will usually take place , during which a child’s educational needs will be assessed. If the child is under six years of age, a short meeting will take place with the Headteacher as well as a short visit to the classroom setting.
Feedback from members of teaching staff will be used to inform the decision as to whether a parent will be offered a place for their child at Highfields.