Who we admit
We admit children from the age of four through to sixteen. Most join us at the beginning, in Willow, but children arrive at every stage and we are used to settling them.
You do not have to be a Christian family. Many of our families are, and some are not. What we ask is that you are content for your child to be taught within a Christian framework, because it runs through the whole school and is not something a pupil can be excused from.
We are not a specialist setting. If your child has significant additional needs, talk to us early and we will tell you honestly whether we can meet them well. That conversation is much better had before an application than after one.
Start with a visit
We would rather you came on an ordinary Tuesday than to a polished open evening. You will see classes actually teaching, which tells you far more.
- Visits are with the Head Teacher and take about an hour.
- They happen during the school day, in term time.
- Bring your child. We would like to meet them, and they will have opinions.
- Ask us anything. Including the awkward questions.
Book a visit
Tell us your child’s age, when you are hoping they would start, and which days usually suit you. We will be in touch to arrange a time.
Or ring the school on 0116 222 0792. If you would rather talk to somebody first, that is completely fine.
How to apply
| Step | What happens | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Get in touch | Fill in the visit form above, or ring the school. Tell us your child’s age and when you are hoping they would start. |
| 2 | Visit the school | An hour with the Head Teacher, during a normal working day. |
| 3 | Apply | We give you the application form after the visit. There is no application fee. |
| 4 | Records and conversation | We ask your child’s current school or nursery for information, with your permission, so that we start from where they actually are. |
| 5 | Taster days | Your child spends time in the class they would join. At least one day, and more if it would help. |
| 6 | Offer | A written offer of a place, subject to the admissions policy and to accepting the terms of admission. |
| 7 | Starting | We agree a start date and tell you exactly what your child needs on day one. |
We respond to applications within ten working days.
Places and waiting lists
The school has capacity for seventy-five pupils across seven classes. Because classes are small, individual classes fill before the school does, and a place may be available in one year group and not another.
We have space at present, and there is no waiting list.
Where a class does become full we keep one, ordered by the date of application. A name stays on it for as long as a family would like it to.
Joining part way through
Children arrive mid-year for all sorts of reasons, including because school has not been going well somewhere else. That is not a mark against a child. We will want to understand what has happened, and we will want the previous school’s account as well as yours, but a difficult history does not rule anyone out.
Starting in the early years
Children joining in the reception year settle in gradually rather than all at once. Children joining in Reception spend extra sessions in the class before they start, so that the first day is a return to somewhere familiar rather than an arrival somewhere new.
