Non sibi sed omnibus - Not for oneself but for all

ADMISSIONS

Admission Arrangements for 2009/10

  1. Information
    1. At the time of preparation, the Governors of The Blue Coat School believe that all the information given below is both accurate and relevant. This information is based upon procedures and patterns currently in use, but it should not be assumed by any person that there will be no change affecting the relevant arrangements detailed here, in subsequent years.
    2. The Blue Coat School is a Voluntary Aided Selective Secondary School. It is a four form entry school which admits 120 students normally aged 11+ (4x30) into the four Year 7 Forms each September irrespective of gender.
    3. According to the School’s Articles of Government, the arrangements for the admission of students to the School shall be determined by the Governing Body in line with relevant legislation.
  2. Admission Arrangements, Year 7

    On that basis, applications for admission to the school are invited from parents whose children are in the final year of their Primary School Education (Year 6). Such parents are welcome to attend the School’s Open Evening in the July preceding their child’s entry into their final year in the Primary School. Parents may write to the Headmaster of The Blue Coat School requesting an Application Form and the application form may be completed and returned to the School at any time between 1st September and the closing date for applications which is the 19th September 2008 at 4.00pm. The earliest date for application (i.e. 1st September), and the closing date must be within the School Year prior to a student’s transfer into Secondary Education. Parents must also place the Blue Coat School as a preference on the preference form/common application form issued by their Home Education Authority. The Blue Coat School will only support changes to the preference form if there has been a material change to circumstances e.g a medical condition. However, all requests will be considered by the Admissions Committee which must be submitted fourteen clear days prior to the published national offer date.

    • The 120 places will be filled by those students who achieve the highest aggregate score in the entrance tests.
    • Entrance tests will consist of a Mathematics Test and English Test (both set and marked by the school) and a Non-Verbal Reasoning Test set by the NFER* and externally marked and standardised.
    • Should there be a tie for last place(s) available the mark scored on the Non-Verbal Reasoning test will determine the result. If still a tie the English mark will be the tie breaker. However, should there be a student in the care of the Local Authority involved in this tie this student will take overall preference.
    • The Governors will publish to the Liverpool Education Authority the results of the admission procedure. The offer of a place at The Blue Coat School will come from the Local Education Authority, and, following this offer the school will advise parents of the band which the pupils were placed in rank order.
    *NFER = National Foundation for Education Research which standardises all three tests.

  3. Casual Admissions, Years 7 – 11

    If a vacancy arises at any time during the academic year in years 7,8,9,10 and 11 then all students who have registered an interest in the school, and are therefore eligible, will be invited to sit tests in English and Mathematics. The highest performing student will be offered the place.

  4. Admission Arrangements, Years 12 and 13

    Admission into Year 12 comprise students who wish to embark upon GCE AS and A2 level courses. The school will admit forty external candidates into Year 12. Admission is made with reference to GCSE points and a demonstration of an aptitude for further academic study appropriate to the needs of the student. The minimum entry requirement is 30 points gained in five appropriate and relevant subjects at GCSE. In the event of oversubscription the decision will be based upon the grades achieved in the appropriate and relevant subjects. A or B grades are normally required for the subjects chosen for AS level study.

    External Admissions into Year 13 are occasionally considered and will be based upon academic performance at AS level.