Admission Procedure

Bethany School
Admissions Procedure
(Revised October 07)

Bethany School has an open admissions policy, which is designed to help discern the best way forward for your family as you consider applying for a place at the school.

First Contact
 Usually people first hear about the school or get information about the school in one of the following ways:

  • Word of mouth
  • Economics essay writing service
    or at companies such like this
  • Publicity
  • League tables
  • Web-site
  • Christian Schools’ Trust
  • Telephone call / letter to the school requesting Information Pack
     

If people contact the school, some information regarding the nature of the enquiry (e.g. year group required, availability of places, reasons for enquiry) can be given/obtained but this information will not prejudice the application.

 
Information Pack
This is a document, which gives general information about the school. A brief outline is given about the areas listed below:
  • When did it all start?
  • How is the school managed?
  • What is Christian education?
  • The Aims and Purposes of Bethany School.
  • Curriculum Model
  • School Organisation
  • Daily Routine
  • Staffing and Parental Involvement
  • Admission Procedure
  • The Financial Commitment
  • The Future
  • Further Information
 
The school Administrator sends out the Information Pack, usually by post. The next step involves the family requesting a visit to the school, and an appointment is made with the Head Teacher (or Deputy Headteacher). It is helpful for both parents (or guardian/s) to see the school, as, if an application is made, a Governor’s visit will not take place until this has happened.
 
School Visit  
The visit is usually conducted by the Head Teacher (or Deputy Headteacher) and involves a tour of the building. The purpose of the school visit is to ‘sell’ the school, expand on material contained in the Information Pack and to inform regarding the distinctive features of Bethany School. In each part of the school tour different elements of work of the school are explained. The notes below indicate what is mentioned in each area:
  • Language Room – which languages taken and from what age, part-time/ volunteer teachers
  • Junior Classroom – class size, Topic Themes, no National Curriculum (SATs), recorders, music lessons.
  • Parent / Teacher room – parental involvement, Christian Curriculum information, CFS Ltd
  • Link corridor – Family Afternoon, Camp
  • D+T – Specialist subjects including some limitations re: Facilities, Grants
  • Art Room – standards of work achieved, GCSE and throughout the school, Chess Club
  • Senior Class – Topic Theme, class size, teaching groups
  • Science Room – GCSE subjects / results, National Curriculum/Key Stage 4, facilities, parental involvement
  • Yards – break-time routines, God’s provision
  • GCSE block – small teaching rooms, GCSE admin., computer room, Christian Union, extra English inc. limitations of Special Needs provision
  • Reception / Y1 Classroom – older / younger / care for / respect, admission times, parental involvement, benefits of early entry, class size / school size / starting other Christian Schools, investment in early years (staffing /facilities)
  • Infant Classroom – Class size, Topic Theme, Special Needs teaching,
  • Hall – morning prayers, parents meetings, PE (including use of Ponderosa etc.), Table Tennis Club, ‘Organisation’ document emphasise Family Afternoon and ethos, ‘Behaviour’ document emphasise not problem free, norms, withdraw place, classroom management, ‘Commitments’ document emphasise, to child, to school, to Christian Education, the starting points, the process, the outcomes possible, school assisting parents, becoming part of the ‘family’, the next stage of the admissions procedure, answering any questions.
 
Further information may be gained about the nature of the enquiry but this should not prevent an application for a place being made. If there are potential problems, it may be necessary to comment on the likely-hood of a place being offered. It is explained that we try to provide as much information as possible so that parents can feel fully informed before making the decision to apply for a place. At the end of the visit, the family is encouraged to study the following documents, which contain information about the areas listed below:
 
Organisation of the School Day Document
  • The School Day
  • Attitudes
  • Rewards and Sanctions
  • Family Afternoons and School Visits
  • Modelling Good Standards
  • Equipment and Duties
  • Sex Education and Careers Education
 
Behaviour and Discipline Document
  • Children and Parents
  • Behaviour at home
  • From home to school
  • Behaviour at Bethany – Principles
  • Behaviour at Bethany – Rules and Norms
  • Bethany School Culture
  • Classroom Management
  • Working with children and families
  • Rewards and Punishments
  • Issues surrounding Corporal Punishment
 
Encouraging Commitment Document
  • Commitment to our children
  • Commitment to Bethany School
  • Commitment to a Vision for Christian Education
  • Opportunities for Commitment
  • Specimen Annual Commitments Form (*position of Statement of Faith)
 
Application Form
Parents are encouraged to contact the school for clarification or further explanation of issues arising from the documents before an application form is filled in. If only one parent has visited the school it must be made clear that the application will not proceed until both parents (guardian/s) have seen the school.
 
When an application form is received, a photocopy is filed in date order and the form is passed on to the Admissions Governor. The family is contacted, and Governors allocated to the visit, usually at the next Governors Meeting. The parents will be visited at home by two Governors, or may be seen at school.
 
Governors Visit
The purpose of the Governors visit is to give further, more detailed information about aspects of the school and to obtain information, which will enable the offer of a place to be made. At this stage we are still trying to encourage families to join the school. We have an ‘Open Admissions Policy’ which means we do not select our pupils with reference to faith, ability, aptitude or on the ability of the family to fully fund a place at Bethany School. It may be that during the exchange of information problems may arise and the family will withdraw or defer their application for a place in Bethany School. It may become clear that it is not possible for the school to supply appropriate provision for the child or that the parents are unable to fully commit themselves to the support of and involvement with aims, nature and style of the school. It should be made clear that an offer may not be made (even if a place is available) if the balance of the class would be significantly disrupted by the introduction of an additional pupil.
 
Information which the Governors should tell the parents:
  • A brief history of the school
  • Some detail about how the school is financed. Explain the ‘sacrificial’ nature of commitment to the school
  • Our expectations regarding parental commitment to the school
  • What the school cannot offer e.g. all staff not trained teachers, limited expertise in special needs, limited facilities at secondary level
  • Special events – Family Afternoons, Camp, Open Mornings, Book Day
 
Information Governors should obtain from parents:
  • Ask if there are any questions raised or problems posed by the documents given out at the school visit
    e.g. travelling, Family Afternoon, Duties, Camp, School Norms, Meetings, Christian Education
 
Information to be obtained should include:
  • Reason for application – expand on information given on application form
  • Any known or suspected behavioural problem, health needs or special educational needs -any difficulties noted.
  • For younger children: use of toilet, coping with packed lunch, dressing themselves, ability to sit and listen, ability to obey simple instructions
  • Christian testimony, church background, support (or otherwise) from Pastor, family, friends.
  • Any problems financing the application – willingness to seek support from family, church, charitable trusts, FOBS
 
Information received from applicants will be reported back to the Governor’s Meeting. Also, class teachers will be given relevant information.
 
If it seems that there are no difficulties then the Governors may indicate that an offer of a place is likely, subject to agreement at the next Governors Meeting. If problems are encountered then the family should know that these will be discussed with Governors and the teachers and this might result in the class teacher wanting to speak to the family. If necessary the class teacher will contact the family and the child’s previous school, gather more detailed information and prepare a report for the Governors.
This information should include:
  • Behaviour
  • Physical problems
  • Academic Levels
  • How any problems that child has may affect the class
  •  A view regarding our ability to offer what the child needs
 
The Offer
If appropriate, the Governors will make an offer of a place including a starting date. The Admissions Governor will inform the class teacher and Administrator of the offer. The teacher’s representative will report back to the next staff meeting any admissions decisions made at the Governor’s Meeting.
 
The class teacher may need to contact the family giving information relating to materials, equipment and routines.
 
The Administrator will provide a Welcome Pack for the family. The Admissions Governor or Link Governor (or Early Years Team) should maintain regular contact if the offer is for a child below school age. The family will be placed on the mailing list.
Contact information should include:
  • Commitments Form
  • Family Afternoon Programme
  • Topic Information
  • FOBS Application Form
  • Family Afternoon programme
  • Camp Brochure
  • Pupil Personal Details Form
  • Year Planner
 
Admission Dates
Reception Class            September       -birthday between 1 September – 28 February
January            -birthday between 1 March – 31 August
Admission to all other classes would usually be at the start of each term, but can be negotiated.
 
Place Availability
  • Bethany School has 8 places available in each year.
  • Each year, in the ‘Unborn/Just born’ cohort two places are reserved (until February of each school year) for siblings of existing Bethany School families.
  • The places in each pre-school year are offered on a ‘first-come, first served’ basis.
  • When the 8th place has been allocated additional places will be offered on a waiting list.
  • School age children can be offered places subject to availability.
  • Wherever possible, we will accommodate, and give priority to, siblings of existing Bethany School families, ‘elasticating’ class sizes if necessary.
 
END