Admissions and General Information

INDEPENDENT DAY & BOARDING EDUCATION FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 4-18

Admissions & General Information

“Theybecauseachieve they believe they can.”

SCHOOL MOTTO

Registration & Admissions Procedure

Introduction

We understand that families have to carefully consider their school choice for their child. We also understand that the school needs to be the right ‘fit’ too. This is why we offer various opportunities for you to see the school, meet staff and pupils and find out what you need to make an informed decision.

Open Mornings

These usually take place on a Saturday in March or late September/early October. You will have an opportunity to meet the Head and Houseparents who will give you a tour of their house and most importantly, you will spend time with our pupils, who will take you on a tour of the campus and explain a little about what being a pupil at Christ College is like.

Other key staff including the Deputy Head (Academic) and Admissions Registrar will be on hand to answer any queries you may have.

Visiting the School

An individual visit can be arranged to suit your commitments and will include a meeting with the Head and the remainder of the time tailored to your specific requirements. We also offer taster days, whereby pupils can come and spend the day at school shadowing their contemporaries. ‘Drop in’ events are scheduled during the year. Please see website for details.

Registration & Admission Procedure

Registration to place your child on the entry list for admission may be made at any time. To register your child please complete the Registration form and submit with the non refundable Registration fee. Once processed, this registers your child on our entry list and ensures that your child will be guaranteed a place subject to fulfilling the entry requirements. If your child attends our Prep School, he or she is automatically registered for the Senior School and there is no additional Registration Fee.

Entry at Age 4+

Parents of children registered for the Key Stage 1 classes will be required to complete our KS1 Questionnaire. A recent report from the child’s nursery/pre school, if appropriate, will also be required.

Entry at Age 7+

Pupils joining the Prep School at Age 7+ will be invited to join a class for a full or half day during which a series of assessments will be undertaken. This will be accompanied by an informal chat with the Head of St Nicholas House to gauge the pupil’s suitability for entry. References will be sought from the pupil’s current school prior to making a final decision.

Entry at Age 11+ 13+

Pupils joining Christ College at 11+ and 13+ will be expected to sit the School’s own entrance tests. This consists of Maths and English papers followed by a non-verbal reasoning test. Pupils will also have an interview with the Head and Deputy Head (Academic). The normal entry point is via the school’s Scholarship and Entrance Assessments which take place in January/ February each year. Those applying for scholarships will be interviewed and assessed by the specific Head of Department. Prior to attending the assessments all pupils must have completed the registration process.

Entry at Age 16+

The usual entry requirement is 6 GCSEs or equivalent passes at level 5 (grade C) or better. For those subjects to be studied at A Level the minimum level required is level 6 (grade B).

A Sixth Form Information Evening is held in February. This event offers the opportunity to talk to Heads of Department about the subjects being considered for Sixth Form. Other key staff on hand to offer advice include the Head, Deputy Head (Academic) and Head of Futures. Senior Prefects also give an insight into life in the Sixth Form.

Scholarship Assessment Days

Those wishing to apply for Scholarships will need to attend the Scholarship Assessment Events. Event dates are published on the school website.

Offers

Offers are made with the following possible outcomes:

• An offer of a guaranteed place having performed to the required criteria in the Entrance Assessments.

• An offer of a guaranteed place having achieved the required standard in both the Scholarship and Entrance Assessments.

• No offer of a place as entry requirements were not met.

Pupils entering Year 7 from our Prep School, St Nicholas House, will not be required to sit entrance tests.

Entry for International Pupils

Pupils join Christ College from a variety of backgrounds, both educationally and geographically. The overall percentage of international students is maintained at around 18% of the school population. We are immensely proud of our cultural diversity. For pupils applying from overseas, and whose first language is not English, entry is normally via online test in the following papers:

• English as an Additional Language (EAL)

• Maths

Supporting references must be provided and papers are taken either at Christ College or at other locations agreed with the Admissions Registrar, provided adequate invigilation can be guaranteed. An interview with the Head is required and can either be held during a visit to the school or online eg Teams/Zoom.

Some pupils may require a Tier 4 Student Visa in order to be able to study in the UK. While it is the responsibility of parents to determine whether or not the child needs a visa (and to apply for it), the Admissions Registrar will be happy to provide the required Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS) to enable parents to do this once a place has been formally accepted. The CAS is issued, on request from either parents or agents, and can be used by parents when making any visa application.

Further details regarding visas and entry into the UK may be obtained from the United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visa-immigration

Please note that all parents resident abroad must appoint a guardian in this country to act with their full authority. Written confirmation of the details of each guardian must be completed and returned to the school in advance of the pupil’s first term and the school should be informed of any changes of details.

The Christ College Host family Scheme arranges local host families for pupils. Host families provide or arrange appropriate accommodation when the pupil is unable to stay with parents during half terms and over Exeat weekend or in urgent circumstances. For details of the scheme contact:

hosting@christcollegebrecon.com

Final Acceptance & Conditions

Final Acceptance forms and Christ College’s Terms and Conditions are sent when a place is formally offered. The Parent Contract and Acceptance Form must be completed and returned to Admissions together with the Acceptance Deposit. The deposit provides financial security against the final fee invoice that is raised after a pupil has left and will be put towards final outstanding items where necessary. The deposit will be refunded at the time the pupil leaves, minus sums due to the school. Once paid, the Acceptance Deposit is non refundable if the pupil does not enter Christ College.

Before a pupil is admitted to Christ College, parents or legal guardians must sign their consent to the school’s Terms & Conditions (attached to the Final Acceptance Form) This includes their consent to adhere to all current Christ College policies. The school reserves the right to revise all policies on an ongoing basis.

Fees

Fees are payable termly in advance and no later than the first day of each new term. Fees will be reviewed annually unless circumstances arise where a more frequent review is necessary. A term’s notice must be given in writing to the Head by the parent or guardian of those children who leave the school before completing their education ie at any stage before they have taken their A Levels. If a pupil is withdrawn without notice, a term’s fees in lieu will be charged.

There are several schemes to help parents with the payment of fees. These include monthly instalments, extended payment period and payments in advance. The Bursar can provide details of these schemes and can also put parents in touch with an independent financial advisor to assist with payment planning.

Please contact the Bursar via bursar@christcollegebrecon.com or telephone 01874 615440.

Additional Charges

Christ College has a policy of having as few additional charges to pupil’s accounts as possible and all predictable expenses are included in the School bill. Occasionally additional costs may be incurred which will necessitate a supplementary charge, but parents will always be informed beforehand.

Additional charges are made for the following:

• Public examinations

• Individual Music Lessons

• Year 9 Subsidised Trips (eg. Battlefields, Beacon Course) – parents will be asked to pay a contribution to the trips. Details will be sent at the start of Year 9.

• LAMDA Speech and Drama lessons

• Daily school minibus transport, please email: transport.manager@christcollegebrecon.com for details.

Financial Support

Christ College is committed to widening access by providing bursaries to pupils who, without such help, would otherwise not be able to attend. Bursaries are not dependent on performance or merit; they are available to any pupil who is able to meet our baseline entrance requirements and whom we feel will strongly benefit from an education at the school. All bursaries are means-tested and are based on a sympathetic scrutiny of individual family circumstances.

Fee Discounts

Old Breconian Discount Past pupils who are Old Breconian Association members can apply to the Head for a fee discount

Forces Pay only 10% of fees if eligible for the Continuity of Education Allowance

Scholarships

Christ College offers scholarships and exhibitions for new pupils entering at 11+, 13+ and 16+ to recognise academic, artistic, musical, dramatic, sporting and all round talent. In accordance with HMC rulings, scholarships and exhibitions are competed for openly on published dates.

PROCESS INTERVIEW & ASSESSMENT

The House Structure

Christ College has seven houses. Each house is looked after by a team of house staff consisting of a houseparent and his or her spouse, a team of tutors and a senior domestic assistant. Boarding at Christ College is the responsibility of the Head, assisted by the Deputy Head (Pastoral) who is the immediate point of contact for houseparents. A schedule of adult presence in each house is maintained by the Deputy Head (Pastoral). The senior houses have a vertical structure which accommodates pupils from 13-18.

St Nicholas House

Prep School day house for boys and girls aged 4-11

Alway House

Day and boarding for boys and girls aged 10-13

De Winton House

Boarding for girls aged 13-18

Donaldson’s House

Boarding for girls aged 13-18

Orchard House

Boarding for boys aged 13-18

School House

Boarding for boys aged 13-18

Prep School (Age 4-11)

Alway House (Boarding & Day House ages 11-13)

The Powell Art Centre

Geography Dept & ICT Suite

Photography & Creative Arts

Swimming Pool

Y Neuadd Goffa - Memorial Hall (inc Music & Drama

Depts & The Powell Family Gallery) Store

The Cartright Block (Modern Languages Faculty)

Main School Reception (Head & Bursary)

The Hubert Jones Science Centre

Senior Common Room

The Queen’s Building

Orchard House (Boys Boarding & House age 13-18)

Lord Brecon Classroom Block (inc. New Pavilion & I.T Suite)

Sports Centre & Fitness Suite

Donaldson’s House (Girls Boarding & House age 13-18)

The Chapel

Day Hub, Library, Sixth Form Centre

The Clive Richards Room (CRR)

School House (Boys Boarding & House age 13-18)

School Offices (inc Academic Offices, School Shop, Henry’s & The San)

Academic Offices, Henry’s & Welfare Centre

de Winton House (Girls Boarding & House age 13-18)

Christ College House (The Head’s House)

The Old Pavilion

CCF HQ

Hazell’s (Floodlit Sports Pitch)

“Warm relationships exist between pupils of all ages and between pupils and staff. It’s a marvellous sense of community.”

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