TRANSFORMATIVE AMBITIOUS THRIVING
WELCOME FROM THE HEADMASTER
A school with a long and established history of academic and co-curricular success, Emanuel provides a balanced and exciting education to bright, ambitious and talented girls and boys. They are encouraged and guided in achieving their varied aspirations by dedicated and enthusiastic teachers who care deeply about their subjects, possessing the skills to impart their knowledge and passions.This trusted relationship between pupils and teachers, with the support of parents, is one of the key reasons why Emanuel is such a positive, happy and purposeful environment.
We encourage every pupil to take an active part in the daily co-curricular life of the school, fulfilling personal aims and learning to feel proud of their contributions to their house, year, club or team. Busy pupils thrive, growing in confidence through their opportunities and benefiting from wide-reaching social groups.
Our pastoral care is rooted in kindness and mutual respect – we wish the pupils to think well of themselves and demonstrate empathy and respect in their relationships with others. With numerous opportunities for outreach, spiritual growth and charity work, we also hope that our young people learn the value and sense of personal fulfilment to be found in helping others.
We are very proud of our school, its rich heritage, its academic and co-curricular ambition and its community spirit. I hope that this prospectus gives you an understanding of daily life at Emanuel and I encourage you to come and see us at one of our many open events.
ROBERT MILNE Headmaster
ETHOS
Emanuel pupils are happy, confident and kind, demonstrating high aspirations in all that they do.
VISION
Pupils, parents and teachers work together in our:
• Teaching and learning, to ensure lessons and daily interactions are full of vitality and inspire endeavour, confidence and ambition.
• Pastoral care, so that every child is recognised, listened to and understood within a community that values the development of spiritual and social understanding.
• Co-curricular and community life, so that every child can enjoy being part of a larger cause, find friendships and develop lifeenhancing interests and passions.
VALUES
We are an ambitious and kind school community.We operate within the framework of our Christian ethos, promoting equality and diversity and upholding fundamental British values, the rule of law and individual liberty. We have a commitment to free-place funding and state partnerships.
WELCOME FROM THE HEAD OF SIXTH FORM
When you walk through the doors of our recently refurbished sixth form centre, you will feel the buzz of 300 bright, talented, ambitious and kind students who are delighted to welcome you to join them. Whatever your interests, as you embark on the most exciting two years of your school career so far you will have all the opportunities you need to find out what inspires you, with the support of passionate, knowledgeable teachers who will invest their time in getting to know you as an individual.We will equip you to lead in your chosen field, with all the skills of collaboration, communication, creative thinking and emotional intelligence necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world. What’s more, we want you to be happy and have great fun in the process! We look forward to welcoming you.
Julia Johnson Head of Sixth Form
SIXTH FORM FACILITIES
The hub of sixth form life at Emanuel is the Sixth Form Centre, a light and airy space overlooking the playing fields which is reserved for sole use by sixth form students. There are plenty of spaces for silent or collaborative study, a conference space for meetings of the prefects or other student groups, and comfortable seating areas where you can chat to friends, play chess, or enjoy one the very popular pizzas from the café on the ground floor.
The Sixth Form Centre also houses the offices of key members of staff such as your head of year, deputy head of section, the director of higher education and the Specialist overseas universities’ adviser, so if you need any advice or support, this is easily accessible.
Sixth Form students have the freedom to spend their private study in the sixth form centre or in the library, which is situated at the heart of the main school building. It is one of the biggest and best-stocked learning resource centres in London, with nearly 30,000 books, over 50 magazine subscriptions and an extensive range of comics and graphic novels.
THE EMANUEL AWARD
As a sixth form student at Emanuel, you will be enrolled on the Emanuel Award programme, which aims not only to celebrate your engagement with your core academic studies, but also emphasises the importance to us of your commitment to activities beyond the classroom and school community.
Through the Emanuel Award, you will be encouraged to contribute proactively to four key areas of school life:
Academic – which involves not only your A level study but also the Extended Project Qualification, academic enrichment activities such as the Goddard Lecture programme, and a huge range of super-curricular clubs, societies and competitions, from History and Politics Society to the Hans Woyda Maths team;
Co-curricular – which involves sport, art, music and drama, as well as numerous additional societies from film to debating;
Community – which refers to our award-winning primary
school partnerships programme, charitable fund-raising, leadership roles such as school prefect and our numerous pupil voice groups including School Council, The Bridge (gender equality and mutual respect), the Archer Advisory Group (racial equality and diversity), Prism (LGBTQ+), Eco committee and the Emanuel Nutrition Review Group;
Futures – which includes all training and activities relating to higher education and careers, from university summer schools to work experience and our extensive ‘Life Education’ programme.
Encompassing all these strands is an emphasis on well-being, with initiatives aimed at developing your awareness of the importance of your mental and physical health and the steps you can take to promote your own and others’ happiness.
A graduation ceremony at the end of the Upper Sixth allows us to celebrate your completion of the Emanuel Award and to acknowledge those who have contributed most significantly to leadership in each area of school life.
ACADEMIC LIFE
In the sixth form you have the chance to study the three or four subjects which you are most passionate about. The majority of students take three subjects with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which allows you to carry out detailed research into an area of interest which is entirely your own. studentsTypically, those who study four subjects will study Further Mathematics as their fourth choice.
We survey our students about their experience of teaching and learning in the sixth form each year, and the words most commonly used to describe teachers are ‘positive’, ‘encouraging’, ‘caring’, kind’, and ‘approachable’.
Learning does not stop at the classroom door: we pride ourselves on offering fantastic opportunities for hands-on study. If you are a budding coder, you might run a computing programme on the International Space Station or build your own safe for the Weizmann safe-cracking competition; keen writers can attend workshops with poets such as Daljit Nagra; linguists might visit the British Film Institute to watch films in their target language. Many choose to enrol on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and attend lectures at institutions such as the Royal Geographical Society.
We hold regular Goddard Lectures, with high profile speakers from universities including UCL and companies such as Shazam and Google. There are exciting trips to support learning, too: students have visited CERN to study nuclear physics, Barcelona to learn about urban geography and Paris for Classics, and there are plans afoot for sixth form expeditions to India and Morocco. We make the most of resources on our doorstep, whether by using our film studio, taking science lessons in the biodiversity garden or making the short trip to a West End production or the Houses of Parliament.
A LEVELS
The subjects we currently offer at A level are:
• Art
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Classical Civilisation
• Computing
• Design Technology
• Drama & Theatre Studies
• Economics
• English Literature
• Film Studies
• French
• Further Mathematics
• Geography
• Government and Politics
• German
• History
• Latin
• Mathematics
• Music
• PE
• Photography
• Physics
• Psychology
• Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (RPE)
• Spanish
Each subject is taught for eight periods per week (approximately five hours) by dedicated staff who are experts in their field.
StudentsStudents in both years also have timetabled lessons in Life Education and Games.
2024 A LEVEL HEADLINES
Over a quarter of all grades achieved were A* (26%), with almost two-thirds of entries graded A* or A. With over 90% of outcomes A*-B, these represent the best A level results in a normal (non-COVID impacted) year.
More than 60 students achieved 100% A*-A grades, an academic accolade obtained alongside impressive and wideranging co-curricular and outreach involvement, extolling the success of our holistic culture at Emanuel.
Alongside the A level success, there were 109 EPQ entries with 68% achieving A* or A grades; as a consequence of their impressive EPQ results, over 40 students were able to access preferential university offers.
EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATION
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a very important part of our sixth form programme, taken by over 80% of our students; all those who are studying three A levels.
Projects can be on any subject at all; they are a fantastic opportunity to explore subject areas beyond the scope of the A level subjects you have chosen and prepare you for the type of research and academic writing demanded at university level.
The EPQ can support your A level choices (e.g. a project about the reception of Jackson Pollock’s works to support an Art A level), or it can be a cross-curricular project (e.g. a project about gravity, which would support both Physics and Mathematics and showcase the potential of someone contemplating a degree in Engineering). It can also focus on a subject not covered at A level (e.g. a sociology project on the changing structure of families).
If you take the EPQ, you will be taught a range of useful transferrable skills, from learning to carry out research to constructing a bibliography and giving presentations. You will meet your supervisor twice a week to discuss your project, which takes one of four forms: dissertation, investigation, performance or artefact.
Examples of recent topics include ‘To what extent is the state unjust and unnecessary?’ (dissertation); ‘To what extent is the effectiveness of antibacterial handwash affected by price?’ (investigation); ‘Create a playscript in the style of the Ancient Roman Hilaro tradition’ (performance) and ‘Create a dress that fuses Edwardian design with modern haute couture’ (artefact).
The EPQ is worth 50% of an A level, increasing the number of UCAS points available to candidates. EPQs are widely regarded as an excellent way to prepare students for undergraduate study, and universities look upon them very favourably, with many of our students receiving preferential offers on the basis of achieving high grades for their projects.
FUTURES
UCAS AND HIGHER EDUCATION
You will be expertly steered through the UCAS process and introduced to other post-18 study and career options including internships and degree apprenticeships, by an experienced team including your form tutor, head of year, head of sixth form, head of careers, and director of higher education.
An extensive programme of support exists for students applying to Oxbridge and medical schools, and we have a strong track record of success in these areas, with 9 applicants achieving places at Oxbridge in 2022 and 8 achieving offers in 2023, including two medics.
Given the strength of our arts provision, it is unsurprising that many students leave Emanuel for prestigious destinations that cater for the creative and performing arts, such as The Royal Drawing School, Central St Martins, LAMDA, and Trinity Laban Music Conservatoire. Several alumni have established their name on the world stage with careers in professional music, West End shows, BBC period dramas, Netflix series and box office films. A small yet growing number are choosing to study overseas, with destinations including Princeton, Harvard, Boston, UC Santa Barbara and UCLA in the USA, and Amsterdam and Bocconi (Milan) in Europe.
A small number of students apply for prestigious degree apprenticeships. The director of higher education and sixth form team oversee all applications and offer bespoke support.
Your tutor will be encouraged to explore your interests by reading beyond the curriculum and attending one of the many academic societies on offer. You will use the latest software to research your university choices and you will be guided to book places on taster courses and open days, whilst in the summer our dedicated ‘Futures Week’ involves talks on making successful applications to competitive universities, pupil finance
and studying abroad. You will also have interview practice, begin your online applications and complete a first draft of the all-important personal statement. Old Emanuels (our alumni) come to talk to you about their university experiences, offering an unparalleled peer insight into life after school. You will also be given support to prepare for student life, with talks on budgeting, finance and coping with the social side of the transition to university life.
CAREER GUIDANCE
With a dedicated careers team led by the Head of Careers and Employability, we have invested in ensuring that students make informed choices about their lives after Emanuel.
All students receive one-to-one careers advice and are offered regular opportunities to attend career specific talks and events. Additionally, all Sixth Form students receive termly invitations to our popular networking events which provide valuable insights into diverse career opportunities, with contributions from industry experts, Old Emanuels, and parents. Recent events have focussed on careers in science, law, finance and the creative industries.
The Careers and Higher Education Convention runs annually, hosting exhibitors from over 60 career areas as well as 20 of the most popular universities. Alongside this event there is a series of talks covering topics such as ‘Understanding careers in medicine and dentistry’,‘Aspiring to Oxbridge’ and ‘Skills for the future of employment’.
Our entrepreneurship events during ‘Futures Week’ give students the chance to participate in industry-related challenges to give them a better idea of what the workplace is like, culminating in a competition where they set up their own mini business.
Students are fortunate to have access to internship and work experience opportunities through the Emanuel network.These opportunities have robust application processes which help to prepare our students for future challenges.
LIFE EDUCATION
Our job is to start preparing you to leave us right from the start of your time here.We do this by providing time for all the research and reflection needed for you to make informed choices about your future.
We are proud of our constantly evolving Life Education (PSHE) programme through which you will gain vital skills for the future, organised around the themes of health, community, awareness and readiness. For two periods every week, you will have a valuable opportunity to broaden your understanding of issues – from climate change to consent – that not only affect you, but also the wider community, and help you to prepare for a safe, happy future where you have fulfilling relationships, job satisfaction and contribute to your community as a responsible global citizen.You will develop independence through acquiring new skills, from self-defence and learning to cook on a budget, to managing student finances and writing a CV.
PASTORAL LIFE
We understand the challenges of being a young adult in the 21st century. Our students’ wellbeing is therefore of the utmost importance and there is a dedicated system of pastoral care in place to ensure that every young person thrives.
To foster positive relationships, we run a lower sixth teambuilding day, a buddy scheme, social activities such as barbecues and quizzes, and various leavers’ events in the final term of upper sixth. The leadership of sixth form students as prefects, school council members, sports captains, house captains and lead performers and musicians is central to the spirit of the school.
PASTORAL STRUCTURE
Every member of the sixth form is part of a tutor group, with approximately 16 students in each group. Tutor groups meet with their form tutor on a daily basis. The form tutor has an overall picture of the student’s life at school and an understanding of their life at home; they are the first point of contact for parents if any concerns arise. The student’s tutor will also write their UCAS references and support students in planning their applications to university or their future career. Beyond the form tutor is a head of year who meets with the form tutors on a regular basis. The head of year is responsible for monitoring students’ pastoral welfare, behaviour and general academic performance and will respond to any matters referred by staff, ensuring effective liaison with parents.
HOUSES
Each pupil joins one of eight vertical houses when they join the school, providing opportunities to interact with younger
students and helping to strengthen our community. Students can also represent their house in the keenly contested house competition, taking part in a range of co-educational sporting and academic house competitions. Sixth formers have the chance to play a key role as leaders of the house as captains or vice-captains.
LEARNING SUPPORT
Emanuel has a dedicated Learning Support department. Our staff offer support and expertise to help resolve difficulties and promote positive solutions for students experiencing barriers to learning. Students and parents can access learning support by speaking with their form tutor. The tutor will liaise with subject teachers to review any concerns as they arise.
For more information, please refer to our learning support policy on our website.
COUNSELLING
There is a confidential counselling service at Emanuel, with the three counsellors working Monday to Friday between them. Counselling sessions last 30 to 50 minutes and students are generally offered 12 weekly sessions, although this can vary depending on the individual’s needs at the time. Students are welcome to make an appointment to visit the counsellor to discuss any concerns they may have, without the fear of them being discussed elsewhere. However, if there is any concern for the safety of the child or another person, this information will immediately be passed to the school’s deputy head: pastoral and designated safeguarding lead. In addition, each of the
counsellors offers a drop-in service over the lunch break where any student is able to drop in individually, or with a friend, to discuss anything which may be on their mind at the time.
Students can access this service without consent although the counsellors always encourage students to share that they have chosen to access counselling with their parents.
MEDICAL SERVICE
The medical room is staffed from 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Students can see the school nurse during the course of the day if they are unwell, or to take any medication that may be prescribed during school hours.
Further information about our medical service can be found in our first aid policy (please refer to the policies on our website).
CHAPLAINCY
Emanuel seeks to nurture the pastoral and spiritual development of the community which comprises people of various faiths and none. As a Christian foundation, one way of nurturing this is through the chaplaincy. The chaplain, who is a priest in the Church of England, is available to all, regardless of belief, as a non-judgemental and confidential ear in times of difficulty or questioning. The chaplaincy exists to encourage the personal quest for meaning, regardless of a person’s faith or identity.
“THEY AIM TO ENSURE ALL ASPIRATIONAL AND TALENTED GIRLS AND BOYS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW AT THE SCHOOL.”
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
SPORT
Sport is an integral part of day-to-day life at Emanuel. We believe in engendering a love of sport and activity, where every pupil can benefit from being involved as part of team and as an individual.
Our sporting programme allows pupils to be introduced to a wide variety of sports from an early age. As pupils progress through the school, they can begin to specialise in their chosen sports, but still retain the breadth of opportunity should they wish to diversify.
Current pupils have achieved significant representative success and honours, including competing for England in rowing, numerous county representatives in netball, hockey and rugby, and selection for professional performances pathways including Surrey County Cricket, London Pulse Netball, West Ham United FC, Harlequins and London Irish rugby clubs.
REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE
We are ambitious, running over 1000 inter-school fixtures each year. Our sports facilities are very busy throughout the week with training and fixtures with significant numbers of pupils having the opportunity of representing the school and competing alongside their peers. The majority of these matches take place on Saturday mornings meaning the school and sports grounds are alive with pupils and parents at the weekend, though regional and national cup competition fixtures will often be scheduled for midweek.
Our co-ed House sports competition ensures that girls and boys have opportunities to compete alongside one another as part of their House teams.
SPORTS FACILITIES
Our on-site sports facilities are excellent with Emanuel pupils benefiting from 12-acres of playing fields, a large sports hall with a climbing wall, two fitness suites and dance studio, a new dedicated strength and conditioning gym, a mini-astro, indoor and outdoor cricket nets, tennis and netball courts, and an indoor swimming pool. Off-site, the school has its own boathouse at Barnes Bridge with its very own strength and conditioning suite, ensuring our rowers occupy a prime position on the river for training and events.
At our Blagdons site in Raynes Park, the school has a further 14-acres of playing fields to help support the sporting programme. Opened in September 2023, we will have a fullsize all weather pitch for hockey, with the ability to support other sports including tennis. We will have further tennis hard courts developed by September 2024 and the site will include excellent cricket nets and facilities for netball and other sports.
Our sporting programme can split into three different strands: performance, development and engagement. Further details can be found below, while a full list of fixtures can be found on our website.
SPORT AT EMANUEL
Our range of additional sports which support the athletic development of pupils. We aim to offer competitive opportunities against other schools in all of these sports.
ATHLETICS
BASKETBALL
CROSS COUNTRY
Our major sports for pupils in which we provide regular inter-school fixtures and enter national and regional competitions.
Our range of sports and activities on offer to ensure that every pupil remains active and learns the value of sport and exercise for life.
Over 20 sports and activities including:
CLIMBING DANCE PILATES RACKETBALL
TABLE TENNIS SQUASH
SPORTS TOURS
There is a regular programme of sports tours designed to extend and challenge our girls and boys, while also providing them with opportunities to broaden their experiences playing cultures and styles. In the next twelve months our senior students will tour Malaysia for hockey and rugby and take part in a residential rowing camp in northern Italy. During February half term 2025 netball and football players will travel to UAE and spain respectively. students. We find that our teams our greatly improved from these opportunities to focus on their training and playing, and the camaraderie they enjoy off the field helps to develop life-long friendships and memories.
DRAMA
The Drama department at Emanuel is busy and vibrant, with a focus on excellent skills-based teaching as well as an exciting programme of performances, trips and theatre visits.
There is a rich diet of opportunities for sixth form students, whether front of stage or behind the scenes. One of the largest and most anticipated events in the school calendar is the annual musical: a whole school event, typically involving over 100 students, performed in the Hampden Hall over the course of a week in March. Past performances include The School of Rock and The Addams Family. There is also a senior school play,
in 2022 students performed an adaptation of ‘Once’. Every other year, the Emanuel Theatre Company (ETC) takes over 20 senior students to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform two shows.
The department is housed in the Fiennes Theatre: a fully equipped, purpose-built performance space with an audience capacity of 118. There are two further rehearsal studio spaces which are fully equipped with lighting rigs and sound capabilities. The department also has use of the film studio and Hampden Hall for some performances, which has an audience capacity of 500.
MUSIC
The Emanuel Music department is hugely ambitious for its students and their musical opportunities. We pride ourselves on being a centre of excellence for contemporary music while maintaining the very highest standards in choral and orchestral music. Our contemporary music provision includes DJ lessons, careers talks for those keen on a future in the music industry Rockschool exams every term and fantastic facilities for students to use and enjoy that include the very latest technology and software.
There are over 30 concerts a year performed in school and at venues across London. Last year our sixth formers performed at The Clapham Grand as part of ‘A Celebration of Rock and Pop’, our DJs played sets at Fabric Nighclub , the choir, orchestra and senior chamber groups performed at St John’s Smith Square, our rock and pop bands played gigs at The Half Moon in Putney, whilst also playing ‘A Night at the Movies’ in our Hampden Hall.
ART & DESIGN
Sixth formers interested in art and design can take advantage of specialist paint and print studios, a dark room for photography, a ceramics room with dedicated kiln, glazing rooms and a sculpture studio. Students can explore a range of equipment, including colour laser printers, Promethean boards and the latest Adobe software.
A-level students are invited to regular drawing master classes, which have helped prepare many students for interview and admission to prestigious art colleges. There are numerous opportunities to visit exhibitions and contribute to displays in school and across London
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
There are a huge range of academic societies which allow exceptional opportunities for students to expand their knowledge beyond the curriculum. Senior Debating, Chess Club, Dance Club and the Media Club are popular among sixth formers, as well as the plethora of clubs that are linked to curriculum areas.
TRIPS
The school offers a wide range of day and residential trips to support elements of the curriculum and co-curriculum. In the next twelve months our students will visit Malaysia for hockey and rugby, Barcelona for Geography field work, New York City for the performing arts and The Alps for The Independent Schools Ski Competition.
All pupils at Emanuel are encouraged to be outward-looking and to contribute to the community. Pupils in Year 6 take part in enrichment activities with local partners schools throughout the year, whilst those in Years 7 and 8 are able to join the community service club. Pupils in Year 8 also have social entrepreneurship lessons where they create a business plan and marketing campaign for a not-for-profit venture to alleviate environmental issues. A large number of our Year 9 and above pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme – we provide numerous opportunities for our pupils to fulfil their volunteering requirements through our partnership programmes.
PARTNERSHIPS
Our work with partner schools and community organisations permeates every aspect of school life. Pupils, staff, parents and Old Emanuels are encouraged to volunteer. Staff run Ascent, our summer term Saturday booster programme for Year 5 partner school children failing to reach national standards in English and Maths; and GCSE boosters for partner school students eager to excel and do so with a little extra support.We share careers events, Oxbridge and medical school interview preparation, inspirational speakers, author visits and more.
We support disability football sessions with Fulham FC Foundation and disability hockey with Wayfarer’s Flyerz; we provide weekly swimming lessons for five local primary schools each term; we share our theatre with Friends of Wandsworth Common for events. We deliver Christmas hampers to local single parent families and hosted a weekly Saturday morning ‘Coffee and Conversation Hub’ for Ukrainians refugees in our community. We sang, we DJ’d, we quizzed, we collected…
CHARITIES
Pupils work through their houses and the charity committee to support the work of charities. Over the last twelve months we have collected significant funds and items to support refugees arriving in the UK from Afghanistan. In addition to sending items to support Ukrainians in need, we currently run a Saturday morning coffee and conversation hub for families from Ukraine and their hosts.
At Christmas, we support Cheer, a charity that provides support for single parent families, by supplying items for hampers. We have an established relationship with Ace of Clubs, a charity that supports the homeless, and raise funds via a sponsored sleep out. The Sixth Form also raises money for our partner schools in Tamil Nadu, India through organising the Sixth Form Revue.
PRIMARY AMBITIONS
Primary Ambitions is our flagship Lower Sixth-led primary school-focused enrichment programme. Our Lower Sixth pupils plan and prepare their sessions including presentations, activities, worksheets and games with the support of their Primary Ambitions supervisors. They then deliver their materials to groups of 15 Year 5 or 6 pupils from 12 of our local state primary partner schools.
We offer 18 different subjects including action-packed swimming lessons in the pool, Orienteering around the school site and Biodiversity in our wonderful Biodiversity garden.These are in addition to Clay Creatures art workshops, Comedy & Masks drama sessions, Filmmaking and Robotics.
Primary Ambitions runs for 20 weeks from September to June each year. Each week 285 primary school pupils, all from schools with a high percentage of children qualifying for free school meals, attend. We provide 1425 pupil enrichment hours per five-week module; and 5700 enrichment hours across the year.
We were thrilled to win the highly competitive Independent Schools of theYear award for Community Outreach in 2021.The award recognised us for our creative approach to supporting our primary school partners throughout the pandemic with our Primary Ambitions’ Lesson-in-a-box programme.
The programme’s success stems from mutual benefit – our partner school pupils are engaged in their learning, build confidence, resilience and friendships; and Emanuel pupils develop their leadership, facilitation and teamworking skills
ADMISSIONS
PREVIOUS SCHOOLING
An equal number of young men and women join our sixth form from a wide range of independent and state secondary schools.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
We are able to welcome approximately 35 bright and ambitious young people into our sixth form from other schools each year.
Registration for entry at sixth form closes in mid-October, the year prior to entry. Registration is available via our website and specific dates are given there.
We are looking for students who show a genuine engagement with their learning and who will enjoy the high level of support we give when applying to universities in the UK and abroad, as well as art schools, drama schools and music conservatoires.
We offer a broad range of subjects at A level. In general, a 7 at GCSE is the minimum grade a pupil will need to achieve in a subject to be able to study it at Emanuel at A Level, although some subjects may have higher requirements. To read more about our curriculum and the grade requirements for each subject, please see our A level Curriculum Guide on our website: www.emanuel.org.uk/ admissions/16-plus-entry.
ADMISSIONS TIMELINE
Summer before entry year:
A copy of your child’s end of year school report will be requested.
Autumn before entry year:
The admissions office will seek a reference from your daughter’s/son’s headteacher.
November before entry year:
Your child will sit three exam papers: English, Mathematics and the General Paper, consisting of multiple-choice questions and a question from a choice of essay titles.
November before entry year:
Your child may be invited to have a one-to-one, 20 minute interview and will take part in a group assessment together with other applicants who have been successful in the entrance exams.
Early December before entry year:
Offers of places will be made dependent on a satisfactory headteacher’s reference, school report, interview and exam outcomes.
Mid/Late December before entry year:
Deadline for acceptance of places.
Spring and Summer before entry:
Those who accept a place will have the chance to attend a variety of keeping in touch events and Sixth Form induction.
VISITING EMANUEL
Prospective students and their families are encouraged to come and visit us to get a sense of what a sixth Form education and the community is like at Emanuel School.
Each year, we hold a sixth form open evening in summer term and in late September. Prospective families will have the opportunity to listen to talks from senior staff, meet and speak with our teaching Heads of Department to discuss the A Level courses available and take a tour of the school site with a current student.
Tickets are allocated for the talks at our open events. There is no cost, but this ensures that we have enough capacity available.
For the most up-to-date details about our open events, please visit www.emanuel.org.uk/admissions/open-events
HELP WITH FEES
In 1594, Lady Anne Dacre founded Emanuel School with the vision to provide an education to children irrespective of family income. Today we continue to support that vision; we believe that increasing diversity in the school benefits the whole school community and welcomes new and varied perspectives, preparing students for life after Emanuel. We aim to ensure all aspirational and talented girls and boys have an opportunity to learn and grow at the school, regardless of financial circumstances. We offer a range of financial support, from scholarships to fully-funded places (known as bursaries). Bursaries are means-tested and they can provide a transformative free place to children who would otherwise be unable to come to Emanuel.
Currently, 25% of our students receive some kind of financial assistance, but our focus going forward is on fully-funded places. We have therefore launched the ‘Emanuel 430 Campaign’ where we hope to provide 43 students with a free place at Emanuel for our 430th anniversary in 2024 – and we
are already well on our way to achieving this target.
We do not want any potential pupil to be discouraged by financial circumstances when making an application to the school. The level of fee-remission is dependent on financial need and can be up to 100%, including the costs of uniform and school trips.
Once registered, parents/guardians of applicants will be notified when the fee assistance application form is available to download from the website. This will be in the September before the intended year of entry and the deadline for submitting the completed form will be in mid-October for Sixth Form applicants. Please always check our website for the exact dates; unfortunately late applications cannot be considered.
In some circumstances, it is possible to waive the registration fee – usually when the household income is below £26,000 per annum. Please contact the admissions office if this applies to you before completing the registration form.
“They aim to ensure all aspirational and talented girls and boys have an opportunity to learn and grow at the school, regardless of financial circumstances.”
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXHIBITIONS
Academic scholarships and exhibitions are awarded to pupils who perform exceptionally well in the admissions process, showing great academic potential and overall ability. Academic award holders demonstrate both excellent academic progress and a strong commitment to intellectual life at Emanuel.
Academic scholars and exhibition holders are not assigned to a specific subject area but may show a particular aptitude for one or more subjects. All subjects offer additional opportunities outside the classroom, which academic award holders are expected to participate in. A wide range of super-curricular events are held throughout the academic year, including talks by members of the academic community, external speakers, workshops led by staff and activities led by scholars themselves. These events enrich and extend pupils’ knowledge.
Every candidate who takes the entrance examination will automatically be considered for an academic scholarship or exhibition.There is no need to complete a separate application form.
Scholarships are typically 10%, but may be up to 50% and may also be combined with a fee assistance award to reach a completely free place. Academic exhibition holders receive a one-off payment upon entry to the school.
CO-CURRICULAR SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXHIBITIONS
Co-curricular scholarships and exhibitions are offered in Art & Design, Drama, Music and Sport. Application forms are available to download from the school website in mid-September and must be submitted with completed references by midNovember. Please refer to our website for the exact dates.
Scholarships are typically 10%, but may be up to 50% and may also be combined with a fee assistance award to reach a completely free place. Exhibition holders receive a one-off payment upon entry to the school.
ART & DESIGN AWARDS AND EXHIBITIONS
Art & Design scholars demonstrate artistic skill and passion for art and design in many forms.
The inspirational art and design facilities at Emanuel are wonderful places for students to develop their talents. The Dacre building has film, paint, print, ceramics and sculpture studios and a dark room for photography.
Applicants are initially assessed on their portfolio and selected applicants will be invited to the school for a practical assessment and interview.
DRAMA AWARDS AND EXHIBITIONS
Drama at Emanuel has a wonderful reputation, allowing students to perform to a professional standard throughout their time at school. Drama scholars are dedicated, talented and have an appreciation for drama that goes beyond being a performer.
The application process involves the submission of written work and references, from which selected candidates are invited to audition. The audition consists of two parts: a group workshop and a solo prepared piece. Most successful candidates will have appeared in productions both within and beyond their current school.
MUSIC AWARDS AND EXHIBITIONS
Music scholars are proud ambassadors for the department. They take part in all the main musical activities of the school, participate in appropriate ensembles and attend rehearsals.
Within the Music department, there are over 30 ensembles of all sizes, including string quartets, jazz groups, rock bands, orchestras and choirs. Students have the opportunity to get involved in workshops, festivals, competitions, community outreach and trips.
Those applying for Music scholarships are tested on sightreading, musical memory and listening as well as prepared performances. The standard of performance of the candidate’s instrument is generally at or above grade 7 for sixth form applicants. Please note it is not necessary for the exam to have been taken.
SPORT AWARDS AND EXHIBITIONS
Sport scholars at Emanuel are exceptionally talented, determined and enthusiastic.
Our performance sports at Emanuel are rugby, cricket, netball, rowing, hockey and football. Sport scholars must be able to offer in at least one of these sports.
The process will allow applicants to show their skills and potential in their favoured areas. There will also be an interview with the Director of Sport.
Pupils receive exceptional coaching and benefit from the excellent on-site and off-site facilities. At the main school site on Battersea Rise, there are 12 acres of playing fields, a sports centre, netball, tennis and fives courts, a mini-astro and an indoor swimming pool. Off-site, there is a well-equipped boathouse at Barnes Bridge and 14 acres of playing fields at our sports grounds in Raynes Park.
HISTORY OF EMANUEL
In 2024, Emanuel will be 430 years old, one of the oldest schools, in London. 1594 1601 1000 430
Emanuel was founded in 1594, in Westminster. The school was co-educational from the beginning.
Emanuel was granted a Royal Charter in 1601, and has received visits from Queen Elizabeth II in 1994 and The Queen Mother in 1951.
Over time, Emanuel’s coeducational pupil population has grown to over 1,000, with close to equal numbers of boys and girls – just as the founder, Lady Dacre, intended.
FACILITIES & DEVELOPMENT
Our school is located on a beautiful, green 12-acre site in Battersea, on the edge of Wandsworth Common. Its fantastic position, only 10 minutes’ walk from Clapham Junction rail station, connects the school to central London, as well as north and south of the river.
The handsome Victorian building at the centre of the school site was originally designed by noted architect Henry Saxon Snell as an orphanage. We have cricket pitches, rugby grounds, a swimming pool, a mini astro, a climbing wall, netball, tennis and aerobics facilities on the Battersea site. Off site, we have 14 acres of privately owned playing fields for our major sports, 20 minutes away near Raynes Park.We also have our own boat house and specialist gym, next to Barnes Bridge.
We have always aimed to provide our pupils with the best educational environment. In 2022 we doubled the size of our Sixth Form Centre and are currently redeveloping our off-site sports ground. The new Sixth Form Centre provides a modern, multi-purpose study and congregating spaces for pupils, while the off-site sports plan has created a new all-weather hockey pitch, cricket nets and two new cricket squares, enabling further expansion of our sports provision, including tennis for all pupils.
We aim to further develop our specialist teaching spaces and other areas, following our critical build plan in the coming years.
TRAVELLING TO EMANUEL
Thanks to the school’s position four miles from the centre of London, our pupils are able to travel to school using the area’s fantastic public transport links. Approximately 34% of our pupils walk or cycle to school, with the remaining 66% using public or personal transport.
Emanuel School is a eight-minute walk along well-lit roads from Clapham Junction, which is a ten-minute train journey from London Waterloo. Many pupils walk to and from the train station at the start and end of the school day. With 2,000 trains passing through the station on a daily basis, the area is wellconnected to the city, the southeast and the southwest.
The public bus routes surrounding the school are plentiful, with direct services stopping near the school from a far-reaching radius including Hammersmith, Fulham,Wimbledon, Roehampton, Putney, Barnes, Richmond, Streatham, Kensington and the city.
For more information on local public transport links, please visit www.tfl.gov.uk.
EMANUEL BOATHOUSE AT BARNES BRIDGE
PUTNEY BRIDGE PARSONS GREEN
FULHAM BROADWAY
QUEENSTOWN ROAD
BRIXTON
STOCKWELL
Battersea Rise
London SW11 1HS
Tel: 020 8870 4171
Email: admissions@emanuel.org.uk
Instagram: emanuel.school
Twitter: @emanuel_school
www.emanuel.org.uk