Admissions Policy 2023-24

ADMISSIONS POLICY AND PROCEDURES 2023-2024 Update date: September 2023 Review period: Annually Next review: January 2024 Responsibility: Director of Admissions Related policies: Acceptance Agreement 1. INTRODUCTION

The British School Warsaw is an inclusive, co-educational day school which offers a British style, international education for children aged between 2.5 and 18 years old, in an English-speaking environment.

This policy sets out the overarching principles of admission to The British School Warsaw.

All students and their parents are expected to be sympathetic with our approach to learning in addition to our school vision, mission and values.

Our Nord Anglia Vision: To shape a generation of creative and resilient global citizens – a generation that will change our world for the better.

Our TBS Warsaw Mission: To deliver an inclusive, rigorous and high-quality British education in a diverse and caring environment. We aim to balance academic success with character building and well-being.

Our key values: Embodying Respect: Respect is central to our school culture. We nurture a safe, caring environment where everyone is unique, valued and appreciated.

Sparking Curiosity: We value curiosity and foster a love of learning through inquiry, creativity, reflection and risk-taking.

Celebrating Diversity: We cherish our own culture, values and beliefs and embrace those of others which is why we are proud of our diverse global community.

We encourage applications from candidates with a diverse range of backgrounds to enrich the school community and help us achieve our mission. The British School Warsaw is committed to equal treatment for all, regardless of an applicant’s gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, or social background.

In considering applications for entry, the School will always take account of whether the applicant is able to thrive at the School and will benefit from the education we offer. We will not offer a place when we feel we cannot meet the educational needs of a child. In such circumstances, we will provide feedback to families so that they understand the rationale behind our decision.

Further details on the assessment of applicants are set out below.

The admissions process is managed by the Director of Admissions and Marketing (DAM).

The final decision on all applications is taken by the Principal.

ul. Limanowskiego 15, 02-943 Warszawa, (48) 22 842 32 81, british@thebritishschool.pl

thebritishschool.pl

2. APPLICATION

Parents are encouraged to visit our School with their child to meet staff and take a tour prior to making an application for a place. Parents are asked to contact the Admissions Office admissions@thebritishschool.pl in advance to arrange a suitable date and time. Where this is not possible, alternative arrangements can be made to arrange an online appointment with a member of the Admissions Team.

Parents may apply for a place for their child at any time in the year. We will consider applications for all year groups, subject to place availability. Because IGCSE and IBDP courses run over two years, students are not normally admitted to Year 11 or 13. Exceptions to this may be made for those transferring from other IGCSE / IB schools if the applicant’s subject choices match those offered by the School.

The School will always consider applications from students with special requirements, including those requiring additional learning support: SEN (Special Educational Needs) and EAL (English as an Additional Language). However, the offer of a place will always be subject to the School being able to fully meet the needs of the applicant. The School does not have the resources to support those with severe SEN and its site may not be suitable for those with certain disabilities.

It is essential that parents are open and honest with the School when making an application for their child. It is a requirement that parents alert the School to any SEN (Special Educational Needs). In some cases, the School will ask parents and/or the child to meet with specialist members of staff, such as our SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), prior to an offer of a place being made.

The level of English required for entry is dependent upon the proposed year of entry. Those applying for Years 10 and above will require a higher level of English. The school can provide some help for children who may initially need support with their English at an additional fee.

If a student has a lower level of English and is not currently in the Polish education system, the School may suggest that an applicant joins a lower year group than the one proposed, to give him/her more time to develop his/her language skills. Advancement into later years of the School is subject to satisfactory progress in attaining the required language skills. Where this is the case, the School will make this explicit to the parents at the time an offer is made.

All applications must be made by the parents or guardians of the prospective student. Under no circumstances can prospective students themselves make an application. Normally the School requires both parents to be supportive of the decision to apply for a place for their child at The British School Warsaw unless there is a specific reason this is not possible.

3. DOCUMENTATION AND ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS

We use a range of materials to determine if the School can provide for the child.

All students applying to Primary and Secondary school will be requested to provide their most recent school reports.

ul. Limanowskiego 15, 02-943 Warszawa, (48) 22 842 32 81, british@thebritishschool.pl

thebritishschool.pl

A place will be offered upon the evaluation of: Early Years (Prenursery, Nursery, Reception, Year 1) Primary (Year 2 – Year 6) Secondary (Year 7 - Year 8) Secondary (Year 9 – Year 10)

Families will be invited to attend a meeting with our Head of the Early Years Campus. There is no formal assessment.

All families and students will be invited to attend an interview with our Head of Primary/Deputy Head. There is no formal assessment.

All students will complete a cognitive ability test (CAT4) and attend an interview with a member of Secondary academic team.

All students will complete a cognitive ability test (CAT4) and attend an interview with a member of our Secondary academic team. For some students, additional testing will be required.

In addition to points above, students will ideally have: - A minimum standard of academic English - the guideline is B1 on the CEFR scale - Followed an academic curriculum that will allow them to succeed in an IGCSE programme – this will be evaluated and discussed during an interview

Secondary (Year 12)

All students will complete a cognitive ability test (CAT4) and attend an interview with a member of our Secondary academic team to review suitability for the IB course and discuss IB subject choices.

For some students, additional language assessment will be required.

Students will have: - A minimum standard of academic English; - A minimum of an IGCSE B (or higher) in subjects that students plan to study at Higher Level. For Higher Level IB Mathematics, an A* (or equivalent) is required; - At least 3 additional IGCSE grades at C or above, or equivalent if coming from a different curriculum.

The results of any tests conducted are for internal use only. They are used to assess the suitability of an applicant for a place at the School and to provide information to academic staff on how to best support him/her on entry.

The School reserves the right to request further information which will be included in the assessment of an application. This is typically where the standard documentation does not provide enough information for the School to determine whether it can meet an applicant’s needs.

No application will be considered until all documentation requested by the School is received. It is the responsibility of parents to liaise with their child’s current or most recent school and to ensure that they provide the relevant documentation.

ul. Limanowskiego 15, 02-943 Warszawa, (48) 22 842 32 81, british@thebritishschool.pl

thebritishschool.pl

4. WAITING LIST

When the School is oversubscribed, or when further applications are in process, applicants may be placed on a waiting list and parents will be informed. A judgement on placing an applicant on the list is made by the DAM, in consultation with the relevant Head of School and the Principal.

When a current family gives notice of withdrawal with a confirmed date, those on the waiting list will be considered. Siblings of students currently enrolled at The British School Warsaw, students currently enrolled at an NAE school and returning students will be given priority.

Confirmation will be provided to the student’s family with details of when a place becomes available, inviting the family to accept the place. An invoice will be issued and will be immediately payable. If the additional tuition fee for new joining students (3,000 pln) and the deposit invoice (4,000 pln) are not paid on time, the offer will be withdrawn to allow the School to make an offer to another student.

While on the waiting list, families will be contacted regularly to ensure that they are still able to take up a place if one becomes available.

5. PROGRESS THROUGH THE SCHOOL

There is no assessment requirement for current students to move from our Primary School to Secondary School.

Unless parents have previously been alerted, there is no assessment requirement for movement from Year 9 to Years 10. Where a requirement has been stated, it will usually be in place to ensure a student is able to be successful at IGCSE. Some students with EAL and study skills needs will be required to select a reduced subject load at IGCSE. Academic staff carefully consider the suitability of each student for entry to the IB Diploma Programme in Year 12. Each year, there are a few students for whom we feel our IBDP is not the right option. This is due to the academic rigour and the demands of the programme. In such cases, the School will write to parents during Year 11 either stating that we cannot offer a Year 12 place on IBDP for their child or that a place is conditional on their child achieving certain grades at IGCSE. The School requires a minimum of a C grade at IGCSE for a student to continue with the study of a subject at IB Standard Level and a minimum of a B to study at Higher Level (A* for Mathematics at Higher Level). When a student is proposing to take up new subjects at IB, other grade requirements may be put in place. Full details regarding requirements for IBDP courses can be found in the IBDP Handbook.

ul. Limanowskiego 15, 02-943 Warszawa, (48) 22 842 32 81, british@thebritishschool.pl

thebritishschool.pl

6. DECISION

The School aims to process all admissions applications within two weeks of receipt of all documentation and test data (if applicable), and to convey the outcome to parents within this time. Where documentation is outstanding, no decision will be made.

As outlined above, where no place is available, but the applicant meets criteria for entry, he/she will be offered a place on the waiting list.

An applicant may be accepted on specific conditions.

An offer is made in the trust that all relevant information has been correctly disclosed.

Each offer of a school place will include a date for the child to start at the School.

7. ACCEPTANCE

Parents are required to respond to the offer letter to notify the School of their acceptance. Once made, an offer stands for two weeks. Should the School receive no formal communication from the parents within this time frame, it will consider the offer of a place rejected and will withdraw the offer.

To confirm their child’s place at The British School Warsaw, parents must make payment of the required fees and deposit. All details can be found in our acceptance agreement.

The acceptance of the offer must be made prior to the child’s commencement in the School. The first term’s fees must be paid prior to a student’s first day in the School.

Once enrolled in our School, TBS Warsaw families benefit from a dedicated induction programme which welcomes them to our community.

ul. Limanowskiego 15, 02-943 Warszawa, (48) 22 842 32 81, british@thebritishschool.pl

thebritishschool.pl