Admissions Policy

ADMISSIONS POLICY

CATEGORY Education

POLICY OWNER Head of Admissions and National Committee Liaison

DATE & VERSION February 2025 - Version 4.3

APPROVED BY Vice Principal Academics

REVIEW FREQUENCY Annual Admissions Policy Version 4.3 Page 2 of 7

1 Policy Purpose

UWC Atlantic (the College) is a co-educational independent school for students from ages 16 to 20 The school currently has 345 students, all of whom are residential The aim of this policy is to set out the process of Admission to the College

2 Policy Statement

As a constituent member of the UWC movement, UWC Atlantic relies on the support of UWC National Committees to facilitate and assist with the selection of its students, and as such is subject to broader admissions policies agreed by UWC International Moreover, our policies and procedures are underpinned by the statutory and regulatory requirements for Wales

3 Policy Implementation (the processes and procedures including roles and responsibilities which describe how the policy is implemented If these are lengthy or include detailed forms they may be put in annexes )

3 1 The Entry Procedure

There are four primary routes to apply to the College:

1 UWC National Committees (NCs)

2 Global Selection Programme (GSP)

3 College sponsored programmes (no more than 5% of the student intake)

4 College Application route

The Global Selection Programme is coordinated and run by the Committee of National Committees, supported by UWC International and monitored by the UWC International Board In this programme, students apply 9-12 months before the beginning of the school year (earlier than regular NC selection processes) A limited number of full-fee paying places for students are available at 15 of the 18 UWC schools and colleges through this programme

Admissions through Routes 3 and 4 will be determined at the discretion of the college and the sponsors involved in the selection process Both routes will require applicants to complete an application form and participate in an interview conducted by a panel of two members, ensuring a fair and thorough evaluation process

Admissions Policy

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The UWC selection process is designed to identify students of high demonstrated promise and potential, who would benefit from our education, make a positive contribution to the life of the College, and are committed to creating a more peaceful, socially just and sustainable world

Applicants for admission should apply in accordance with the procedures set out by the National Committee operating in their country of residence or origin or through the GSP Details can be found on UWC International’s website

3 2 Equal Treatment

The UWC National Committee system encourages applications from candidates with as diverse a range of backgrounds as possible This deliberate diversity enriches our community and is vital in preparing our students for their future role in the world In UWC we aspire to meet all demonstrated needs, where funds allow, in order to increase access for all students of demonstrated promise and potential who are successful in their applications irrespective of ability to pay

The College is committed to equal treatment for all, regardless of a candidate’s gender, race, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, sexual orientation or social background Please refer to the College’s Equal Opportunities and Human Rights (Students) Policy

3 3 Additional Needs

UWC Atlantic does not discriminate in any way regarding entry The College welcomes students with additional learning needs providing that it can offer the support they require

We strongly advise prospective students and parents of prospective students with additional learning needs, including disabilities, to discuss the candidate’s requirements with the College and their National Committee so that adequate provision, where possible, can be considered A copy of an educational psychologist’s report, or medical report should be provided if one exists If, after due consideration, we consider that suitable provision cannot be made for a particular student or that their needs cannot be appropriately met by the College, we will inform the applicant of our decision The College is active in its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 Admissions Policy

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Student Handbook - Learning

UWC Atlantic Additional Learning Needs/Inclusive Education Policy defines additional learning needs according to the Draft Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales (2018) Refer to our Additional Learning Needs/Inclusive Education Policy for further details

The majority of students at UWC Atlantic are speakers of languages additional to English and therefore, could be described as speakers of English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Refer to our Language Policy regarding identification and support for our EAL students

3 4 Sibling Policy

There is no automatic right of entry for siblings, and in the event that a sibling wishes to be considered for admission, they should satisfy the admissions criteria in their own right

3 5 Disclosures

Parents must, as soon as possible, disclose any particular known or suspected circumstances relating to their child’s health, physical and mental well-being, allergies, disabilities or learning difficulties Failure to disclose important information regarding their child during the admission process is in breach of any agreement made during the application process and may lead to a student being withdrawn from the college after acceptance.

3 6 Fee Assistance

UWC Atlantic’s fee assistance programme is generous, as is that of many of the National Committees Where parents indicate that they require financial assistance on the application form, bursaries are means tested The level of support varies according to parental need, and can extend to full fee remission in certain cases

Fees are set for the full two-year course and assistance is offered for this period The College’s practice is to allocate its entire available fee assistance funding on entry The College’s expectation is that parents who do not choose to apply for assistance at the time that their child is being assessed, will not require financial support throughout the time that their child attends the College, except in exceptional and unforeseen circumstances

4 Related Information

4 1 Related Policies

● Equal Opportunities and Human Rights (Students) Policy

● Additional Learning Needs/Inclusive Education Policy

● Language Policy

5 Policy Measurement and Reporting

The Admissions Policy is reviewed annually by the Education Committee of the Board, the Vice Principal Academics and the National Committee Liaison & Admissions Lead, as part of the annual review cycle and as part of the whole College development plan Part of this review process will consider to what extent the policy is being used as an active working document

The policy is communicated to the school community electronically on Every and is available on the UWCA website for prospective students and parents

An additional policy is available for admission of Non-EU and Non-EEA students (Tier 4)

Contact information: National Committee Liaison and Admissions Lead:

StudentEnrolment@atlanticcollege org

Admissions Policy Version 4.3 Page 7 of 7