Admissions and Retention Policy

Where places are available, the School may, at the Headmaster’s discretion, admit into the School pupils of any age (between 3 and 18) who best satisfy the three criteria below.  At the point of entry and throughout their time at the School thereafter, pupils should:

• Demonstrate the willingness and ability/potential to benefit widely from, and contribute richly to, what the School has to offer
• Have not only the financial, but also the moral, support of parents/guardians to meet both Rishworth’s fee-paying requirements (as agreed between the Headmaster and the parents/guardians in each case*) and our educational expectations of a communicative and productive home-school partnership
• Have individual aptitudes which will serve to sustain a diverse and harmonious school community and which will otherwise help the School to achieve its aims

*Every effort is made, within the financial constraints of the School, to assist with fees and to minimise financial factors as a potential obstacle to admission: we provide an advisory service, offer flexibility in methods of payment, and, where possible, award scholarships on merit and grant means-tested bursaries.

Admissions Procedure (available also in the School Prospectus)

A Pupil can be considered for entry to Rishworth at any age from 3 upwards.

Children who have reached the age of 3 by the September of the year of entry may be accepted into Heathfield’s Nursery.  Entry into other year groups, when places are available, is subject to satisfactory assessment. All pupils entering Heathfield as juniors sit a written test.

The main points of entry into the Senior School are at 11, 13 or 16 years, but pupils are accepted at any age, provided there are places and the entry requirements are met. A pupil then has the opportunity of a continuous education through to "A" levels at 18 years. Admission is subject to interview and/or a satisfactory report from the child's previous school, and a written test may also be required. There is an Entrance Assessment for pupils at 11 years old. This is held in November, December or the early Spring of each academic year. In the case of pupils seeking entry at other times, applications are dealt with individually and on merit. Special consideration is given to pupils with a brother or sister already at the School. Transfer from Heathfield to the Senior School is expected, but is subject to a satisfactory report from the Head of Heathfield. Students from other schools are accepted each year into the Sixth Form. Admission is dependent upon a good report from the previous school, an interview, and satisfactory G.C.S.E. results.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Entrance scholarships may be available for candidates who demonstrate excellence in academic work, sport, music, drama or any other recognised field. Means-tested Bursaries may also be available to help with fees. Details of these awards are available from the Admissions Officer or Bursar.

Particular Learning Needs

Rishworth is a main-stream school which is geared to offering extra support for Particular Learning Difficulties of a limited range and a mild nature.  Each case is considered on its own merits, and we do our best to provide what each child needs.  If, after proper consideration and consultation, it became clear we could not provide what a given child at the School needed, we would help the parents to find a learning environment which could.  In practice, this happens only rarely.  A child cannot be admitted into the School if it is clear after proper consideration that, even if specific reasonable adjustments were made in addition to any extra provision arising from the ongoing implementation of existing accessibility plans, that child could not be provided for. 

R.A.B.
Reviewed: Summer 2010
Next Review: by Summer 2012