Admissions Procedure
Entry points: Entry to the school is at the discretion of the Headmaster and subject to availability of places. These procedures apply at the two main points of entry: Reception (4+) and Year 7 (11+), and also to candidates for occasional vacancies in any other year group.
Registration:
On initial enquiry parents are sent a prospectus and covering letter inviting them to meet the Headmaster and Head of Pre- Prep (if appropriate) and also have a tour of the school. Entry into Reception is always over-subscribed and so it is important that registration formalities are completed at the earliest opportunity.
Prospective parents also receive a Registration Form with their prospectus information which should be completed and returned with a non-refundable £50 registration fee. This is acknowledged and the place (or Waiting List place) is provisionally confirmed in writing.
Twelve months prior to joining Reception (usually less for other years) prospective entrants are requested to pay a fee deposit of £500 (which will be refunded on the final leaver’s fee account) upon receipt of which their places are confirmed as guaranteed, subject to satisfactory completion of assessment procedures set out below.
In the event of a place not being available for the prospective pupil’s name is carried forward on the waiting lists until such time as he can be accommodated, or his name is withdrawn.
Assessment: procedures for entry into different year groups are as follows:
Reception: entrants to Reception are not formally assessed, but the Head of Pre- Prep will visit the prospective pupils at their playgroups/ nurseries to be informed about their suitability for the Davenies environment. If as a result of discussing a pupil with the nursery and seeing him in situ there are any concerns then the Head of Pre- Prep will discuss these concerns with the parents.
For all entrants above Reception level reports from the previous school will be obtained.
Years 1 and 2: entrants to Pre- Prep after Reception will be invited to spend a day with their prospective classmates where they will meet the Head of Pre- Prep and be asked to do some reading, writing and Maths.
Year 3 to Year 6: entrants to the school in Year 3 and above will sit short papers in English and Maths. These papers are to inform the school as to whether or not the prospective pupil can work within the parameters of a class at Davenies and where he would later be placed in sets. Applicants will also be invited to spend a day with their prospective classmates.
Year 7 entry and Scholarship: at the end of Year 6 some pupils will leave to take up places at local Grammar schools and so there are usually vacancies for Year 7 entry. The assessment procedure is as above. The school expects entrants to Year 7 to continue into Year 8 and sit Common Entrance, Scholarship or separate Entrance exams set by senior schools.
Familiarisation and events: Pre- Prep entrants are given the opportunity of attending various events during the Lent and Summer terms to meet staff and other new pupils and parents. These will include an Open Morning, an Induction Morning and the Pre- prep sports day.