Choosing a school for your child can be a difficult and lengthy process. Each child is unique and finding somewhere where you know they are going to be happy and successful takes careful consideration and time.
We hope our website and films give you a taste of life at Bootham School. However, the best way to decide if we are right for your child is to come and meet us.
We hold regular open mornings when you can come and see the school in action or if you prefer you can come for a private visit which we will happily arrange for you.
Please note that places are extremely limited so early application is advised.
Fiona Ward, our Registrar, deals with all the day-to- day issues of the entrance procedure. Please contact her for more information by emailing [email protected] or calling 01904 623261.
We have clear procedures in place to enrol pupils as we believe that the combination of taster mornings/days, meeting the Headteacher, and a report from your child’s present school gives us the best possible way to assess their suitability and future needs.
Registration
To start the process you will need to complete the ‘Application for Admission’ form and send it to us together with the £50.00 registration fee.. It is never too early to register and if places are oversubscribed, the date of registration may be taken into account.
Meet the Head
You are very welcome to visit us at any mutually convenient time to see the school and meet with the Headteacher, Helen Todd. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to ask any questions and to meet other pupils and staff. Whilst it is also a perfect time for us to find out what interests your child has, and how Bootham can bring out the best in them.
The School Report
If your son or daughter is already at school, excluding Nursery classes, we will ask for a report from your child’s present school to make sure all his or her needs can be catered for.
Taster Days
All prospective pupils are invited to spend a normal day in school, working alongside their future classmates. This is to allow both your son or daughter and their new teacher to get to know each other and helps us to ensure your child will thrive here. We do not usually ask children below Year 5 entry to sit a test, rather they join in normal lessons and activities.
How can you find out more?
Come to an Open Afternoon, or just contact us to arrange a mutually convenient date for your visit. Lucy Carter, our Junior School Registrar and Business Development Co-ordinator, deals with all the day-to-day issues of the entrance procedure. Please contact her for more information by emailing [email protected] or calling 01904 655021.
Registration
Complete the ‘application for admission’ form and submit the £75.00 registration fee.
Entrance Assessment/Exam
An entrance exam is taken to ensure we give you the right advice about your child’s education. Students entering in Lower and Upper Schoolrooms (Years 7 & 9) will sit the School’s own Entrance Assessment in January For College (Sixth Form) entry, a minimum of seven GCSEs at Grade 4 or above (or six GCSEs, of which three must be at Grade 6 or higher) are required, including Maths and English Language. Places will be offered on the basis of predicted grades and confirmed after GCSE results are published.
The Chance to Meet the Head
Where possible, you may also meet the Head, Deneal Smith. This is our opportunity to find out what interests your child has and how Bootham can bring out the best in him or her. It is also the time for you to ask questions of us and to meet other students and staff.
The School Report
Finally, we ask for a report from your child’s present school to make sure all his or her needs can be catered for.
If places are oversubscribed, boarding status and date of registration will be taken into account.
Bootham School welcomes admissions from international students and currently has students from more than 20 countries.
Students from outside the UK will require the relevant visa to gain entry to the UK for their studies. Before you apply for your visa, you will need to check if you require a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which we obtain for you via UK Visas and Immigration. For more information and advice, please contact our admissions department: [email protected].
EAL (English as an Additional Language Provision for Overseas Pupils)
We provide additional English language teaching to assist pupils whose first language is not English.
In the early years up to four lessons a week on a one-to- one or very small group setting are offered. As students progress through the school and their English becomes accurate and fluent, this support is reviewed. International students who enter College may also receive classes to prepare them for IELTS (British university English language entrance tests).
The EAL department at Bootham is invaluable in enabling students to be successful in their subsequent university studies.
Where the school determines that a student needs EAL support, these classes will be compulsory and are included in the termly fees.
UK Guardians and Travel Arrangements
All students whose parents live abroad are required to have a UK Guardian for the duration of their time at Bootham School. An approved Guardian will be over the age of 25 and will be either a family member, a family friend or approved by a recognised agency and DBS checked. University students living in University halls of residence will not be accepted as legitimate Guardians.
If you know that your son or daughter is going to spend more than 28 days at any one time with their UK Guardian or any other adult who is not a relative then you have a duty to advise the local council of the arrangement. The Children Act defines ‘relative’ in relation to a child as a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt. They could be a full or half relation, and could be related by marriage. The term also includes a step-parent. A cohabitee of the mother or father would not qualify as a relative, neither would extended family such as great aunt/uncle or parent’s cousins.
The role of a UK Guardian
We would like to emphasise the importance of the UK guardian who acts, primarily, as an adult whose advice and support your son/daughter can call upon if needed.
A UK guardian might be asked to accompany a student on journeys between the School and the airport. A student will be expected to stay with their UK guardian during Leave Weekends when there is no Saturday school, during holidays or half-terms, or in emergency situations. For example, we may need to send a student with an infectious condition to stay with guardians at very short notice.
A UK guardian will be expected to assist with making travel arrangements – see section headed ‘Travel Arrangements’ below. For these reasons it is strongly advised that Guardians live within a reasonable distance; ideally within two hours of the School.
Choosing a UK Guardian
If you have family or a close family friend living in the UK who is prepared to act as UK guardian this is usually preferable. Alternatively, there are many agencies who offer guardianship services.
Some Questions to ask when choosing an agency:
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