ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE

Academic entry requirements

All girls entering the sixth form at Stratford Grammar School for Girls are normally expected to have a minimum of five GCSEs grade A*-C, including English and Mathematics

Girls are also expected to meet the entry requirements for the subjects they wish to study at AS/A2: that is, a minimum grade B for most (although A/A* is recommended). In specified subjects grades higher than B will be required – please see the subject pages in this prospectus for details.

Girls continuing from Year 11 in Stratford Grammar

The vast majority of Stratford Grammar School girls continue from Year 11 into the sixth form. The academic qualifications given above apply. Priority for admission to Year 12 of the school will be given to pupils progressing into the sixth form from Year 11 of the school.

Girls joining the school from outside

We welcome applications from external candidates. The admission number for pupils joining Year 12 in 2009 will be 40, giving a planned cohort size of 115. Details of the application process are given below. Conditional places will be offered on the basis of the predicted GCSE grades supplied by the applicant’s school, subject to maximum set sizes not being exceeded in individual subjects, and these places will be confirmed following the publication of GCSE results. The deciding factor in cases of oversubscription will be average GCSE points score in the candidate’s best eight subjects (predicted at the point of offers being made in the spring, and actual in August). A waiting list will be compiled of applicants who meet the general academic requirements for admission to Year 12 but who, in accordance with the criteria given above, cannot initially be offered places. If the number of pupils in Year 12 falls below the admission number in August, or if the number of pupils studying particular subjects falls below the maximum set sizes for the subjects, then those on the waiting list will be offered places, in accordance with the admission criteria, in order of priority, revised in the light of actual GCSE grades. Top priority will be given to looked-after children, followed by other applicants in strict order of merit, subject again to maximum set sizes not being exceeded in individual subjects.

Application process for girls wishing to join the school in the sixth form

The Application Form should be completed and returned to Miss Brownhill, Head of Sixth Form, at the school, by 12.00 noon on 30^th January 2009.

A reference will be requested from the Head of the candidate’s current school, including predicted GCSE grades and suitability for the chosen AS/A2 courses.

An appointment should then be made to meet Miss Brownhill, who will discuss the individual requirements of the applicant, including her subject choices, and her aptitude, interests and career direction, as well as considering the information contained in this prospectus in greater depth.

Applications received after 12.00 noon on 30^th January 2009 will still be considered, but it may not be possible to accommodate all AS/A2 subject choices at this stage. Once conditional offers have been made and the initial waiting list drawn up, very late applicants will be advised to contact us again in August, once they have their GCSE results.

The sixth form admissions calendar

Pre-sixth open evening: an information evening for girls interested in the sixth form and their parents is held in mid-November each year: Thursday 13^th November (7.00 – 9.00) this year. Leaders of all the subject departments will be present to answer questions, and current members of the sixth form will be present to give their perspectives on the sixth form and the courses they are following.

November-January: this is the time when girls should be seeking advice and guidance from as many sources as possible about their options and future possible career paths: including parents, subject staff, form staff, careers staff and other girls. Girls applying from outside the school should submit their applications and arrange a meeting with Miss Brownhill, Head of Sixth (see above) to discuss their subject choices.

Admissions applications and conditional offers of places: girls applying to join the school from outside should ensure that their Application Forms arrive by 12.00 noon on Friday 30^th January 2009. Formal conditional offers will be posted to external applicants before Easter, following receipt of a satisfactory reference from the applicant’s current Headteacher.

Options choices: all girls, whether currently at Shottery or outside, are asked to indicate their subject preferences by February half-term: Friday 13^th February 2009 this year. Decisions about the number of groups that will run and the combinations of subjects that will be possible will be made on the basis of these choices. Firm choices then need to be made from the final options lists half-way through March: Monday 16^th March 2009 this year. If a girl changes her mind about subject choices after this point, her wishes will be considered, but it is possible that teaching groups may be full. Waiting lists are held for individual subjects if necessary.

Sixth form induction course (June): a two-day pre-sixth induction course is arranged for the end of June and all girls intending to join the sixth form are invited – and, indeed, expected – to attend. The dates this year are Wednesday 24^th and Thursday 25^th June 2009.

GCSE results and registration for the sixth form: GCSE results will be published on Thursday 20^th August 2009 this year. Girls who have met the academic requirements need to register for the sixth form with the Head of Sixth or the Deputy Head of Sixth on that day or by noon on Friday 21^st August – both Shottery girls and external   applicants. External applicants need to bring their results slips into school to show the Head of Sixth or Deputy Head of Sixth. If places become available at this point, they will be offered to girls on the waiting list from 2.00 pm on Friday 21^st  August according to the admission criteria and in strict order of priority (as defined above), subject to spaces being available in individual subjects. Subject choices should be confirmed with the Head of Sixth or the Deputy Head of Sixth on Thursday 20^th or Friday 21^st August, so that timetables can be drawn up for the beginning of term.

Sixth form induction course (September): the first day of the autumn term will be an induction day for the whole of Year 12, and will include team-building activities as well as information and briefings.

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