Admissions Consultation
Consultation on Admissions Policy for Admissions from September 2024
Highworth Grammar School sought to amend aspects of its Admissions Policy for students entering the school in September 2024. The proposed changes primarily affected the Sixth Form entry process. This did not affect our PAN in Year 7 (currently 210), nor did it affect other aspects of our Admissions Policy for students entering the school in Years 7 – 11.
A record of the main changes to this policy are outlined below:
Our current policy introduction:
Highworth Grammar School is an 11-18 selective girls’ grammar school with boys in the Sixth Form. At age 11, students will need to reach the required standard in the Kent Test for admission into Year 7. For students entering the Sixth Form, they will need to meet the required standard as outlined below.
Our proposed change:
Highworth Grammar School is an 11-18 selective girls’ grammar school. It is single sex entry (girls only) for Years 7 to 11 but permits entry for boys in the Sixth Form only. At age 11, students will need to reach the required standard in the Kent Test for admission into Year 7. As an academy trust, the school is its own admissions authority.
For students entering the Sixth Form, they will need to meet the required standard as outlined below.
The first proposed changes to the Sixth Form admissions seek to clarify the existing PAN and oversubscription criteria. Our current policy states:
Priority will be given to existing students transferring from Year 11 who meet the entrance criteria.
Admission to the Sixth Form will be as a result of applicants obtaining a minimum of:
- At least 6 GCSE subjects at Grade 6 or above
- At least a Grade 5 in English
- At least a Grade 5 in Mathematics
- The specific entry requirements for each A Level subject
The admission number for external candidates will vary according to the number of internal pupils transferring into Year 12. The maximum number of places in Year 12 is 235.
Our proposed change indicates a PAN for external students, which will be a minimum number and dependent on the number of students transferring from Year 11 into 12, and clarifies BTEC equivalence:
Admission to the Sixth Form will be as a result of applicants obtaining a minimum of:
- 6 GCSE subjects at Grade 6 or above (where an applicant has studied a BTEC qualification, the minimum standard is a Merit)
- a Grade 5 in English
- a Grade 5 in Mathematics
- the specific entry requirements for each A Level subject
Existing Year 11 students of Highworth Grammar School who meet the entrance criteria will be admitted to the Sixth Form. The published admission number for external candidates is 12; this is a minimum number. The maximum number of external candidates admitted will vary according to the number of internal students transferring into Year 12. The maximum overall number of places in Year 12 is 235. Students will be expected to enrol on a two-year, full time (i.e. 3 A Levels), planned programme of study.
We have also clarified our procedures for admitting international students into the Sixth Form. Our current policy states:
International students may also be admitted to the Sixth Form, but are required to provide certified evidence that they have achieved the equivalent of Maths and English at GCSE grade 5 or above.
Our proposed changes:
International students may also apply to be admitted to the Sixth Form, but are required to provide certified evidence that they have achieved the equivalent of Maths and English at GCSE Grade 5. A meeting with the Head of Sixth Form will be held to identify that relevant comparable entry criteria are met. The school will be the sole arbiter of measures of equivalence when students have sat examinations other than GCSEs.
We have also specified the oversubscription criteria for the Sixth Form to make it more relevant for this transition stage. Our previous oversubscription criteria were the same as for Years 7-11, however owing to the large number of applications, we have added a third criterion after ‘Looked after Children’ and ‘Students in receipt of Pupil Premium’. This is an ‘average grade’ to enable us to rank applications:
Eligible students who are likely to achieve the highest academic grades based on GCSE predictions from their current school. GCSEs already certified will be counted. This will be measured by ranked average predicted performance points score in their best 8 qualifications, the highest score being given the highest rank. The school will be the sole arbiter of measures of equivalence when students have sat examinations other than GCSEs. IGCSEs are considered to be equal to GCSE grades.
We have also amended the section on ‘Appeals’ to clarify the procedures surrounding an internal review (new addition) and right to independent appeal. The policy now reads:
Internal Reviews: Sixth Form
Should an offer holder (internal or external) fail to achieve the pre-requisite grades for entry in to the Sixth Form, they may apply to the Governor Review Committee wherein mitigating factors may be presented and the Governor Review Committee will determine whether a place should be offered in the Sixth Form. If the Governor Review Committee determines that no place should be offered notwithstanding the mitigating circumstances, a right of appeal as set out below still applies.
Appeals: Sixth Form
Should an application for a place in the Sixth Form be refused, parents/carers and the applicant both have a statutory right of appeal which will be heard by an independent appeal panel. Parents/Carers and students who wish to appeal should write to the Clerk to the Governors at the school.
This consultation ran for 6 weeks from Wednesday 14 December 2022 until Wednesday 25 January 2023.