Applying to independent schools is an exciting time, as you select the best school for your child’s future. The Sidcot School admissions process is outlined below, so you can be sure of exactly what you need to do to register your child for a place at our Pre-School, Junior School, Senior School, or Sixth Form.
From initial enquiry to the application itself, the Sidcot admissions team are happy to help you discover whether our school is the right one for your child. Read on to find out how to apply to Sidcot School on behalf of your child.
The Sidcot School Admissions Process
The 9 steps below outline the different stages you should go through when applying to Sidcot School.
1. Do Your Research
When you’re applying to independent schools, your journey should always begin with research. Take a look through our website to learn about the history of our school, our Quaker values, the extracurricular activities we offer, and discover our school values.
2. Visit Sidcot
It’s important to see the school for yourself before you apply for a place. You can sign up to attend an Open Day, come along to a taster event, or arrange a private school tour. We recommend that all applicants, including those living abroad, visit Sidcot during the admissions process. Learn more about opportunities to visit.
3. Complete Your Application
The next stage is to complete the application form and return it along with the registration fee (Senior £160, Junior £85) along with your child’s most recent school report. If your child requires learning support, please also supply the relevant reports about their specific needs - for example, an Educational Psychologist report, or IEP (Individual Education Plan).
4. Attend A Taster Day
A Taster Day gives your child a chance to have a good look round the School and meet some prospective classmates and teachers. For Junior School students, the Taster Programme lasts for two days. For Pre-School pupils and pupils for Reception, it’s a half-day session. Taster sessions are an entry requirement for the Pre-School and Junior School but are optional for the Senior School.
5. Meet the Headmaster & Deputy Heads
Our Head, James Jones, Deputy Head (Academic), Christian Hughes, and Deputy Head (Pastoral), Joanna Leite like to meet all pupils who are thinking of coming to Sidcot Senior School, to discuss their motivation for applying, their subject interests, and what they can bring to the School. Students applying to Sidcot Junior School will meet Cath Dykes, Head of the Junior School.
6. Assessments
We do not use Common Entrance Examinations at Sidcot. All applicants from Year 7 upwards take assessments in Maths and English. These are informal baseline assessments, not pass or fail tests, to help determine which teaching group a pupil will enter. A date can be arranged to suit you during the application process.
7. Offer Stage
As soon as possible after the interview or application, we will contact successful applicants with an offer.
8. Acceptance
To accept your place at Sidcot, please read the Parent Contract and return the completed Acceptance Form with the deposit and completed Medical Card. Shortly afterwards, we’ll email our joining instructions, which will include all the practical details you will need.
Find all of the important documents you’ll need as part of the Sidcot admissions process.
9. Joining Sidcot
In July (or just before you start at Sidcot if you’re joining us partway through the year), you’ll receive further instructions prior to your child’s start date including details about which House they will be joining.
The admissions process for Scholarship and Bursary applications is slightly different - please give us a call for further information. Find out more about Scholarships and Bursaries at Sidcot.
Sidcot Admissions Policy
At Sidcot, we are not selective, beyond our expectation that our students will cope with the mainstream curriculum. Students can be accepted throughout the year from Pre-School to Year 9, providing space is available. Students are able to join examination Years 10 and 12 up to one half term late, at the school’s discretion, but students will not be accepted into Years 11 and 13.
For entry to the Sixth Form, students must gain at least 5 A*-C grades at GCSE, especially in the subjects they wish to continue studying (if applicable). Students considering the International Baccalaureate Diploma or the AQA Baccalaureate, will need at least a GCSE grade A*-C in Maths and English.
Waiting Lists
Sidcot is a popular school - when there are no available places, students are invited to join the waiting list for their chosen year group.
If you have any questions about the Sidcot admissions process, please don’t hesitate to contact us.