Admissions Policy

General Statement of Policy 

The School seeks to promote accessibility by making available both means-tested (assisted place) and non means-tested (scholarship) awards.  Further details of these awards can be found below. 

The School must feel confident that it will be able to educate fully any applicant child in line with his/her potential and in line with the standards achieved by the would be pupil’s peers, and that he/she would support the aims, ethos and expectations to which the School aspires. 

Entry to the School is by selection on academic merit and on assessment of a pupil’s likely positive contribution through good behaviour to the aims, ethos and co-curricular life of the School. 

1. HCS admits pupils without regard to gender, nationality, disability, colour or creed 
2. Age: the applicant must be of the correct age band for the year-group he/she proposes to enter unless alternative arrangements have been agreed with the school. 
3. Academic ability: For entry to Year 3 and above the applicant must attain the required standard in the entrance assessments for the appropriate year-group.  This is measured by means of Non-Verbal Reasoning and Verbal Assessments in the Senior School and by Literacy, Numeracy and Non-Verbal Reasoning assessments in the Prep School.  Those eligible for the offer of a place (if one is available) will have attained an acceptable standard in each of these tests.  Academic Scholarships may be awarded to those applicants who have performed at an outstanding level. 
4. If an applicant falls slightly short of the above criteria, a place may still be offered, but at the discretion of the Headmaster, and other criteria will apply.  These may include further testing in Maths and English and character references. 
5. In the case of an applicant with specific learning difficulties, a full professional report must be submitted in advance of the entrance assessment.  Allowance will then be made, but the overriding criterion will be the pupil’s ability to cope with the curriculum and level of support offered. 
6. In the case of an applicant transferring to HCS after the start of secondary education (ie above Year 7), the school may, at its discretion, require the first term of attendance to be on a probationary basis.  During or at the conclusion of this time, the contract may be terminated by either party without penalty beyond fees already paid. 
7. On any occasion where the school intake is over subscribed places will be allocated on the basis of ability in the entrance assessments.  In the event that the above is unable to distinguish between candidates school references will be taken into account.  At other times vacant places will be offered to the next applicant who fulfils the entry criteria.   
8. Priority for places in the senior school is given to the pupils in the Prep School, although admission is not necessarily automatic.  
9. Financial assistance is limited both in terms of the amount and the number of UCST assisted places.  Other Scholarships are applied for and awarded separately and on merit.  In these cases, the ability of the child and the available assistance have to be balanced in the school’s assessment of whether or not a place can be offered. 
10. In all cases entry will be subject to a satisfactory reference from the applicant’s previous school. 
11. All applications are treated positively, sympathetically and in confidence. 
12. The School’s physical facilities for disabled comply with regulations and it will do all that is reasonable to ensure that the School’s culture, policies and procedures are made accessible to children who have disabilities and to comply with its legal and moral responsibilities under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 
13. On admissions to the School an entry will be made on the Admissions Register which is subject to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006.  

Appeals           

Parents or guardians who wish to appeal against a decision not to offer a place to an applicant may appeal to the Chair of the Local Governing Body of Hull Collegiate School, whose decision is final.  Appeals should be addressed directly to the Chair of the Local Governing Body at the School, and should state the grounds for the appeal.