Applying to Ryde School


In summary, the admission procedure has four elements -

  • Assessment of Attainment.
  • Interviews or school visits.
  • Character references - we place particular importance on good discipline and behaviour when considering applications for admission to the school.
  • Disability assessments (if applicable).

Entry Points

In the Junior School we consider pupils for entry into any year group.  In the Senior School our main entry points are at Years 7, 8, 9 and 12.  We would not normally consider entry half way through GCSE or A level/IB courses.

It is assumed that a pupil will continue between each stage of their education in the School (and parents must in every case give a term's notice if that is not the pupil's and their intentions) unless the pupil has been unable to satisfy the entry requirements for the next stage.

We expect pupils moving into the Junior School to achieve three 2Bs in their Key Stage 1 assessments.  Pupils moving to the Senior School are expected to achieve three level 4s in their Key Stage 2 tests, or an equivalent standard in the ISEB 'Common Entrance Exam'.

Junior School Entry tests: These are non-selective but are designed to ensure pupils can cope with our curriculum.  They are as follows:

  • Informal assessment in Fiveways 
  • In the Junior School tests in Non-verbal Reasoning or measure of developed ability, English and Mathematics appropriate to the age of the candidate.

Senior School Entry tests: These are non-selective, but designed to assess whether pupils will cope with our curriculum.  It is our expectation that pupils entering below the Sixth Form should be able to achieve at least five C grades at GCSE level. 

Pupils take papers in English and Mathematics and sit a Non-verbal Reasoning test, appropriate to the age of the candidate; pupils entering Year 9 are asked to a language apititude test for setting purposes. 

The school is able to provide a small number of Scholarships and Assisted Places. These places are awarded to high quality candidates and are competitive. Fee assistance is means-tested.

Sixth Form Entry 

It is our expectation that pupils moving into, or entering the Sixth Form, achieve at least five B grades and a C grade at GCSE level, with B grades in the subjects they wish to study at AS or IB level.  This is a realistic baseline from which pupils may proceed successfully.  Each pupil receives advice on choosing appropriate subjects.

We also expect pupils progressing to the Upper Sixth and A2 levels to achieve at least D grades at AS level in subjects they wish to study at A2 level.  For IB pupils we expect them to have achieved satisfactory levels in internal examinations and to be up to date with all coursework and core programmes (CAS, TOK, EE) to continue with the IB.

Please refer to the school's Admissions Policy for further informaton.

The formal process of attaining a place at Ryde School consists of three steps -

Registration - Offer of a Place - Acceptance

Registration

Pupils will be considered as candidates for admission and entry to the School when the Registration Form has been completed and returned to us and the non-returnable Registration Fee paid.  Admission and entry will be subject to the availability of a place and the pupil satisfying the admission requirements at the time. The School operates an equal opportunities policy.

Offer of a Place and Acceptance

If, in due course, a place is offered an Acceptance Form will be issued and a deposit will be payable when parents accept the offer. Details of the Deposit are set out in the Fees List as varied from time to time. The acceptance deposit will be repaid by means of credit without interest to the final payment of fees or other sums due to the School on leaving. Until credited, the Deposit will form part of the general funds of the School.  The deposit will be refunded if a pupil is unable to join the school for bona fide medical reasons.