Shoreham College is a co-educational independent day school for pupils from ages 3 to 16.  The school has 425 pupils.  Deciding on the right school for your child is very important, and we believe that a personal visit is invaluable. We very much hope that you and your child will visit Shoreham College.  We hold a number of Open Mornings during the year, which give a general introduction to the school.  Details are published on our web site. We are also very happy to welcome prospective parents and their children at other times.  Please contact, our Register, Mrs Anderson on 01273 592681 or email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to arrange a visit.

The Entry Procedure

Shoreham College is an academically, non-selective school. Our selection process is designed to identify pupils who are able to benefit from our balanced and well rounded education and to make a positive contribution towards the life of the school.

Entry is for children aged from 3 in the term they are starting.  In general, pupils are admitted for entry into Early Years 1, Year 4 and Year 7 when additional classes are available. We may also have occasional places at other ages.  Please contact the Registrar for details.

The Admission Process

Stage 1 – Initial contact with the College

This may take place either at an open evening or morning, or through an individual meeting with the Headmaster, and includes a tour of the College.

Stage 2 – Taster day

Children are invited in for either a morning or a full day, depending on their age.  At this point the parents will provide, where appropriate, the child’s most recent school report.  On the day, an aptitude test is undertaken by children of Year 5 age or above.  There is no preparation required for this and it is not used to decide whether an offer is made.

Stage 3 – Offer subject to availability

Shoreham College is non-selective academically.  However, the Headmaster may decline to offer a place if there are concerns over a child’s behaviour or an educational need that the College may be unable to support.  There are a small number of pupils who receive learning support; pupils who require additional challenges to reach their full potential, extra help with literacy or numeracy or have a specific learning difficulty, e.g. dyslexia. Learning support is mainly delivered within the classroom setting although a number of pre and post school activities can also be accessed.

Stage 4 – Acceptance

A registration fee and deposit is paid on registration.  Confirmation of acceptance follows two terms before entry.  Joining information will be sent at the appropriate time.  For children starting in September there may be an induction event at the end of the preceding summer term.  However, it is not unusual for children to join at any point during the school year.

This process is overseen by our Registrar, Sue Anderson, on behalf of the Headmaster.  If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the College.

Equal Treatment

Our aim is to encourage applications from candidates with as diverse a range of backgrounds as possible.  This enriches our community and is vital in preparing our pupils for today’s world. Generous bursaries are offered in order to make it possible for as many as possible who meet the College’s admission criteria to attend the College.

Shoreham College is committed to equal treatment for all, regardless of a candidate’s race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or social background.  Our provision for bursaries is described below.

Special Needs

We do not discriminate in any way regarding entry.  We welcome pupils with special educational needs, providing that our Learning Support Department can offer them the support that they require.  We welcome pupils with physical disabilities provided that our site can cope with them.  However, we advise parents of children with special educational needs or physical disabilities to discuss their child’s requirements with the College before he or she registers so that we can make adequate provision for him/her.  Parents should provide a copy of an Educational Psychologist’s report or a medical report to support their request, for example for extra time or other special arrangements.

We will discuss thoroughly with parents and their medical advisers the adjustments that can reasonably be made for the child if he/she becomes a pupil at the school.

Sibling Policy

Most siblings join us at Shoreham College.  However, admission is not automatic, and there may be occasions where we judge that a sibling is likely to thrive better in a different academic environment.

Scholarships

From 1st September 2010 scholarships will be awarded to new and existing pupils entering year 7 only.  The College will honour any current agreements in place for current scholarships awarded prior to 1st September 2010.

All scholarships will be ability based and attract a one-off award equivalent of £100 and will be given when the pupil starts their first term in year 7.  Standard marketing fee discounts apply, as appropriate, to scholars but a separate application will need to be made for any means tested bursaries/hardship cases.  The scholarships offered each year for year 7 are as follows:

• up to two music scholars;
• up to two sport scholars; and
• up to three academic scholars.

In addition every scholar will have their success recognised on the appropriate College scholar honours board.

The Head has the power to revoke any scholarship should the behaviour of the scholar be inappropriate.

The scholarship award process will operate on an annual cycle with applications, appropriate assessments and awards being held during the spring term for the academic year starting in the same September.  The scholarship awards will be reported to the Education Sub-Committee for information.  The scholarship annual cycle is entirely separate from the means tested fee discount process that is assessed independently of scholarship awards.

Academic Scholarships

The idea behind the academic scholarship is to celebrate academic success within the year group.  The written examinations will consist of an English paper, maths paper and a reasoning paper and academic scholarships will be awarded to the top two or three candidates in this examination process.

The examinations are very much in the style of the Key Stage 2 SATS tests that are undertaken by many children in Year 6.  Therefore, no additional practice is required for the Shoreham College papers, beyond normal Year 6 examination preparation.

All candidates will have a short interview with the Headmaster, although it must be emphasised that the whole process is designed to be probing, yet supportive.  The College is proud of its non-selective entry and although it is delighted to offer academic scholarships, we will only encourage children to enter for a scholarship if they are likely to benefit from going through the process.

If you require clarification on any of these points please do not hesitate to discuss the matter with the Headmaster in advance.

Alfie Bloom Sports Scholarships

Candidates should be playing at representative level, or be of county standard in their principal sport, to be considered for an award.

Whilst focusing on our main sports of football, rugby and cricket for boys and netball and rounders for girls, consideration will also be given to applicants offering athletics, tennis and swimming.

Candidates will be required to sit the academic scholarship examinations which include maths, English and a reasoning test and a satisfactory standard must be reached.  There will also be an interview with the Headmaster and Head of Sport.

Candidates may also be invited to join their appropriate class on a normal College day when they can join in general sporting activities; day to be advised.

Sports scholarship applications should include the candidate’s last school report and a written reference from their school’s sports teacher and sport coaches.

Pupils will be expected to represent the College on all appropriate sporting occasions.

Music Scholarships

Music scholars are expected to demonstrate a high level of commitment and enthusiasm for music.  This should be evident from their individual progress in music lessons and exams, as well as their commitment to the musical life of the College.

Applicants should offer evidence of high musical aptitude and potential, i.e. grades taken and references from teachers.  For internal candidates, attainment and effort grades in classroom music classes at Shoreham College will be taken into account.

Candidates must currently be learning at least two instruments, or one instrument and voice if the voice is the principal study.  All candidates will sit the standard academic scholarship exams in addition to the music assessment and the expectation is that general academic work must be of a satisfactory level.

Assessment

1. Performance of one solo piece on the applicant’s principal instrument or voice lasting 2-5 minutes.  This piece can be played with or without accompaniment.  Applicants should choose a piece they know well and are comfortable playing or singing.  They should not choose the hardest piece they know, unless they can play it fluently and well.  Instead they should aim to give a musical performance of a slightly easier piece.  Credit will be given equally for confidence of playing and musicality as much as for technical level of difficulty.
2. Performance on their second instrument or voice; this may be a little shorter than their performance in their principal study.
3. Sight reading, at a level appropriate to the applicant’s experience.
4. Aural tests: singing back a phrase, tapping a beat and recognising metre and recognising features in music listened to.
5. Interview with Head of Music.

Standards Expected

The minimum standard expected for potential music scholars in Year 6 is as follows:

• Grade 2 in the principal study
• Grade 1 in the second study

Please note that if these actual examinations have not yet been taken this may still be acceptable, provided there is some evidence that these standards have been reached.

Expectations of Music Scholars

If successful, music scholars are expected to support music at the College in the following ways: participate in the College choir and College band on a regular basis, opt for GCSE music and participate in all College musical events, including concerts and musical productions.

Scholars are expected to progress through the appropriate examinations in their instrument(s) and demonstrate a positive attitude towards music and towards the music department.

Bursaries

Our bursary programme is generous and is designed to make it possible for as many as possible of those who meet Shoreham College’s entry criteria to take up a place here.  We offer means tested awards annually to entrants, where the parents have requested that they require financial support.  Bursaries are means-tested and parents are required to provide proof of their income and assets.  The level of support varies according to parental need; but can extend to full fee remission in cases of proven need.

Bursaries are always offered for 12 months at a time. The family is required to provide fresh information about its circumstances for every year that their child attends the school.  Levels of support may vary with fluctuations in income.

The College’s practice is to allocate its entire available bursary funding on entry. The College’s expectation is that parents, who do not choose to apply for a bursary at the time that their child is being assessed, will not require financial support throughout the time that their child attends the school, except in wholly unforeseen circumstances.

Religious Beliefs

Although Shoreham College has Christian roots, we do not select for entry on the basis of religious belief, and we offer the opportunity for other religions to practice their own faiths.

School’s Contractual Terms & Conditions

Copies are on the School’s web site and will be made available to parents as part of the admissions process.

Complaints

We hope that you and your child do not have any complaints about our admissions process; but copies of the School’s complaints procedure can be sent to you on request or is available on the College website.

Registration Form

The forms required for registration are available here.

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