Admissions

Enquiries
The prospectus outlines the ethos of the School. However, to decide whether or not St John's is the right school for your child a visit is essential. Prospective parents should contact the Headmaster's Secretary on 01372 385441 to arrange to meet the Headmaster and to tour the School. Visits normally take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings and parents are encouraged to bring their children with them.

Admissions Policy
Each year, the School offers approximately 80 places to boys aged 13 wishing to enter the Fourth Form (Year 9) and approximately 30 places to girls and 10 to boys wishing to enter the Lower Sixth. Selection is made principally on the basis of performance in examinations but headteachers' references and the candidates' extra-curricular strengths are also taken into consideration. Special allowances are made for those with Specific Learning Difficulties.

Entry at 13
Parents who wish their son to be considered for entry to St John's at 13 should register him for the School at least two years in advance of his proposed date of entry. At this stage, a £50 registration fee is payable. Pre-tests are held in the January of the calendar year prior to entry (ie. 20 months beforehand). Offers for entry are made on the basis of these tests, but remain subject to reaching the School's stated entrance requirements at Common Entrance. On acceptance of the place offered, a deposit of £750 is payable. £250 of this is refundable against the first term's bill and the remaining £500 will be refunded against the final term's bill. Overseas students are required to pay a deposit of £2500, which is refundable against the final term's bill.

(i) Common Entrance: Candidates who have accepted the offer of a place based on success in the pre-tests are required to take the Common Entrance Examination in the June prior to entry in September. Arrangements for sitting the exam are normally made by the Head of the candidate's school. Candidates performing exceptionally well in this exam across a range of subjects will be considered for Academic Scholarships. The Common Entrance "pass mark" is 55% overall. An average mark of 55% will be needed in the core subjects (Mathematics, English and Science) and, additionally, an average mark of 55% will be required in the non-core subjects.

(ii) Scholarship Examination: Our Scholarship Examination takes place on 23 February, 24 February and 25 February 2009. All candidates must be under 14 on 1 September in the year in which they sit. Further information about scholarships is detailed below.

(iii) Non Prep School Entrants: Children at schools which do not prepare for Common Entrance are welcome to apply for entry. Candidates for entry are asked to take the School's own papers in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. These examinations are usually held at the end of January.


Lower Sixth Form Entry
Each September, approximately 30 girls and 10 boys are admitted to the Lower Sixth to begin two-year courses to AS level (one year) and A level. Registration requirements are as for 13+ entry. Assessment of candidates is based on interviews, a report from their current school and predicted GCSE results. For overseas students, there may be a requirement to take an ESL and Maths Test. Interviews are held in the Autumn Term prior to candidates taking GCSE examinations. Offers are conditional upon the candidates gaining at least six GCSE pass grades (A-C) of which four passes should be at grade B or above. Additionally, candidates should also obtain B grades in their likely AS level subjects.

Upper Sixth Form Entry
In general, virtually all Lower Sixth Formers will be expected to proceed to the Upper Sixth in order to complete their A level courses. However, a minimum of three passes in their AS exams taken at the end of the Lower Sixth year is required for entry into the Upper Sixth.


2009 Scholarships & Awards ~ Fourth Form Entry (13+):

2009 Scholarships & Awards ~ Sixth Form Entry (16+):

Bursarial Assistance
Financial assistance may be available to families who may not otherwise be able to afford the full fee liability. Eligibility for assistance is considered upon receipt of a bursary application form and supporting documentation must be provided. Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Bursarial awards are reviewed annually and may be withdrawn if parents' financial circumstances improve during a pupil's time at the School.

Application forms may be obtained from the Bursar's Secretary

Grants
Where further financial assistance is needed in excess of bursarial assistance, the School will support applications to other grant making bodies. Further information is available from the Bursar's Secretary.