Policy

The admissions process is very clearly guided by an Admissions Policy of The British School, which is reviewed from time to time to incorporate changing global requirements. The Admissions Policy approved by the Governing Board in May 2011 will govern all admissions to the academic year 2012-13.

The main components of the Admissions Policy governing admissions to the academic year 2012 – 13 are mentioned below:

Admission is based on
       a.  The admissions categories and
       b.  The ability of applicants to demonstrate that they can complement the international character of the             school’s student population and benefit from the education provided by The British School. This is             evaluated by the school through an assessment process which involves written evaluation, face to face             interview and reports (academic and all other relevant reports depending on the year group and the             programme applied for) from the previous school (where applicable)

Admission prioritisations:

1.  Partnerships:
The school welcomes partnerships with corporate organisations, diplomatic missions and other entities, provided they are in the school’s interests, are consistent with the Indian legal and regulatory environment and the school’s aims, values and mission. These may result in the school offering priority in admission to students of employees of such partners. Approval of such partnerships requires the Board of Governors to approve initiation of discussions including the outline of the content of the planned agreement with the potential partner(s) and must be approved by the Board of Governors prior to entering into such agreements. While all students involved in such agreements will follow the regular school admission policy and criteria, guaranteed admission will be dependant on whether we have sufficient space in any class.

2.  Siblings
We give preference to siblings of students already enrolled in the school. Because of our commitment to keep families united in a single school, siblings of existing students move to the top of their respective category.

3.  Alumni
We give preference to children of alumni.  All applications of the children of alumni will move ahead of all other applications in their respective Category but will be lower than siblings

4.  Children of teaching staff
The children of teachers will be guaranteed admission as long as it is believed that the school can meet their particular needs, and all other admissions criteria are met fully. This is to promote the recruitment and retention of suitably experienced staff. Such admissions are to be agreed by the Director prior to signing the contract of employment.

Admission Categories for 2012 – 13
For Admissions to the academic year 2012-13 and onwards, the school will be prioritising applications as follows:

Category 1 – children of school staff, corporate partners, overseas employees of the British High Commission, The British Council, and DFID, all British Passport holders - prioritised in the same order.
Category 2 – children of non-British diplomats, including children of Indian diplomats returning from overseas.
Category 3 – children of all non-British foreign nationals relocating to India for a fixed term / long term assignment.
Category 4 – children of alumni of The British School who have not been identified in any
of the above categories.
Category 5 – children whose previous school has delivered a British style education for at least two out of the previous three academic years.
Category 6 – All other children who have not been identified in any of the above categories.

Bursary
Where the financial circumstances of existing students change deleteriously during the course of study, a panel of Board members, including the Director, will consider the award of a bursary to the family concerned. This is at the discretion of the panel, and is subject to sufficient bursary funds being available.

Director’s discretion on compassionate grounds
In exceptional cases, where a family is suffering adverse personal circumstances of a serious nature, such as bereavement or grave illness in the immediate family, the Director, after consultation with teaching staff, may consider granting a student a place at the School. The student(s) concerned
must still meet the academic admissions criteria. The Board will be notified of this admission.

Special Education Needs
The British School is an all-age (3-18 years), international – school with an admissions assessment process for all applicants. This is age-related, with the youngest applicants being assessed at play and as they take part in learning activities, whilst the oldest students undertake written and face-to-face assessments. We welcome applications from students with mild to moderate learning difficulties provided that we have the means to support them adequately and that they are able to gain access to the curriculum we offer. The school may require such applicants to provide evidence of, or seek, recognised external assessments. It is very important that prospective parents, who are applying for admission for a child with diagnosed or clearly known learning difficulties, disclose these details at the time of admission.

If it becomes apparent that such needs were not disclosed, the school reserves the right not to admit the child after assessment if, in the judgment of the teacher assessing the child or the Principal, the student’s needs cannot be met adequately by the school.
Once the child is enrolled, the school reserves the right to insist that the parents withdraw the child if it becomes clear that the school does not have the capability to support the child’s learning needs.

The school also welcomes physically challenged students whose disabilities do not prevent their movement around the campus: such movement is necessary to gain access to the full curriculum.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Applicants for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL) to their mother tongue must take an oral and written English test to determine their level of English, as advised and coordinated by the EAL teachers.