We are a Catholic school dedicated to help children achieve their potential, but we acknowledge that not every child will floursih here. A careful selection process allows the school to try to identify a child’s needs and measure them against our expertise. Selection must also ensure that the child will fit into our community.

We seek

• To ensure that only those children whose needs can properly be met at the school are admitted.
• To ensure that only those children who would benefit from and fit in to our community are admitted.
• To give guidance to those who are not admitted to find a more suitable placement.

If, after reading this prospectus, you’d like to find out more about us, please contact Mrs Pigott, our registrar, for an invitation to visit the school, with or without your child, for a discussion and tour of the school. During the discussion, we’ll give you a frank resumé of the life and processes of the school and the education on offer.

If it seems likely that Alton Convent will meet your child’s needs, you should complete a registration form.

Places in the Preparatory School are only offered after an interview between the parent of the prospective pupil and Headteacher or the Head of the Preparatory Department. An assessment may be made on a child’s current progress if joining KS2. Pupils wishing to join the Senior School in year 7 must sit the school’s entrance examination, consisting of tests in verbal reasoning, English and mathematics. The examination takes place in January for September entry.

Entry to the Senior School at other times is also subject to an Entrance Examination, an interview with the Headteacher or Deputy Head (Pastoral) and evidence of academic performance, behaviour and sociability in the current school. Places are offered at the discretion of the Headteacher. Pupils are rarely considered for entry out of year group. There may be consideration for girls young for a year but our policy is not to admit those who are old for their year.

Following Registration, and prior to children entering the school, pre visits, taster days, inductions days and open mornings are arranged to ensure that the children feel comfortable, safe, confident and secure.

Scholarships

We are able to offer some academic scholarships for outstanding performance in the entrance examination taken in January along with Creative Arts Scholarships for pupils with obvious talent and potential in music, drama or art. These come into effect in the following September and run for five years until the GCSE examinations have been taken, as long as progress and conduct are satisfactory. Scholarship holders would normally be expected to finish their education in the school up to and including the Sixth Form. For the Sixth Form years scholarships are offered for outstanding ability in a range of subjects and service to the school.

Scholarships are open to all candidates. Candidates applying for either must ensure that they have registered by October prior to the entrance examination. Awards will be notified along with the offer of a place and acceptance of awards must be received by the indicated date. Sixth Form Awards must be accepted by the end of December.

Please indicate on the application for the entrance examination whether you are interested in applying for an award.