Admissions Process

How to make an application

Before applying for a place at Loretto we recommend you visit the School and request some literature about the School in the form of a prospectus pack. We run Open Mornings for prospective parents to visit the school as well as individual visits throughout the year.

To reserve a place for your son or daughter, please complete a Registration Form and return it together with the nonrefundable Registration Fee of £50. The registration fee, nonrefundable (£50) may be paid by cheque, bank draft or electronic fund transfer.

We will write to you to acknowledge receipt of the form and your payment. Reservation of a place is also subject to the following:

• Entrance assessments, and receipt of a satisfactory report from your child's current school
• Places being available in your child's year group

Download registration and scholarship forms 2011 and Entrance Exam and Scholarship Dates 2011 entry.
Loretto School Admissions (download pfd).

When to apply?

Registration forms are accepted at any time of the year. We recommend you submit your registration form as early as possible as some year groups can be heavily over-subscribed. Once we receive your registration form we will keep in touch with you and invite you to join us at a number of school events. We will contact you at the beginning of the academic year you have registered for to invite you and your child in to visit the School and to sit entrance assessments.

The majority of children join the School at the start of the academic year in September, but it is possible for pupils to start at other times of the year if places are still available. A number of year groups can become oversubscribed. Once entry to a year group is full, places may be offered on a waiting list.

Assessments

The purpose of the assessment is to find out whether your child would be happy at Loretto and whether the School can meet his/her educational needs. The actual assessment is different for each age and usually consists of an exam and interview.

Junior School

Nursery 3 - 5 years

Entrance assessments for the Junior School can be at any time of the year. For all applicants, there is an informal interview with the Headmaster of the Junior School.

For entry to the Nursery (3-5 years) there is an informal interview with parents and children.

Junior School 5 - 12 years

For entry to Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 (5 to 8 years)

Children have an informal interview. Parents may or may not be present depending on parents' wishes.

For entry to Years 5, 6 and 7 (8/9 to 11/12 years).

Children have an informal interview and also sit assessments in verbal reasoning, Maths and English.

Senior School Entry (12 - 18 years)

Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth Form entry (12 - 15 years)
Assessment papers in English, Mathematics , verbal reasoning and an interview.

Lower Sixth Form entry (16 years)
Assessment papers in two papers of the candidate's choice from our curriculum list, a critical thinking paper and an interview. A minimum entry requirement for pupils joining Lower Sixth Form is 6 GCSE's at Grade C or above - and the subjects passed must include English and Mathematics for UK pupils.

Overseas Pupils (where English is not their first language)

Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth or Lower Sixth Form entry (12 - 16 years)
Assessment papers in English and a Mathematics paper and an interview.. Tests can be undertaken at the applicant's present school or via one of our overseas Agents. Overseas pupils do not have to sit their assessment papers at Loretto. Interviews can be conducted over the telephone or Skype.

Click here for information for students from overseas. This includes information on applying for visas for students from non EU countries.

Results and entry

We would normally expect to have a decision within ten days to two weeks of the assessment, though it may be sooner. You would usually be telephoned in the first instance and this would then be followed up by letter. Overseas applicants may also receive communication by email.

Once you have received an offer of a place, you will be asked to return a form stating whether or not you accept it - at this point you have signed a legal binding contract with the School. You will also be requested to send an acceptance deposit (UK pupils Junior School £300, Senior School £600 and Overseas Pupils £1000). This deposit will be refunded to you when your child leaves school.