This page provides a summary of the Admissions Policy and does not include all details of the policy approved by the Governors of the School. Full details of our admissions policy can be found in the Prospectus Supplement.

The School was established under the Royal Alexandra and Albert School Act 1949, which united the Royal Alexandra School and the Royal Albert School at Gatton Park. The new school, which united two orphanage schools with Royal patronage, was founded as a boarding school with a distinct Church foundation. The school is unique among maintained schools in England as it provides education for pupils from the age of 7 to 16 and provides boarding accommodation for Sixth Form pupils who are educated elsewhere. Pupils admitted into Key Stage 2 have automatic admittance to Key Stages 3 and & 4. In order to be admitted to the School, all candidates must have full United Kingdom or other EU/EEA nationality, or have other approved residential status in the United Kingdom. Admission to the Sixth From is by a separate system.

The school holds open days throughout the year for parents and children to come and visit the school

The admission numbers for each category for each year of entry shall be as follows:

We have occasional vacancies in other year groups and parents should contact the school to discuss availability of places.

Admissions Procedure for Boarding Places

Applicants for boarding places are assessed to determine their suitability for boarding. This assessment includes the following:

• An interview applicant's present school and/or a previous school where the applicant is not currently at school or has recently changed school
• Consideration of any other information that the parent/carer of the applicant may wish to provide to support the applicant's application or which may be provided at the request of the parent/carer by another person
• Information provided by a Local Authority (or equivalent authority outside England and Wales), where relevant.

In determining whether or not an applicant is suitable to board, the School has regard to the following questions:

• Does the applicant wish to board?
• Does the applicant have experience of staying away from his parents/carers whether or not he is currently a boarder?
• Does the applicant show evidence of self reliance and independence?
• Does the applicant show evidence of understanding and relishing the challenges of a communal life?
• Does the applicant show understanding of the responsibilities of a member of a boarding community?
• Is there any medical or psychological reason why boarding would not be appropriate, or any need that could not be met by reasonable adjustment to the boarding accommodation, routine and practice?

Following submission of an application, the school will contact the pupil's current school to further ascertain suitability for boarding. An interview will then be held to further assess suitability for boarding. Following the interview, the Headmaster will make a recommendation to the Admissions and Bursaries Committee of Governors.

In the case of over-subscription for boarding places the following criteria will apply;

1. Applicants with the offer of bursary support or an award from a charitable foundation.
2. Applicants with a sibling at the School, including the Sixth Form boarding accommodation.
3. Other applicants for places as boarders.

For any category of a boarding applicant, if a further criterion is needed, it shall be proximity from the home address of the pupil in a direct line to the front door of the main school building, with the nearest receiving preference.

Admission to Day Boarding and Day Places

In the case of over-subscription for Day Boarding and Day places, the following criteria shall apply

1. Looked After Children
2. Day boarding applicants with the offer of bursary support or an award from a charitable foundation
3. Day boarding applicants with a sibling day boarder at the school
4. Day applicants with a sibling day pupil at the school, who has been at the school since October 2003
5. *Applicants for day boarding who are identified by the selection process as showing particular sporting potential or ability
6. Other day boarding applicants
7. Other day applicants

* Applies to Year 7 only

For any category for admission as a day boarder, if a further criterion is needed, it shall be proximity from the home address of the pupil in a direct line to the front door of the main school building, with the nearest receiving preference.

Following the designation of the school as a Specialist Sports College, Governors have decided to take up the possibility of selecting up to 10% of Year 7 by Sporting Ability - 14 places. The process will involve objective tests of physical potential.

The Governors in applying the admissions criteria do no discriminate against pupils seeking admission on grounds of race, gender or disability.

Transfer between Boarding and Day Boarding Categories

There is no automatic transfer between categories for pupils already in the School.

Those admitted as day boarders may apply to transfer to take up a vacant boarding place. Places will be offered using the criteria listed above in competition with boarder applicants who are not already members of the School. There is no guarantee of a place being offered.

Those admitted as boarders may apply to transfer to take up a vacant day boarding place. Places will be offered using the criteria listed above in competition with day boarder applicants who are not already members of the School. There is no guarantee of a place being offered.

Waiting List Procedures

Parents of candidates who are unsuccessful in obtaining a place will be asked to indicate whether they wish to remain on a waiting list. Waiting lists are maintained for 12 months after the September of the year in which admission was originally sought. For example, unsuccessful candidates for admission in September 2008 would be eligible to remain on a waiting list until September 2009. The length of time on the waiting list is not material to whether or not a place is finally awarded.

Candidates on the waiting list for a boarding place will be considered along with any new applicants at the point when any vacancy arises. The place will be awarded according to the stated oversubscription criteria. Candidates judged to be unsuitable for boarding will not be kept on a waiting list. They may, however, reapply and be reassessed for each year of entry.

Candidates on the waiting list for a day boarding place will be considered along with any new applicants at the point when any vacancy arises. The place will be awarded according to the stated oversubscription criteria.

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