ADMISSIONS
Registration
Admissions Policy
We are a co-educational, non-selective school. We are committed to equal treatment for all and, in line with the Equality Act 2010 and the protected characteristics which it identifies, we welcome all children.
Deciding on the right school for your child is very important, and we believe that a personal visit is invaluable. We encourage all prospective parents to look around the school before accepting an offer.
There is no entrance exam or interview for children joining us in Reception but we advise parents that it is helpful for their children to have a conversational ability in the English language. Places are offered in order of registration, although priority is given to siblings of children already in the school and those living within 1.2km of the school.
For children wishing to join us after the Reception year, should a place be available we ask for a report from the current school and invite the children to come and visit us for a morning assessment. Prior to being offered a place for their child, all parents are required to complete a ‘pupil questionnaire’ requesting information regarding any significant dietary, medical or learning difficulties and/or disabilities in respect of their child. The School requires information on any disability or special educational need which may affect a child’s ability to participate in the admissions procedure and take full advantage of the education provided at the School. This is so that the School can assess those needs and consult with parents about the adjustments which can reasonably be made to ensure that the application procedure is accessible for the candidate and that the School can cater adequately for him or her should an offer of a place be made.
Our policy is to apply our admission criteria to all potential pupils. We will discuss thoroughly with parents and their medical advisers the adjustments that can reasonably be made in order for the child if he/she was to become a pupil at our school. We will need to ensure, however, that we are able to make the necessary reasonable adjustments to ensure that the prospective pupil is not put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a pupil who is not disadvantaged because of a disability.
We are proud to be a non-selective school, where all our children, including those with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities or Special Educational Needs are provided with a safe and positive environment in which to learn. We strive to be accessible to all children. However, should there ever be circumstances in which the School has made all reasonable adjustments and exhausted all appropriate strategies but remains unable to meet the child’s needs, the School may, following consultation with the parents, require them to withdraw the pupil from the School. Under such circumstances, fees in lieu of notice will not be charged and any deposits held will be credited after any outstanding charges have been deducted.
Sibling
Policy
Siblings of current pupils are automatically given a place provided that they are registered.
We rely on you to give us details of your new babies no later than the
1st September of the year before they are due to start. Siblings registered
after this date cannot be guaranteed a place.
School visits
Prospective parents are shown around in small groups throughout the year. Please contact the School office to arrange a visit.
We also hold open mornings when prospective parents are shown around by current pupils either in the Summer term or early in the Autumn term for parents of children registered for the following year’s intake.
Registration
You can register your child at any age from birth.
The registration fee of £75 is non-refundable. Because we are non-selective
we recommend you register your child as early as possible. The admissions
secretary will also be able to advise parents on any occasional places
which might be available for children in the years above reception.
Firm offer
Once you have registered you may be offered a firm place in the Autumn
Term the year before your child is due to start. Subsequently, we require
a non-refundable deposit of one term's fees payable in two installments,
on acceptance of a place, which is returned by cheque after a pupil has
left the school (less any deductions for outstanding amounts owing), providing
our conditions regarding notice of withdrawal have been met.
In order to secure a place for your child you will need to send the first half of the deposit together with the signed form of acceptance to the admissions department by the appointed date. It should be noted that the deposit is non-returnable in the event that you do not ultimately take up the place.
School Ownership Structure
The history of Hurlingham School dates back to 1947, when it was known as “Miss Rosemary Whitehead’s Kindergarten class”: photographs of the early years in Fulham High Street and Deodar Road can be seen outside the Headmaster’s office. Since 2000, however, it has been a Limited Company and essentially a ‘family business’, owned by a married couple (Max and Fiona Goulden) and Fiona Goulden’s father (George Duncan). They are the three company Directors and are the only shareholders. Max and Fiona’s children were both educated at Hurlingham.
Fiona Goulden, the School Principal, is responsible, on behalf of the Board of Directors, for overseeing the ‘day-to-day’ running of the School in conjunction with the Headmaster. She works on a full time basis within the School setting and liaises closely with the Headmaster, the SLT, the Admissions Secretary, Catering Manager and the Financial Controller to support and assist them in their duties.
The Headmaster, meanwhile, has full responsibility for teaching, learning and curriculum development. School Development Planning is thorough and detailed, undertaken on a regular basis between the Principal and the Headmaster.
George Duncan is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and attends a Board Meeting and an Advisors’ Meeting each term although he is not actively involved in the day to day management of the School.
Max Goulden is based in the administrative offices of the School and is chiefly responsible for managing the premises. He is also involved in overall strategic, accounting, budgetary and health and safety matters.
The School benefits from a Board of Advisors, who meet termly with the Chairman, Principal and Headmaster to ensure accountability, discuss ongoing issues and act as a sounding board.
