Prospective pupils and their parents meet with the Headmaster who will take them on a tour of the school. If it is decided that Dorset House is the right school, and subject to spaces being available, children will be accepted at any point in the school year.

Conditional places are offered on receipt of a completed registration form and fee. Places are confirmed upon receipt of a deposit payable one year before entry.

There is no entry test. However, every effort is made to ensure that parents are aware of what the school is likely to be able to offer their child. To this end, previous schools are contacted and, if appropriate, examples of work are requested. Only in very exceptional circumstances will a child be offered a place without previously visiting the school.

Prospective children are invited to spend a day (and, if applicable, a night) at the school. The main aim of such visits is to ensure that the child has an enjoyable time whilst becoming familiar with some of the faces and places they will meet when they join the school.

Children are welcome to spend a day in school in the term before they start: Early Years children often start by doing mornings and as they get older their hours increase. In the Early Years it is usual for a parent/guardian to stay with the child until they are settled.

Children joining the Junior Department are invited to attend an assessment day prior to taking up a place at Dorset House. A formal assessment of their academic ability will be made. They also join pupils and meet the teachers for an informal assessment to see how they will settle into the school.

Places are allocated in order of registration date.

Children enter the Reception Class in the academic year in which they will be five.

There are no specific quotas allocated to day children or boarders. However, it is our intention to retain sufficient boarders to ensure that the boarding option remains popular.

Prior to the first term, all families receive (as a minimum) the following information:

• Prospectus
• Medical form
• Authorisation Form
• ABC Parents’ Guide
• Clothes Lists

New pupils are allocated a guide, whose role it is to provide support, guidance and friendship during the early part of the new child’s school career. The guide will try to contact the new child during the holiday preceding the child’s entry and, if possible, arrange to meet. This arrangement ensures that new children settle quickly.