ENTRANCE ASSESSMENTS
Entry Year Group Assessments
For entry into Little Acorns Nursery and Reception (ages 3 - 4)
For entry into the Junior School (Year 1 – Year 6, ages 5 - 10)
Girls come in for a two-hour Taster Session where they will be informally observed within class.
For entry into the Senior School (Year 7 – Year 10)
Prospective pupils come for a Taster Day which will include an assessment, usually during the Autumn or Spring Terms. Girls who would go into Year 3 or above are asked to sit short tests in English and an online reasoning test.
Girls wishing to enter Year 7 or Year 8 sit their entrance assessments at Badminton in the January prior to entry, and girls wishing to enter in Year 9 or Year 10 sit entrance assessments at Badminton in the November prior to entry. All girls take examinations in English and Mathematics along with an online cognitive abilities test. Each girl will also have an interview with a senior member of staff. In addition, references are obtained from the girl’s current school. The dates of the entrance and scholarship assessments for Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 are published on our website.
For entry into the Sixth Form (Lower Sixth)
Girls sit Sixth Form entrance papers at Badminton in the November prior to entry. They take examinations in two subjects they would like to study at A Level as well as an online reasoning test. Each girl is also interviewed by a senior member of staff and references are obtained from the girl’s current school. The dates of the entrance and scholarship assessments for the Sixth Form are published on our website.
International applications
Our preferred entrance test is the UKISET. This test can be taken at any one of the approved test centres around the world. Contact UKISET directly for the locations of approved centres near you. If international candidates have met the initial assessment criteria they will then be invited for an interview remotely with a senior member of staff. If applicants wish to apply for a scholarship, the entrance exams must be taken at Badminton in person or in an approved test centre. All deadlines for international applications are available on our website.
SCHOOL TRANSPORT
We have two School minibus services available, all of which are driven by a fully qualified, DBS checked member of staff. Portishead Minibus Service (via Abbots Leigh)
Gordano Services, Junction 19 on the M5 7.30am
These services are a morning only pick-up in one of the School’s own minibuses. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. The cost of a seat on this service is dependent on the pick up location. Badminton continuously reviews the bus route based on the girls’ needs, so please get in touch with our Admissions Team for more information. Independent Services Stops Time
Abbotts Leigh, A369 bus stop opposite Sandy Lane 7.45am
Church Road, Leigh Woods, BS8 3PG 7.55am
Badminton School 8.20am
Clifton Minibus Service
Stops Time
Downside Road, Clifton 8.05am
Clifton Down Road, in front of Christ Church 8.10am
Junction of Sion Place & Gloucester Row 8.12am
Badminton School 8.25am
For those commuting from another area, Badminton also has relationships with other independent services:
• Eurocoaches - School Hopper Services (North Bristol, starts in Yate and travels through Rangeworthy, Tytherington, Thornbury, Alveston, Tockington and Almondsbury)
• Bakers Dolphin Bristol School Service (Two routes, one starting in Weston-super-Mare, the other starts in Churchill and travels through Yatton, Backwell, Nailsea and Long Ashton)
Please visit our website to find out more and book a seat.
SCHOOL FEES
School Fees from 1st September 2021 are as follows:
Little Acorns Nursery Sessional Fees £30 per session
Year Group
DAY FEES
PER TERM
Tuition Pastoral Care* Total Fees
Junior School (Reception – Year 2) £3,320 £320 £3,640
Junior School (Year 3 and Year 4) £3,470 £380 £3,850
Junior School (Year 5 and Year 6) £3,790 £380 £4,170
Senior School (Year 7 to Upper Sixth) £5,650 £450 £6,100
Included in Total School Fees
For Day Girls, the compulsory Pastoral Care* fee includes lunch, break-time snacks and tea. Badminton School also offers genuine ‘wrap-around-care’ and parents can take advantage of before and after school care, including homework supervision with qualified staff, from 7.45am until 6.30pm for Senior School and until 5.45pm for Junior School on school days, at no additional charge. For Boarders, the fee includes full board meals. For all girls, the fee includes core text books, art materials, food and nutrition materials, and most day-to-day curricular trips and most co-curricular clubs.
Year Group
BOARDING
FEES PER TERM
Total Fees
Junior School Boarder (UK/EEA) £8,300
Junior School Boarder (International) £9,520
Senior School Weekly Boarder (UK/EEA) £11,440
Senior School Boarder (UK/EEA) £12,140
Senior School Boarder (International) £14,180
Included in Total School Fees for International Boarding
The International Boarding fee, which applies to all girls who are normally resident outside the European Economic Area, includes the cost of escorted travel to and from selected airports and railway stations at the start and end of each Term, provided journeys are made on the date designated by the School for travel and on specified journeys by prior arrangement with Boarding Administration. It also includes the option for girls to remain in School at no extra charge during Exeat weekends.
Fees for Autumn, Spring and Summer are charged termly, in advance, in a single bill.
Parents are reminded of the requirements regarding notice in writing which are detailed in the School’s Terms & Conditions of Acceptance.
FEE DISCOUNTS
A copy of the School’s Concessions Policy is available from the Admissions Team.
OTHER PAYMENTS & OPTIONAL SUBJECTS
Who Discount Note
HM Forces Up to 25% Available only to those in receipt of the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) or an equivalent civilian allowance.
Sibling - second daughter 5% Held for as long as there are two or more sisters on roll at the School.
Sibling - third and subsequent daughters 10%
Year 6 to Senior School continuity 2.5% Applies when a girl transfers from J6 to Year 7 and continues to apply throughout her years in the Senior School, including into Sixth Form.
Year 11 to Sixth Form continuity 5% Applies when a girl transfers to Lower Sixth. A girl who commences in the Junior School and stays at the School into the Sixth Form qualifies for both discounts.
EXTRAS
Written parental consent will be sought prior to any single extra with a cost in excess of £40. The School seeks to minimise extra charges and most day-to-day and curricular items are included in the termly fee. However, other appropriate extras will appear on invoices when applicable, for example:
• Occasional Boarding
• Public examination fees
• Sunday shop purchases including stationery
• Boarders’ disbursements
• Travel not included in the International Boarding Fee
• Individual and small group tuition
• Piano accompanying for music exams (higher grades)
• Residential trips, occasional specialist trips and social gatherings
Payment Amount Note
Registration Fee (non-refundable)
Day Girls: £50 Boarders: £150
Acceptance Deposit Day Girl: £500
UK Resident Boarder: £3,000
EEA/International Boarder: 1 Term’s Fees
Payable on return of the Acceptance Form. The deposit will normally be credited without interest against other sums due to the School on leaving. If a place at the School is not taken up after being accepted by the parents, then the first Term’s fees will be payable in full. This proviso will apply only if less than one Term’s notice is given.
Item Fee Remarks
Music Tuition - instrument or voice £32.00 Per lesson (40 minutes). Pupils may be taught in pairs or larger groups at the discretion of the teacher with a resulting adjustment to the fee.
Hire of musical instrument £44.00 Per Term.
Speech and Drama lessons and EAL lessons £34.00 Per lesson (40 minutes). Pupils may be taught in pairs or larger groups at the discretion of the teacher with a resulting adjustment to the fee.
Co-curricular sport coaching e.g. judo, fencing, tennis variable As advised by the Director of Sport.
Occasional Boarding per night £65.00 Pupils paying Day Girl rates may stay overnight on an occasional basis by agreement with the Head of Boarding.
Occasional Meals – Day Girls Breakfast Supper £3.00 £4.00 Lunch, morning break and tea are included in the total School fee. Additional occasional meals are charged.
LITTLE ACORNS
Accounts are payable by the first day of each Term. A late payment surcharge of 2% per month (compound) is chargeable on outstanding debts after the first day of Term. Tuition fees, certain standard charges and outstanding deposits are charged termly in advance. All other disbursements/extras are charged termly in arrears. The School’s preferred method of payment is by bank transfer. Parents must ensure the payment details allow ready identification of the pupil’s name. The School’s bank details are available on our website under ‘Secure Payments’. The School cannot accept payment in cash.
Online Payment Fees may be paid online. Parents wishing to use this option should visit the School’s website and click on “Secure Payments” at the top of any page. This will lead to a secure site where payment card details can be provided in order to make a payment. The School does not accept card payments over the phone.
Alternative Payment Methods
• Monthly Payment Scheme. Parents may wish to consider payment of School fees on a monthly instalment basis via School Fee Plan. More details can be found on their website. • Fees in Advance. The School operates a Fees in Advance Scheme where a discount is given for a lump sum payment covering tuition fees (not disbursements) for three or more Terms. Please contact us for further details.
INSURANCE
Girls may attend Little Acorns on either a full-time or a sessional basis. There are ten sessions in the week: morning sessions run from 8.30am – 12.05pm and afternoon sessions run from 1.25pm - 3.30pm (4.00pm on Fridays). Those attending a morning session can join the Breakfast Club from 7.45am for a small charge. Those attending an afternoon session can stay on until 5.45pm for Late Stay, which includes a snack, and is also free of charge. All pupils can have lunch with us, either at the beginning or end of their session, at no additional cost. A pupil must attend a minimum of four sessions per week. Priority for places will be allocated first to full-time pupils. Little Acorn fees are charged on a per-session basis which will be invoiced termly in advance. The School currently participates in Bristol City Council’s nursery education grant scheme under which families are eligible to receive some financial support for Early Years education from the City Council. The School reserved the right to withdraw participation by giving one Term’s notice. PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
The following range of insurances is available through the School. Policies are provided by Marsh Insurance Brokers and full details of each scheme are provided to all new parents and can be found on the fees page of the School website. • Insurance of Pupils’ Effects • School Fees Refund Scheme
FINANCIAL SUPPORT (BURSARIES)
We are pleased to be able to offer means-tested bursaries for external candidates at Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and the Sixth Form (16+). A bursary can be applied for on top of a Scholarship or Award, or separately. Bursaries are awarded according to need and are not dependent on academic performance, although the pupil in question must satisfy the School’s standard entry requirements and continue to work to a satisfactory standard whilst in the School. Only in exceptional circumstances will the award of a Bursary be considered in the Junior School. The main point at which bursaries are awarded is at entry to Year 7 or Year 9 in the Senior School, and in such cases the Bursary would normally remain available through to the completion of the pupil’s education at Badminton. A number of Scholarships are available to Lower Sixth pupils including the Sixth Form Day Girl Award for those joining from a State Secondary School and bursaries may also be available.
SCHOOL POLICIES
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
Every year, Scholarships and Awards are available to girls entering Badminton in the Junior School, Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and the Sixth Form (16+). Scholarships are awarded to girls with a talent in a particular area and Awards are more discretionary, given to girls where we see real potential. All Awards and Scholarships bestowed come with a remission on fees. Application for a Scholarship or Award should be made at the point of registration and Scholarship assessments will take place alongside our entrance assessments. For more information on our Scholarships and Awards, please refer to the Scholarships and Awards Booklet found on our website.
The School’s Safeguarding Children Policy, Admissions Policy and Awards and Bursaries Policy are available to download on our website: www.badmintonschool.co.uk. Further policies available on request include:
• Special Educational and Disability Support Policy
• Pupil Rewards and Sanctions Policy (see also Exclusions Policy)
• Complaints Procedure for Parents and Number of Recorded Complaints
• Staff List and qualifications
• Curriculum Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• First Aid Policy
• Information on academic performance during the preceding School year, including the results of any public
examinations If you would like a copy of any of these policies, please contact the Director of Finance and Operations by emailing dfo@badmintonschool.co.uk or call 0117 905 5200.
GOVERNANCE
A full list of members on our Board of Governors is available on our website. The Chair of Governors is Mr Justin Lewis who may be contacted all year round via:
Email: jlewis@badmintonschool.co.uk Telephone: + (0) 117 905 5281
Post: c/o Clerk to the Governors, Badminton School, Westbury Road, Bristol BS9 3BA