Admissions

Do we need to let our current school know about an application to City?

Yes, please. We will request a reference from the headteacher of the pupil’s current school to help in our assessment process.

How does City help pupils with special educational needs or special circumstances when they take their assessment?

If a candidate has any form of special educational need, they can be considered for extra time or other access arrangements. We will need a recent educational psychologist’s report and /or a recommendation from a pupil’s school SENDCo or equivalent specialist teacher. These supporting documents should be submitted with the registration.  Please note we strictly adhere to the JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) guidelines when awarding candidates with access arrangements and therefore, even if a pupil has an educational psychologist’s report, it does not automatically qualify them for extra time.  

We also appreciate that other circumstances can affect performance on the day. It is crucial that you make us aware of any of the following in the pre-assessment form you will be asked to complete after registration, so that we can take these into account: 

• English as a second language 
• Illness or lengthy absence from school 
• Family circumstances such as a recent bereavement 
• Periods of schooling outside the UK 

The full text of our admissions policy can be found on our policies page.

Should pupils receive tutoring before the entrance assessments?

We do not wish for pupils to endure hours of extra tuition. The assessment is designed not to be ‘tutorable’. We would much prefer pupils to come along to their assessment feeling fresh and full of energy rather than worn out from working too hard!

We do, however, recommend that applicants look at the familiarisation for the CEM assessment, the maths sample paper and English sample paper we provide so that they know what to expect on the assessment days.

How can my daughter prepare for the interview?

All City interviewers are experienced at putting pupils at ease and getting the best out of them. Please also rest assured that we are very much looking for academic potential and interest above anything else! Any practice your daughter can get in articulating her ideas with enthusiasm and justification would be beneficial.

Does City accept pupils from overseas?

We certainly do! Several pupils join us each year from overseas. International pupils bring an exciting dimension to school life, and reflect the wide range of nationalities, backgrounds and languages represented at City in all year groups.

Interviews may be conducted remotely, and we will try to schedule them to a convenient time for your time zone.

Please note that the school does not consider applications for bursaries from overseas students.

Do we need to let our current school know about an application to City?

Yes, please. We will request a reference from the headteacher of the student’s current school to help in our assessment process.

How does City help students with special educational needs or special circumstances when they take their assessment?

If a candidate has any form of special educational need, they can be considered for extra time or other access arrangements. We will need a recent educational psychologist’s report and /or a recommendation from a pupil’s school SENDCo or equivalent specialist teacher. These supporting documents should be submitted with the registration.  Please note we strictly adhere to the JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) guidelines when awarding candidates with access arrangements and therefore, even if a pupil has an educational psychologist’s report, it does not automatically qualify them for extra time.  

We also appreciate that other circumstances can affect performance on the day. It is crucial that you make us aware of any of the following in the pre-assessment form you will be asked to complete after registration, so that we can take these into account: 

• English as a second language 
• Illness or lengthy absence from school 
• Family circumstances such as a recent bereavement 
• Periods of schooling outside the UK 

The full text of our admissions policy can be found on our policies page.

Should students receive tutoring before the entrance assessments?

Prospective students should not undertake tutoring for our assessments. Our exams are based on the GCSE syllabuses which students will have probably covered in year 10. We also appreciate that schools will teach topics in a different order, so understand that some of the content might not have been covered yet.

Which pupils does City make offers to?

It is crucial for us to have an admissions process which is as fair and transparent as possible. We aim to identify those with the most potential to benefit and thrive here at City.

We therefore make offers to pupils who:

• display a high level of academic ability in the entrance exam
• have a strong academic record from their current school
• show a passion for learning, originality and potential to think independently in their interview
• demonstrate that they would enjoy making the most of the wide-ranging co-curricular opportunities offered to them at City

Does City accept students from overseas?

We certainly do! Several pupils join us each year from overseas. International pupils bring an exciting dimension to school life, and reflect the wide range of nationalities, backgrounds and languages represented at City in all year groups.

For year 12 entry, we can arrange for applicants to sit their assessment overseas at a local British Council office. You simply need to make contact with your local British Council office to confirm that they will invigilate the assessment, and provide us with their contact details. We will then email the papers and instructions to them in order for them to conduct the assessment. The completed papers will then be returned to us for marking. Please note that up to six weeks’ notice may be required by the British Council to arrange an exam.

Interviews may be conducted remotely, and we will try to schedule them to a convenient time for your time zone.

Please note that the school does not consider applications for bursaries from overseas students.