AIM

To clarify the principles guiding the admission of girls.

ADMISSIONS

OLA considers for admission any girl for whom it is able to provide an appropriate education. Although a Roman Catholic School, girls of other religious denominations and religions are warmly welcomed.

Girls from Roman Catholic families, who already attend a Roman Catholic School, are given special consideration.

The main intake is at the age of 11, although girls may be accepted into any Year Group where there are vacancies. Admission partway through GCSE and AS/A2 courses is only possible in very exceptional circumstances.

Girls are selected on the basis of their performance in an Entrance Examination and the Report received from their previous school. The examination for 11+ entry is held in January each year for admission the following September but supplementary examinations are held as needed for late applicants and for places in other year groups if there are vacancies. If it is not possible to offer a place immediately, a girl's name may be placed on a waiting list.

OLA recognises the range of previous educational experiences of its applicants and takes this into account when offering places.

Girls are warmly welcomed into the VI Form and admission is conditional upon achieving satisfactory GCSE grades, normally at least five passes at grades A*-B with grades A*, A or B in the subjects to be studied at AS level. Equivalent qualifications are accepted.

Scholarships and Bursaries are available and details of these are published separately.

OLA recognises the wish of many families for siblings to be educated together and it will therefore always offer places to younger sisters so long as it is able to provide for their needs.

TRANSFER TO OLA

This is in line with the Admissions Policy.

Parents/guardians of girls seeking transfer to OLA must keep the girl’s existing school properly informed so that necessary records can be transferred.

In line with GSA requirements, the School cannot accept a girl if monies are still owing to the previous school.

N.B. From September 2009, boys will also be admitted in to Year 7 and the Lower VI.