ADMISSION POLICY

1. Introduction

ZES is proud to have an open admission policy, which means that schools and colleges will not simply reject applications from families based solely on the results of an admissions test.

At ZES, we use our admissions process to understand students’ learning needs, whether these are for additional support or for extra challenge.

All applicants are given an admissions test, which is for formative assessment purposes. The results of testing are used to inform a discussion with parents about the following:

1. The level of support the student needs, and
2. How the school/college will be able to support the student, which may include how the school/college will provide the extra challenge that exceptional students need
   or
3. Where the school/college will not be able to provide the support required and, in this case
4. What possible options are available to parents

2. Registration

Parents admitting their child/ children into Ziauddin Schools and Colleges need to register an application and arrange for the child/ children to take the Admissions Test.

It must be made clear to parents at the time of registration, that registering their child/ children does not confirm admission into the school/college.

Admission only happens after the admission test and, where appropriate, a subsequent interview.

If classes are full, parents can register students and take an admissions test for enrolment at a later date.

A registration fee is charged to cover administrative costs.

3. Admissions Tests

The class for which a prospective student is tested is determined according to the child’s age.

Reception and Junior Montessori

Both parents are requested to attend an informal interview. The prospective student must also be present at the time of interview. The interview should be conducted in the Early Years room and the interviewer should observe the child playing/ accessing resources in the room. At ZES, we consider this an opportunity to find out more about the child’s academic, emotional and social development. These should be short meetings – no more than 30 minutes.

The interview will explore the following points:

• What are the child’s interests and strengths? (e.g. interest in numbers or animals, or the child likes drawing rather than playing with toys etc.)
• What does the child struggle with? (e.g. reading or writing numbers and letters, following instructions, staying focused etc.)
• What do the parents do at home to help the child learn about the world around them? (e.g. social conventions, naming things in the world around, cooking together etc.)
• What is the child’s general behaviour like?
• How does the child get along with other children?

Senior Montessori to Class 2

Applicants for Montessori through to Grade 2 are tested in three subjects: English (literacy), Urdu (literacy), and Mathematics (numeracy).

There is one test, which is progressive and graded.

Where prospective students fail the test, parents are requested to attend an informal admissions interview to discuss their child’s support needs and how these can, or cannot, be met by the school.

This is an opportunity for a Support Plan to be formulated for the prospective student. For these grade levels, there should not be any reason to refuse admission, but rather the interview is an opportunity to identify the content of a clear and informed support plan to help the prospective student settle into class and, as quickly as possible, reach the expected level of attainment.

Grade 3 to Grade 5

Applicants for these grade levels are tested in English, Urdu, Mathematics and General Science.

The nature of the test for these grade levels is to understand a prospective student’s ability to reason, think critically and problem-solve, rather than recall facts and figures.

The test is based on curriculum expectations at these grade levels.

There is one test which is progressive and graded.

For prospective students applying for places in Grade 3 or Grade 5 classes who fail the admissions test, an informal interview will follow in which the Principal will discuss the options with the parents. For Grade 3 and Grade 5 one option can be that the prospective student is admitted into another school if it is agreed that the school is not properly equipped to work with the child.

Where the Principal believes that the school can work with the child:

• Prospective students joining Grade 3 or Grade 4 will be given a Support Plan, which may involve additional tuition on top of regular class hours. The Support Plan will be monitored.
  NOTE: Where additional tuition is provided, the school may levy an additional charge

• Prospective students joining Grade 5 will need to undertake further subject-specific tests which are diagnostic in nature, aimed at identifying, specifically, the prospective student’s support needs across the subjects of study. The student will be provided with additional tutorial support where deficiencies need to be made up, and this support will be charged by the school on top of regular school fees.

Grades 6 to 8

There are separate admissions tests in the following core areas of attainment for students in Ziauddin Schools:

• Reading skills (a measured cloze test)
• Comprehension skills (a single text with questions based on level 3 to level 5 of Barrett’s Taxonomy)
• Writing skills (a short composition of 250 words)
• Mathematical reasoning

Grade 9+

For higher secondary students and college students, we require students to undertake subject-based admissions tests reflecting the curriculums at these levels and the pattern of exams at these grade levels, in order to ensure that they are ready to study at these grade levels.

4. Admissions Procedure

There is an admission fee to cover administrative costs of enrolling a student.

Parents must complete the Admission Form and deposit the tuition fee. A receipt must be provided.

The student is enrolled and only permitted to attend classes after receiving the admission fee and tuition fee.

Any paid fee will not be refundable in case of cancellation.

All fees are subject to annual review and may be revised accordingly.

Documents Required for Admission

1. The Admission Form
2. B-Form of child
3. NIC photocopy of both parents
4. Two (2) passport-style photos of the student
5. Medical Certificate

5. Payments

Fees are charged for all twelve months of the academic year (July to June) and are payable monthly. The due date for payments is 10^th of each month.

The fees for the period of the summer (during school closure) are paid in advance and before closure of the school for the summer vacation. These fees are used to cover the administration charges associated with ‘Summer Study Packs’ and ‘Summer School’ for students.

Parents must pay the fees by the date specified. Fees paid after the due date in any month are subject to an additional charge.

If a student’s fees are not paid by the end of the second month, the student will not be allowed in school.