Admissions

ICS Admissions Process 2009 - 2010

Dear Prospective Students and Parents/Guardians,

We would like to welcome you to the International Community School.  The Admissions Team is here to answer any questions you have about our school, the admissions process and to offer support with all aspects of your move and your new life in London.

The International Community School believes in a celebration of diversity.  We recognise that each student has multiple strengths and qualities to bring to our community.  As such, we offer an inclusive and non-selective admissions policy. Admissions can take place via email and telephone calls, culminating in an informal interview with members of the Admissions Team (at which prior school reports, sample pieces of 'work' or portfolios are to be shared). Where possible we will also observe students in their current school or suggest a trial day, at ICS.

The school's curriculum is internationally relevant and is based upon the International Baccalaureate (IB)  Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3 – 11 and the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11 - 16. From September 2010, ICS has been authorised to offer the IB Diploma Programme for students aged 16 - 19. This dynamic and highly relevant programme of study, regarded highly by universities and colleges around the world, will be tailored to the needs, abilities and ambitions of our students. Many will complete the full Diploma, whilst for others a programme of certificates plus 'core areas' of study will be the challenge. The School will also continue to deliver the Cambridge International A'level programme.

Our aim is to encourage the development of the whole person by using IB curriculum strategies, centred around individualised learning and incorporating English language requirements, as well as Special Education Needs as required.  Furthermore, we foster close and strong ties with parents and families, who we believe in partnership with the school, provide a wrap around environment that is supportive, nurturing and challenging for each child.
Please feel free to contact us, to learn more about our programmes and to discuss your schooling needs. We are always happy to help and look forward to hearing from you.

Admissions to ICS for Students with Special Educational Needs

ICS welcomes applications from children with special educational needs and is passionate about its inclusive approach to international education.

Please note that the school operates an enhanced admissions process for students who are identified as requiring student support. The process operates broadly as follows: A family makes an application to ICS and indentifies during the initial phone call/email, at interview or through the admissions forms that their child has support needs. Upon payment of the School Registration Fee (£250.00) plus a Student Support Assessment Fee (£345.00), the school will then request the parent/guardian supplies any relevant background assessments, therapeutic reports, IEP’s etc that can be presented to the Student Support Team led by the School’s Educational Psychologist. The case is reviewed by the school’s multi-disciplinary team of professionals and recommendations are made to the Director of Admissions. This might be in the form of a request for further information, a home and/or school visit for example. Typically, if an offer of a place at the school can be made, the family is invited to meet the Director of Student Support and Admissions so that the Support Plan can be outlined and discussed. Once both parties have agreed the Support Plan and financial implications, the offer of a place at the school is made and the completion of the admissions process is actioned. 

The Skola International Trust for Special Educational Needs

The volume of applications to the International Community School for children with SEN has for many years always exceeded the number of places available. ICS has had to turn many children away because of this or because the School deemed itself not to be a 'best fit' for the child. As a School that is passionate about inclusion, these decisions remain very difficult particularly as the School is aware of the limited options available to families in London.

With the ambition of doing more for international and UK family's seeking School placements for children with SEN, ICS has engaged the services of the SKOLA International Trust for Special Educational Needs (SITSE) to further support any registered applications it receives from children with SEN who are not offered a place at the school.

If clients wish, SITSE will search and liaise with other schools on behalf of the family in London and the UK, in order to identify placements that are ‘best fit’ for the child. This search is funded through monies transferred from the initial admissions process at ICS or in the case where the client applies directly to SITSE, the £595.00 SITSE registration fee.

Further information about SITSE can be found at:

SITSE
Email:
Website: www.sitse.org
Tel: +44 (0) 7944 359822