George Watson's College

The application process, whatever stage you are considering, begins with the filling in of an application form. The section How do I apply? sets out details such as deadlines.

The main entry points are at Nursery, Primary 1, Primary 7 and Senior 1 levels, but we are delighted to consider pupils for a limited number of places in other years.

The closing date for Nursery applications is 30 April. Please note that this is 16 months prior to the August that you wish your child to start.

For all other year groups the closing date for applications is 30 November in the year preceding entry, but late applications are accepted provided there are vacancies following the acceptance of places offered in February/March.

If you require further information please contact our Junior School Admissions Secretary for (Nursery — Primary 7) or our Senior School Admissions Secretary who will be very pleased to help you.

With the exception of the Nursery, entry is subject to assessment. However, it is important to emphasise that this process provides a valuable opportunity for both the School and the parents to ensure that pupils are placed in an environment that is suited to their own set of abilities and needs.

Each application is carefully evaluated on an individual basis, taking into account the outcome of the assessment and reference from the child's previous school, where appropriate.

Watson's places emphasis on the importance of the family, and wherever possible admits brothers and sisters of pupils already in the School. However, the assessment is the main criterion for entry.

It is normal for pupils to progress from Nursery to Primary 1 and from Primary 7 to Senior 1, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

If an applicant lives some distance from Edinburgh it is possible for assessment papers to be taken at his or her current school, by arrangement with the Head Teacher, for entry into P4 upwards.

If your child is already attending another school we will contact the Head Teacher in November/December requesting a Confidential School Report.

Pupils for whom English is a second language may be required to have private tuition in order to improve their standard of written or spoken English. The School can provide this tuition at extra cost.

Where connections are taken into account, these are in descending order as follows:
1. Brother(s)/sister(s) already in the School, or who have been at the School
2. A parent who is a former pupil of George Watson's College, George Watson's Boys' College, George Watson's Ladies' College or John Watson's School
3. A grandparent or other close relative who is or was a former pupil of the above schools
4. A parent or grandparent who is a member of the Company of Merchants of the City of Edinburgh

It should be emphasised, however, that pupils who have no connection with the School who perform particularly well in the entry tests will generally receive preference over those with connections who perform less well.

Parents of applicants are requested to provide full information on pre-existing diagnoses such as a psychologist's report for a dyslexic pupil or where there is a learning or social difficulty of any kind.

Assessment of applicants who have a disability will be undertaken with appropriate additional support eg a scribe, large print, extra time etc depending upon the specific needs.

Where needed, appropriate support or arrangements will be made for such pupils during entry testing, so that specific difficulties do not prevent them demonstrating their attainments.

Should a pupil be found to require additional support, which the School would need to source outwith its existing provision, the School reserves the right to charge for this, if necessary covering the entire cost of the extra provision.  Details of any arrangement of this kind will be shared at the time a place is offered, or at any subsequent point when such a need emerges.

Selection will be made on the criteria set out below and in the following order of priority:
• Academic attainment/merit, as demonstrated in entrance assessments
• Sibling(s) already in the School, or who have been at the School
• Potential contribution to the extra-curricular life of the school based upon information received from references and interview
• Other connections with the School (see above)

All pupils are required to conform to the requirements of the School and to act at all times in harmony with the School Charter.