admissions procedure

To be considered for a place at Morrison's Academy an ‘application for enrolment form' must be completed and returned to the admissions registrar, along with the appropriate fee (currently £50).  This fee helps cover the administration costs and the entrance test paperwork.

We will write to acknowledge receipt of your ‘application for enrolment form' and fee; however this does not constitute the reservation of a place for your son or daughter.

When to apply
We are happy to receive an ‘application for enrolment' at anytime throughout the year.  Entrance testing is conducted in early February for entry into the school the following august.  For applications received after the February testing day we will offer individual tests, providing there are spaces available within the chosen year groups.

After you have enrolled
We will continue to maintain contact with you after you have enrolled your son or daughter through invitations to school events.  Prior to beginning at Morrison's Academy you will receive our joining pack containing all the information you need in relation to starting:  medical form, photographic form, internet agreement, additional music request, school term calendar, session dates, parents' handbook, first-day arrangements.

Prospectus
If you would like to receive our most recent prospectus please follow this link and our admissions registrar will contact you within 2 working days and send out a prospectus.

School visits

Open mornings
Details of open mornings can be found on the Open Mornings page.

Personal tours
Personal tours of the school can be arranged at any time of the year.  The tour, conducted by a member of the sixth form, will give you an opportunity to see the school in action and a chance to talk with heads of department.  At its conclusion visitors will meet with the rector.  Where a tour of the primary school is required that will be conducted by the Head of Primary.

Taster days
Another way of gaining information about the school, and it is a method we recommend, is for your son or daughter to take part in a taster day.  A taster day allows your son or daughter to spend a day in school, joining a class of the appropriate level and getting involved in all that that class does.  If required, lunch may be taken in the refectory.  There is no charge for any aspect of the taster day. 

Events
In addition to a personal tour and taster day once you have enrolled your son or daughter you will be sent further information about the school and invited to school events such as the Morrison's Academy parents association Christmas Fayre and dramatic and musical productions put on by the primary and secondary schools.

Entrance test requirements

Nursery
Admission is by personal visit to our nursery to meet with the staff.  Visiting children are encouraged to interact with the other nursery children during their stay.  There will be an opportunity to look round the nursery and talk to the staff about your child's particular requirements.

Primary 1
Admission to Primary 1is by an individual assessment carried out by our Primary 1 teacher.

Primary 2 - Secondary 2
Admission is by entrance test.  You will also be asked to provide a copy of your son's or daughter's most recent school report.  The entrance test is a nationally benchmarked assessment and consists of an English paper and a Mathematics paper.  The entrance test takes approximately two hours.

Secondary 3 - Secondary 5
Admission is by a nationally benchmarked cognitive ability test.  You will also be asked to provide a copy of your son's or daughter's most recent school report and a record of any public examination results already achieved.

Secondary 6
Typically admission is on the basis of results at ‘higher' level and an interview with the Rector.  In certain circumstances we may ask for completion of a cognitive ability test.

Entrance test morning
Entrance testing will be offered to children whose parents have expressed an interest in Morrison's Academy.  The entrance test takes place early in the February prior to August entry.  Letters of invitation to take part in the entrance test morning will be sent out in early January.

Refectory
The school has a refectory which is a five-minute walk from the main campus.  A choice of hot meals, including a vegetarian option, puddings and a salad bar are available each lunchtime.  The cost of the meal is more than competitive with the alternative of buying a lunch at one of the many outlets in the town.

After enrolment
Having gained a place at Morrison's Academy, parents and children will be invited to school events in the months before they start.  A ‘joining pack' will be sent out in the June before the beginning of the new academic session and we will be happy to answer any further questions new parents may have prior to their son or daughter starting at Morrison's Academy.

First day arrangements
Pupils will register either at the Primary or the Secondary school and a buddy or mentor will be assigned to look after them over their first few days and weeks.

Primary pupils will meet their class teacher who will stay with them for the year.  Secondary pupils will be introduced to their head of year, the person responsible for looking after their pastoral care and academic guidance for the duration of their education at Morrison's Academy

Meeting for new parents
A meeting for new parents takes place within the first two weeks of the new school session to welcome them to Morrison's Academy and to provide them with an opportunity to meet one another as well as members of the senior management team and their son's or daughter's head of year.  Representatives of the Morrison's Academy parents' association will also be present at the meeting. 

School events
Parents are encouraged to support school activities a number of which take place during the course of the year, ranging from inter-school sports fixtures, to plays, concerts and MAPA-organised fund-raising social events.