Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding the future process for the presentation of a child to Christ’s Hospital.

The Chairman provided the Committee with some background as to why the existing process was now being reviewed. She explained that, in 2014, both the City’s first and second choice candidates for presentation had subsequently not achieved the required standard following the School’s residential process. In an attempt to ensure continuity, the Reference Sub Committee had asked the School to nominate a suitable candidate, with an appropriate City connection, who had passed the residential assessments for presentation in 2015. 

The Chairman went on to report that this Committee would need to request further funding for presentations from the Policy and Resources Committee in 2017 and that, for this reason, it was especially important to have in place a sound presentation selection process. Members questioned if thought could be given to transferring the funding for Christ’s Hospital to the City’s Education Board going forward as there seemed to be a strong case for this.

In discussing the proposed changes to the process for presentation of future City presentees, the Committee underlined that those selected must continue to fulfil the criteria of need but must also maintain the City link previously specified. It was hoped that adopting the Clerk to present method going forward would ensure a fairer, better system for all involved whilst always keeping the best interests of the children at heart.

The Head of Admissions, Christ’s Hospital, tabled this year’s Admissions Timetable. She explained that initial, computer based, assessments that took place in October each year were essentially IQ tests. She explained that the School were looking for a similar baseline as that of Grammar Schools and that the tests used for this purpose were very well regarded and researched. In addition to the initial assessments, admissions staff also began, at this stage, to collate information on the background of applicants which included things such as income, family circumstances, housing as well as their specific interests and skills. Information gathered on the background of an applicant and the results of the initial assessments were then drawn together to provide a final ‘score’. Those with high ‘need’ scores who had also met the initial assessment criteria were then ‘paired’ up with relevant presentations.

In response to a question regarding the assessment of financial need, the Head of Admissions reported that the School’s Finance Team were very thorough in terms of examining bank statements etc. She went on to state that the School were also looking into employing a team to conduct home visits and produce reports where there was some ambiguity with regard to financial need or housing conditions. She concluded by reporting that three applicants had been rejected at the initial assessment stage this year due to questionable financial information received.

In response to questions on the Residential Assessment, the Head of Admissions explained that 200 of the top performing applicants were invited to spend two days (including an overnight stay) at the School. Here, they were subjected to further Maths and English tests and also some emotional intelligence testing. Applicants were also observed in group/team settings and were also observed during their free time in the Boarding House. Interviews also took place with each candidate during their stay.

The Head of Admissions informed the Committee that, where there was obvious need but some academic difficulties, some files were referred to King Edwards School Whitley for consideration.

Members were informed that, following the residential assessments, an Assessment Panel met in January each year to discuss each child and to decide who should be made an offer of a place at Christ’s Hospital. Of those taking part in the residential assessments, approximately 50% would not pass. Around 50% of those who did not pass would then go on to request an appeal. The Head of Admissions extended an invitation to Members to attend the School to observe the deliberations of the Assessment Panel in January 2016.

In response to a question, the Development Officer clarified that 16 of approximately 30 bodies who currently made presentations to the School had adopted the ‘Clerk to present’ method including at least one Livery Company.

The Committee concluded that the Clerk to present method would be a sensible approach for the City to adopt going forward. The Chairman suggested that this Committee meeting could therefore now take place in March of each year. She suggested that as well as new presentees and their parents, the City’s existing presentees should also be invited to attend Guildhall for lunch with the Committee after this meeting on an annual basis.

RESOLVED – That the Committee:

1) follow Christ’s Hospital’s ‘Clerk to Present’ method of nominating one candidate for the Committee’s approval after both the Initial Assessments and the Residential Assessments have taken place, in March of each year;

2) note that the November meetings of the Committee will therefore no longer be necessary;

3) wish to continue to express the wish for a child with a City link or who resides or attends a school within the City or the City fringe be nominated, whilst accepting that this may not always be possible; and

4) delegate to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, the making of arrangements for a meeting in mid-March of each year, once the School knows which children have accepted place offers.