Student Age at Entry

Kellett School entry is guided by the UK academic year and entry dates as set out in the table below:     

KELLETT YEAR GROUP	AGE AS OF 31 AUGUST
Year 13	17
Year 12	16
Year 11	15
Year 10	14
Year 9	13
Year 8	12
Year 7	11
Year 6	10
Year 5	9
Year 4	8
Year 3	7
Year 2	6
Year 1	5
Reception	4

General Requirements for All Applicants

It is a requirement that:

• Kellett School complies with the HK Government’s requirement as an international school to maintain a minimum of 70% overseas (non HK) passport holders.
• In order to attend Kellett School, applicants must be residing in Hong Kong with a parent holding the appropriate immigration status permitting them lawfully to reside and study in Hong Kong. Kellett School as a day school facility does not usually act as a sponsor for non-resident Student Visas (the "Right to Stay Requirement").
• Applicants can demonstrate their ability to satisfy the Curriculum Requirement.
• Applicants are 'proficient' in English (as defined by the Common European Reference Framework for Languages) at an age appropriate level that enables them to meet the curriculum requirements at each Age Phase (See Appendix Two on the Admissions Policy) The School does not provide English as an Additional Language support.

Preparatory School Placement Consideration

Students are usually placed in the age appropriate year. In exceptional circumstances and where it is agreed that such a placement is in a student’s best interest, they may be placed in the year group below their chronological age. In accepting such a place parents should be aware that should a student leave Kellett prior to completion of their education, such a placement may adversely impact entry to future schools. Such an arrangement is at the discretion of the Principal. The School does not accelerate students into higher year groups based on ability.

Sibling applicants on the waiting list are required to join the same preparatory campus as the sibling/s currently enrolled in the school.

Senior School Placement Consideration

Senior School students are placed in the school year that best continues their education to date. This decision is made by Kellett School.

Whole School Entry Procedures

All applications and supporting information are reviewed by the Admissions team in order to establish the applicant’s ability to meet the Right to Stay Requirement and the Curriculum Requirement.

The following table sets out the general format of assessment:

YEAR GROUP	FORMAT OF ASSESSMENTS
Reception	Review of the application form, supporting information, latest school report, if applicable; Review of the Reception Information Form completed by the applicant’s current kindergarten; Review of English Language competency.
Years 1 - 2	Review of the application form, supporting information, latest school report; Review of the Y1-2 Admissions Report completed by the applicant’s current school; Review of English Language competency; An evaluation of the child's ability in Phonics may be requested.
Years 3 - 4	Review of the application form, supporting information and latest school report; Review of the Y3-4 Admissions Report completed by the applicant’s current school; Review of English Language competency.
Years 5 - 6	Review of the application form, supporting information and latest school report; Externally moderated online computer assessment; Independent writing tasks to assess level of written English; Review of the Y5-6 Admissions Report by the applicant’s current school; Assessment of (written and spoken) English Language competency; Meeting the School Entry Criteria as determined by the Principal; The Candidate's ability and willingness to contribute to the wider (co-curricular) life of the School will be taken into consideration.
Years 7 - 11	Review of the application form, supporting information and latest school report; Externally moderated online computer assessment; Internal subject assessment for option choices as required; Writing assessment; Review of the Senior School Admissions Report completed by the applicant’s current school; Meeting the School Entry Criteria as determined by the Principal; The Candidate's ability and willingness to contribute to the wider (co-curricular) life of the School will be taken into consideration.
Years 12 - 13	Review of the application form and supporting information; Externally moderated online computer assessment; Internal subject assessment for option choices as required; Writing assessment; Review of latest school report & student's letter of application; Interview with a member of the Kellett staff; Review of the Senior School Admissions Report completed by the applicant’s current school Meeting the School Entry Criteria as determined by the Principal.  As guidance, for those coming out of the UK GCSE system the following criteria will apply: Applicants must achieve at least SIX B grades (grade 6) with passes at least C (=Grade 5) in Mathematics and English. Please note that at least A grades (Grade 7 +) are required for some subjects. Appendix One on the policy document outlines details. The candidate's ability and willingness to contribute to the wider (co-curricular) life of the school will be taken into consideration. NB: Any subsequent offer is conditional on I/GCSE results and/or Kellett School internal subject assessments

In addition to the above, the parent of an applicant must provide to the School for review and consideration, any other information that is relevant to the applicant’s ability to meet the Curriculum Requirement. This may include for example, any information relating to the applicant’s ability to read and write English, their general academic level, and their learning abilities, specific educational psychology, medical, speech therapy, occupational therapy, IEP counselling or other such reports.

As part of the assessment process an interview may be required with the applicant and his/her parent(s) to better understand the applicant's ability to meet the Curriculum Requirement. In determining whether the applicant can meet the Curriculum Requirement the School will, amongst other things, need to understand any specific needs of the applicant and what reasonable accommodation can be provided by the School. Please refer to section on Assistance for Students with Special and Specific Needs.

It is important that parents provide any supporting documents at the time of application and that the School is regularly updated with relevant information whilst their child is on the waiting list.

Parents are advised that to knowingly withhold relevant information and/or to knowingly mislead Kellett School in regard to their child’s ability to satisfy the admissions requirements or curriculum requirements will lead to their child’s place being withdrawn. Such behaviour prevents or delays the entry of a child for those parents who have been honest and transparent with Kellett School in regard to their child’s needs.

The high demand for school places means that Kellett School is generally over-subscribed and as such, it is not always possible to accept all applications that satisfy the entry requirements. Consequently all admissions are further based on:

• Debenture/Sibling Status
• Date of application

Application Procedure

Applications may be submitted from birth for Reception/Preparatory entry and two years in advance of entry for Senior School.

An EDB approved, non-refundable Application Fee is charged to all those applying to Kellett School. This fee is payable at the time of application and is levied to recover the costs incurred for the processing and administration of applications under the School’s admission procedures. An additional assessment fee is charged for Year 5-13 entry.

The date that the completed application (including photo, reports / any available supporting documentation and Application Fee) is received by the School will determine the applicant’s initial place on the application/waiting list.

Receipt of application is acknowledged by email and the applicant’s name is placed on the application/waiting list. Those who are covered by a corporate debenture have priority over other applicants, other than siblings of existing pupils. However, the number of corporate debentures issued is limited to a ratio set by the Board in order to ensure places are available to applicants who do not have access to a Corporate Debenture.

Please note that an applicant’s position on the application/waiting list and admissions list can go down as well as up due to the Sibling and Debenture priority system.

Parents resident in Hong Kong who have been offered a place may not defer their child’s entry until the following year. Where deferral is sought the place must be declined and parents seek entry via the waitlist at their preferred entry point.

Deferred entry is only possible in the following circumstances:

• The place offered is not on the preferred campus; as stated on the child’s application form.
• Evidence is provided to demonstrate the family’s relocation from overseas has been delayed.

Please note a place on the Admissions List is not a guarantee of entry to Kellett School.

When a place becomes available, the School will make reasonable efforts to contact the parents at the home/work contact numbers and emails provided. But if such efforts fail, the applicant will be removed from the application/waiting list and the place will be offered to another applicant. In the event that an applicant is made two successive offers of places (and where appropriate on their preferred Preparatory Campus) and these offers are declined, the applicant’s name will be removed from the waitlist. Re-application is not permitted for the two following years.

Admissions Procedure

When it becomes apparent that a place may become available an assessment will be offered in line with the general format of assessment set out previously. Following an applicant’s assessment the parent will be advised of the outcome.

When a place is offered, parents accept by paying a non-refundable Registration Fee equivalent to 10% of the annual school fees and the appropriate debenture payment. Please refer to Kellett School's debenture guidelines. The Registration Fee will be credited against the fees for the child’s first term at the School. Please note that a parent in receipt of a place offer is required to confirm the place within ten working days. Failure to do so may lead to the place being withdrawn.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Kellett School offers a number of Scholarships and Bursaries.

• Scholarships
  • Academic Scholarships are currently available to existing students entering Year 7.
• Bursaries
  • Annually reviewable and means tested Bursaries are available to students wishing to enter Kellett School, who due to their parent's financial status, may not ordinarily afford to do so; and to existing students where a sudden, unforeseen change in their parent's circumstances has resulted in significant difficulty in meeting tuition fees with the result that the student is likely to be withdrawn part way through a stage of education. 
  • Please contact the Admissions Office for further details.

Leaving Kellett School

Parents are required to give one term’s notice of their child’s departure by completing the Formal Notification of Withdrawal Form available from the School’s website or the Admissions Office. In the event that formal notice is not received in the manner prescribed by Kellett School, one term’s fees are payable in lieu of notice.

School Transfer Support

Policy on Entry to Hong Kong and Overseas Schools is available to Kellett parents in the School’s Parental Engagement Portal and in the School Handbooks.

In the event;

• Parents can demonstrate that the family is permanently relocating from Hong Kong transfer advice and support is available from Kellett School via the admissions office.
• The family is to remain resident in Hong Kong and a student is to continue their education in another Hong Kong school or an overseas school, Kellett School will provide a single Kellett School Standard transfer report. Additional reports and/or specific additional reports written to individual school formats are chargeable.

All requests for transfer reports must be made via the Admissions Office. Parents should not approach or harass individual teachers in order to provide transfer or scholarship reports. Documents not endorsed by the Admissions Office are not Kellett School Transfer Reports.

Reports are sent directly to the school concerned; copies are not provided to School Placement Agents.

Parents who are to remain resident in Hong Kong wishing to seek overseas boarding places for their children are encouraged to contact the preferred schools directly for advice via the respective school’s/schools’ Admissions Office.

Invigilation services for overseas schools entry examinations are provided by The British Council, Hong Kong.

The reference to a "parent" in this Policy is to the authorised parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) of the child.