Private schools agree on policy for admissions
October 03, 2003 — Private schools in Bermuda have come to an agreement over when primary one students will be admitted into their classes in an effort to relieve anxiety for parents.
From now on, the six private schools that take five-year-olds will all inform parents no earlier than February 6 of next year whether their children have been accepted for the following September term.
And in turn, parents must inform the schools by February 13 as to whether or not they want to accept the places.
The schools involved are The Bermuda Institute, The Bermuda High School for Girls, Mount St. Agnes Academy, Saltus Grammar School, Somersfield Academy and Warwick Academy.
Head of Mount St. Agnes Academy Sister Judith Rollo said each of the principals from the private schools met throughout the year, and they had long talked about creating a common policy on admissions.
She said in the past, parents had been placed in difficult situations because they had maybe been offered places at their second and third choice schools well before hearing from their first choice.
"Parents have been anxious and worried in the past because they are asked to make a decision on whether or not they want the places at perhaps their second and third choice schools before they have even heard from their first choice," said Sister Judith.
"People will say they have already been guaranteed a place at another school and need to pay a deposit, but want to know what is happening with their other choices long before decisions have been made.
"This new policy is really to relive the anxiety for parents because all of the schools will begin informing parents on admissions at the same time, so they can make a decision armed with all of the information."
And she said the new agreement meant all parents who had applied to send their primary one children to private schools should find out on February 6 or soon after whether they had been successful.
She added: "By the time night fall comes on the 6th, you will know whether your child has been accepted into one, two, three or none of the schools.
"Parents will then be able to make a decision and will have until February 13 to make a decision and pay a deposit."
The new common policy on admissions for primary one was published as an advertisement in The Royal Gazette yesterday.
It stated that it was effective for children due to start school next September, and copies of the new admission policy can be obtained from the schools.