Principal’s
Welcome
Finding the right secondary school is perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make. During the seven years of secondary education, young people move from childhood to adulthood. For many, the values and character that is developed during these crucial years as well the knowledge and experience that is gained, will shape the future direction of the lives of our students.
For this reason, we are, at Emmanuel, committed to the holistic development of young people, meaning that outstanding teaching and a strong emphasis on excellence in the curriculum goes hand in hand with opportunities for character development and to learn what it means to lead others sacrificially. Thus, the examined curriculum, the non-examined curriculum and the co-curriculum work together to ensure that students have a broad, rich, meaningful experience that will enable them to develop personally, socially, spiritually and morally as well academically.
We have found that young people who have learned self-discipline, the value of hard work, concern toward others and respect for authority also go on to achieve great things in the examined curriculum and are, as a consequence, well prepared for the challenges and opportunities of adult life.
Student admissions
Emmanuel College is a Christian ethos school for the whole community seeking the transformation of society. We welcome young people from all backgrounds and of all abilities. While Emmanuel College is for everyone, not everyone will think, or will know, whether Emmanuel College is right for them, so it is clearly important for all parents to have a good understanding of the College before their child applies.
Year 7 admissions
Prior to applying, we recommend you read the frequently asked questions included below and also the admissions policy relevant to the year you are applying for.
September 2027 admissions
The deadline for applications for September 2027 is midnight 31 October 2026. Please note that late applications will only be considered for a place should we be unable to fill the places from applications that were received by the closing date.
September 2028 admissions
Applications will open on 1 July 2027 and an open evening will be held in early October 2027.
Please register your interest using the link below, so that we may keep you updated about the application process.
In-year admissions
We are presently operating a waiting list for all year groups due to being oversubscribed. The admissions policy relating to in year transfers for 2025-26 can be found here. Please click here to fill in the application form to be added to the waiting list and email admissions@emmanuelctc.org.uk to provide the following information for your child:
- Their SATs results from key stage 2
- A copy (electronic or paper) of their most recent school report
- Their attendance report for the previous academic year
Shown below are the most frequently asked questions by parents and carers.
Please ensure you have read the admissions policy relevant for the year you are applying for. It is important that you note the relevant deadlines that are shown within the policy as well as the dates when the non-verbal reasoning and aptitude tests will be held.
How do I apply for a place for my child?
You should complete the application form that is available on our website. Applications open on 1 July each year.
I missed the deadline for applications, can I still apply?
Yes, but late applicants will only be considered for a place should we be unable to fill the places we have available from applications that were received by the closing date. Each year we are heavily oversubscribed so the chance of such a place being available is very small.
When will I find out if my child has a place at Emmanuel?
We will confirm places by 31 January of Year 6, at the latest.
My child wasn’t offered a place, can I appeal?
Appeals can only be made should there be clear evidence that the College has not adhered to any part of the admissions policy. Deadlines for appeals to be submitted are stated within the admissions policy relevant to the academic year you are applying for. You should make clear in your appeal where you believe the College has not adhered to the admissions policy.
We are practising Christians, will we receive a priority place over children from other faiths?
No. Religion is not a determining factor when places are allocated. Please do not go to the trouble of obtaining references or letters of support from church leaders as these will not be considered as part of the application.
Is there an admission test?
All children who apply for Year 7 prior to 31 October will be invited to take a non-verbal reasoning test.
In addition, for those that apply before 31 August, you can advise on the application form if you wish for your child to also take the aptitude test.
Why do you have two tests?
It is part of the funding agreement for our school.
The non-verbal reasoning test is used to indicate each child’s ability, so that we take children from the full range of abilities into each year group. It assesses basic learning processes and reasoning skills, rather than knowledge. The test cannot be passed or failed. Further information can be found here: Non-Verbal Reasoning – GL Assessment.
Aptitude tests assess the potential of the applicant to develop an ability in a particular area. It is not a test of their current ability. The aptitude test is for children who may have a particular aptitude for science and technology as the curriculum at Emmanuel College has an emphasis on these subjects. A small number of places are allocated to children who demonstrate a particular aptitude for these subject areas and are therefore likely to benefit from what Emmanuel College has to offer.
Does my child need to take both tests?
No. You may wish to consider the impact on your child’s wellbeing of taking either or both tests. However, you should be aware that any children not sitting the non-verbal reasoning test will fall into oversubscription criteria 8, which will reduce the likelihood of them being offered a place.
We advise that all applicants take the non-verbal reasoning test.
It is entirely the applicant’s choice whether they wish to also take the aptitude test. Whilst no previous experience is required to take the test, it is expected that applicants wishing to apply under this criterion have an interest in technology.
Why do the tests no longer happen on the same day?
We have recently revised our admissions policy so that it is comparable to other schools in England that also have admissions tests. Common practice is that these take place earlier in the academic year in order that applicants know the outcome of the aptitude test prior to confirming their preferred school choices to the local authority by 31 October.
Can we see examples of the tests?
Examples of the non-verbal reasoning test are available here: Free Materials – GL 11+.
The aptitude test is a written test paper with a series of multiple choice and short answer questions. To maintain the integrity of this test, we do not make this publicly available.
What if my child is unwell on the day of the tests?
We are not able to offer an alternative day for the aptitude test. This means that if your child is not well enough to participate on the test day then they will not be able to be considered for an aptitude place. However, as only a limited number of places are reserved for those with an aptitude for science and technology, your child can still take the non-verbal reasoning test to be considered for a place under the other admission criteria.
If your child is unwell on the day they are due to take the non-verbal reasoning test, we will offer them an alternative date to take this.
When will I find out the results from the aptitude test?
You will be told via email by 25 October whether your child has met the required threshold to be eligible to be considered for one of the aptitude places; this is determined by the required number of marks they achieve on the test.
We will not provide any further information about your child’s performance in the aptitude test, such as their rank, as we do not believe that it is helpful for the wellbeing of the pupils to be given this information. Having this information could provide a feeling of over confidence ahead of being formally notified in January whether they have been offered a place or not.
If my child meets the aptitude threshold, does that mean they are guaranteed a place?
No. If your child has met the threshold, it means that they are eligible to be considered for one of the 24 aptitude places. As it is likely that more children will have reached the benchmark threshold than the number of available places, the oversubscription criteria outlined in the admissions policy will determine how places are allocated.
My child has special educational needs or a disability, what facilities do you provide to assist them accessing the school and the curriculum?
We provide safe access throughout the College for all users and make reasonable adjustments for students so they are not at a substantial disadvantage. The College buildings are accessible to wheelchair users. There is a lift, disabled toilets in key locations, ramped access and wide corridors. Evac chairs are placed in stairwells to be used in case of the activation of the Fire Alarm. Floors are carpeted throughout and encourage a very quiet teaching environment. Please contact the Admissions Officer admissions@emmanuelctc.org.uk to discuss any individual needs and how we may provide support to your child.
My child has special educational needs, will they get extra time or help with the tests?
The non-verbal reasoning test is designed to provide an indicator of ability and it’s important to know what that is without assistance. Extra time cannot be provided for this test. The test instructions are read to all children and any children who require a scribe can be provided with one.
Parents of children who have an Education and Health Care Plan at their primary school should bring this to the attention of the Admissions Officer, as these children may be eligible for extra time on the aptitude test. If you have further queries about this you should email the Admissions Officer admissions@emmanuelctc.org.uk.
My child has limited understanding of English, will they get extra time or help with the test?
Not normally. The non-verbal reasoning test is designed so that children with limited English will be able to access the test. We can provide translated copies of the aptitude test, if required. If you have queries about this, you should email admissions@emmanuelctc.org.uk.
