Access Arrangements

The Governors are fully committed to ensuring that our admissions arrangements are applied fairly to all applicants, including any child with special educational/medical needs or with a disability.

If you consider that your child might be disadvantaged under the terms of the Equality Act 2010, and/or has special educational/medical needs which require particular provision (access arrangements)  for the tests you must let us know soon as possible and evidence must be provided no later than the closing date for Test Registration.

if you are unsure of your child’s eligibility for Access Arrangements please speak with either the class teacher or the SENCO at your child’s primary school.  

Access Arrangements for the tests are arranged  according to the individual requirements of the candidates.  It is a complex logistical exercise within the staffing constraints of the school and is not undertaken lightly.  It is  therefore  vitally important that we receive requests and evidence as early in the process as possible.  We may not be able to consider information received after Test Registration has closed due to logistics of arranging additional staff/additional test rooms etc.  

 In order to request Access Arrangements for your child please ensure you:

1. initially advise us by completing the Access Arrangements section of the online Test Registration Form (TRF)
2. **provide written evidence from the Head teacher/SENCO of your child’s current school and/or health professionals if relevant.  This email/letter should outline your child’s normal way of working, the provision normally given and the suggested provision for the entrance tests.  It is important that evidence is sent as soon as possible after completing the Test Registration Form and no later than the closing date for test registration.   We therefore strongly advise you to make your request to your child’s class teacher or SENCo and obtain this evidence prior to registering for the tests.  

3. Send the evidence by email/post together with a copy of your  test registration confirmation email to:

   admissions@damealiceowens.herts.sch.uk     

   The Admissions Officer, Dame Alice Owen’s School, Dugdale Hill Lane Potters Bar Herts EN6 2DU

**Failure to provide written evidence from the primary school/health professional (if relevant) will mean we are unable to consider your request and we will assume the information you provided on the Test Registration Form was for information purposes only.    

Following consideration of the evidence provided parents will be advised of any adjustments the School are able to make.

Arrangements might include:

• Enlarged type for examination papers
• A desk near the front of the examination room
• Extra time / rest breaks
• Scribe / reader / prompt /separate room
• Assistive technology  ie computer equipment

We would appreciate if you could refer to our comprehensive Admissions FAQs list before contacting the school with any further queries, as you may find the answer to your question here. This will enable our Admissions Officer and general office staff to deal with priority calls – thank you for your consideration.