William Ellis School will admit up to 123 boys into Year 7 in each year and will also fill casual vacancies in any year up to Year 11. In deciding who to offer places to, the School will take account of the following criteria which will be applied in order:

• Children in public care
• Applicants who have a brother in the School (including WES members who are attending La Swap) at the time when the applicant is to join.
• Applicants who are judged to have an exceptional social or medical need. There will need to be a very clear link between the child’s exceptional need and the School. A place will only be offered on the grounds of special social or medical needs if the needs of the applicant are ones which the School can meet from its ordinary resources and there is no other school reasonably available to the applicant that can meet those needs. Parents will need to submit a case supported by appropriate evidence which will need to support the link between the need and the School.
• Up to 10% of places will be offered to applicants who can demonstrate musical aptitude to the satisfaction of the Head of Music. The applicant must provide details of examination grades or performing experience. In the event of competing applicants of equal proven aptitude, the Head of Music will decide on the basis of:

1. the musical needs of the School and current range of skills
2. distance


• Other applicants, with priority given to those living permanently closest to the School measured in a straight line ‘as the crow flies’. Evidence of residence may be required as a condition of an offer of a place under this criterion, and the School reserves the right to withdraw an offer if the address given turns out not to be the applicant’s permanent home.

Governors' Annual Review: Autumn Term