Parents choose Thames for many reasons: small classes, academic results, strong pastoral care, personal attention, co-curricular opportunities and excellent teaching.
Our admissions process involves getting to know both you and your child. We take care to create an honest and open process, seeking to understand your child’s aspirations and how we can enable them to fulfil their potential. A Christian background is not a prerequisite for entry but every pupil and family must feel they can fully support our ethos and values.
If you think that Thames might be the school for your child, we encourage you to request a prospectus and book into one of our virtual open mornings to meet and speak with our staff and pupils.
The first step in the formal process is to send in a completed application form, together with:
Your child will be invited to sit an entrance assessment in order to assess their potential and references will be sought from previous schools. Finally, and of particular importance, you and your child will be invited to an enrolment interview.
For Year 7 (11+), applications should be received by 5 November of the year before entrance is required. Late applications may be considered if there is space in the class.
Applications for places in existing Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 are welcome and places are subject to availability. Please contact the school office for more information. For all applicants to the school in Year 7 or above one or more taster days will be arranged. This enables your child to experience the school, helping to ensure that the move will be successful.
Thames is a mainstream school with recognised provision for a small number of pupils with mild Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia. We recognise that these pupils can be extremely gifted. If this applies to your child you may make an appointment for an informal discussion with the SENDCO.
The school does not have the facilities to meet the needs of pupils with behavioural difficulties.
All applications are handled in complete confidence and the decision of our Head is final. The school is not obliged to state reasons for rejection of an applicant. For further information please call the school on 020 7228 3933.
External candidates hoping to join Thames for sixth form will undertake a rigorous application process including an examination and interview. Strong GCSE grades will be a prerequisite for entering the sixth form.
Up to five scholarships are available annually for pupils joining Year 7. These awards are made without regard to parental income and are worth up to 20% of the fees. The categories are: Academic, Art, Music, Performing Arts and Sport.
A small number of partial bursaries are available each year for families who satisfy the criteria of our Bursaries Policy. Full details of scholarships and bursaries may be obtained from the school office.
Information about charitable trusts that assist with school fees may be obtained from the Educational Grants Advice Helpline on 01932 865619 or the Educational Trusts’ Forum www.educational-grants.org
Fees for the academic year 2021/2022 are £6,280 per term and can be paid termly or monthly by direct debit.
No extra charge is made for public exam fees, textbooks, extra-curricular clubs, theatre trips, entry to competitions or compulsory trips and field studies. Fees do not include optional extras such as overseas trips or extra-curricular instrumental or drama lessons. The basic fee is set as a mainstream school, so an additional charge is made for one to one learning support or in-class support. For full details please refer to our Fee Policy.
A deposit of half a term’s fees is payable on acceptance of a place. This deposit is refunded after a pupil has left, after deduction of any outstanding amounts due to the school. The deposit is not returned if a pupil is withdrawn after the place has been accepted.
OPEN MORNINGS
We are able to offer individual tours of the school by appointment to Year 6 families or for families who are looking for immediate entry. To make an appointment, please phone 020 7228 3933.
Our autumn open mornings will take place on:
