Admissions at Liberty School
Finding the right fit for every child
Admissions at Liberty School are designed to be clear, supportive and personal. We take time to understand each child, each family and whether Liberty School is the right environment for them to thrive.
Our admissions journey begins with an enquiry, followed by registration and a careful onboarding process. This helps us understand your child’s strengths, interests, learning profile and readiness for Liberty’s ambitious, progressive and practical approach to education.
A thoughtful admissions journey
Liberty School is a small, progressive independent primary school with limited places. Because of this, admissions are not simply about completing a form or joining a waiting list. Our process is designed to help families understand the school fully, while also helping us understand whether Liberty School is the right setting for each child.
We are looking for children who can engage with an ambitious curriculum when learning is delivered in a practical, discussion-rich and experiential way. Children do not need to be perfect learners, and our process is not about ranking children through academic competition. Instead, we want to understand how each child thinks, learns, communicates and responds to support.
The admissions journey has four main stages: enquiry, registration, onboarding and decision.
Enquiry is the first step.
This is free and gives families the opportunity to learn more about Liberty School before making a formal registration.
Registration begins the formal admissions process.
Families complete the registration information and pay the registration fee so that we can begin gathering the information needed.
Onboarding helps us understand the child.
This includes meetings, observations, screening and conversations to make sure Liberty School is the right environment.
Offers are made carefully.
A place is only offered when we believe the child can thrive within Liberty’s ethos, curriculum and school community.
Learning at Liberty School
At Liberty School, our approach is built around three important foundations: giving children a voice, keeping learning active and age-appropriate, and building strong relationships so every child feels known, safe and ready to learn.
Step 1 : Make an enquiry
The first stage is to make an enquiry. This is a non-paid stage and is designed to help families explore Liberty School before making a formal commitment.
An enquiry may include completing an initial enquiry form, receiving the school brochure or prospectus, attending an open day, joining an information event or speaking with a member of the admissions team. This stage gives families the opportunity to understand Liberty’s ethos, learning approach, school day, curriculum and expectations.
This is also a chance for families to begin thinking about whether Liberty School feels like the right fit for their child. Some families may still be gathering information, while others may already feel ready to move towards registration. Either way, the enquiry stage is about information, conversation and clarity.
This stage may include:
Completing an initial enquiry form.
This gives the admissions team basic information so we can respond appropriately and guide you to the next step.
Receiving school information.
Families may be sent information about Liberty School, including the curriculum, school ethos, admissions journey, fees, events and next steps.
Speaking with the admissions team.
Where helpful, families may speak with a member of the team to ask questions and understand whether Liberty School may be suitable for their child.
Step 2: Register your child
Registration is the formal stage where a family confirms they would like their child to be considered for a place at Liberty School.
At this stage, families will be asked to complete a more detailed registration form. This form gathers the information needed to understand the child’s background, current education, strengths, interests, learning needs and any relevant reports or professional information. The registration fee is also paid at this point and is non-refundable.
Registering a child does not automatically guarantee a place. It allows Liberty School to begin the formal admissions and onboarding process, including reviewing the information provided and arranging the next steps with the family.
This stage may include:
Completing the full registration form.
This allows us to gather the key information needed about your child, family, current education and reason for applying.
Sharing relevant documents.
Families may be asked to provide school reports, nursery reports, professional reports, EHCP documents or other relevant information.
Paying the registration fee.
The registration fee confirms that you would like your child to move into the formal admissions process.
Step 3: Parent meeting and onboarding
Once a child is registered, the onboarding process begins. This is where Liberty School takes time to understand the child in more detail.
Parents or carers will meet with members of the leadership or admissions team. This meeting allows the family and the school to discuss the child’s previous educational experiences, strengths, interests, current challenges, family aspirations, medical or developmental history, any special educational needs and any previous assessments or reports.
The purpose is not to ask whether a child can simply fit into the school. It is about understanding whether Liberty School can provide the right environment, support and learning experience for that child to flourish.
This stage may include:
A parent or carer meeting.
This gives families and the school the opportunity to talk openly about the child’s strengths, needs, background and aspirations.
A review of previous information.
The school may review reports, assessments, school information or professional documents to understand the child’s learning profile.
A discussion about suitability.
Together, we explore whether Liberty School’s progressive, practical and ambitious approach is likely to be the right fit.
Step 4: Meeting and understanding the child
Understanding the child is one of the most important parts of the admissions process.
Children will be invited to take part in age-appropriate activities so that we can understand how they learn, communicate, think and engage. This is not about children passing an entrance test or preparing for a formal examination. It is about helping the school understand the child as an individual.
For younger children, this may involve a relaxed play-based session where staff observe curiosity, confidence, communication, imagination, social interaction, persistence and problem-solving. For older children, this may include an informal conversation with a member of staff about interests, strengths, favourite subjects, friendships, hopes and what helps them learn.
Where appropriate, children may also complete screening or assessment activities. These are used to understand learning profile, possible dyslexia indicators, reasoning, processing strengths and how the child may best be supported.
This stage may include:
A relaxed child session.
Younger children may take part in play-based activities, while older children may have an informal conversation with staff.
Observation of learning and engagement.
Staff look at how the child communicates, responds, interacts, solves problems and approaches new experiences.
Screening or assessment where appropriate.
This may include dyslexia screening or cognitive assessment to help us understand how best to support the child from the beginning.
Step 5: Curriculum readiness and decision
Using all the information gathered, Liberty School will consider whether the child is ready to access the school’s curriculum and whether the school can provide the right environment for them.
Liberty School has an ambitious curriculum delivered through a progressive, practical and child-centred approach. This means children need to be able to engage with learning, take part in school life and show a willingness to be part of a busy, purposeful environment.
The admissions process focuses on suitability for the Liberty model, not academic ranking or competition. If Liberty School believes it is the right environment for the child, an offer may be made in writing. Families will then be asked to complete the acceptance process and pay the deposit to secure the place.
If the school does not believe Liberty is the right setting, we will be honest with families rather than offering a place that may not meet the child’s needs.
This stage may include:
Reviewing all information gathered.
The admissions team considers the child’s learning profile, family information, reports, observations and readiness for the Liberty environment.
Considering whether Liberty is the right fit.
The school considers whether the child can thrive within Liberty’s ethos, curriculum, routines and school community.
Making a written offer where appropriate.
If a place is offered, families will receive the next steps, including acceptance information, deposit details and transition arrangements..
Admissions for children with EHCPs
Liberty School is not a specialist SEND school, but it can consider applications from children with an Education, Health and Care Plan. EHCP places are limited, and each application must be reviewed carefully.
Before confirming whether Liberty School could meet a child’s needs, our team would need to:
Review the current EHCP.
We would look carefully at the plan to understand your child’s identified needs, outcomes and required provision.
Consider whether Liberty School can meet those needs.
We would assess whether our school can safely, reasonably and appropriately deliver the support required.
Respond to Local Authority consultation where needed.
Where the Local Authority consults with Liberty School, we would provide a clear response about whether we believe we can meet your child’s needs.
If your child already has an EHCP, or an assessment is currently taking place, families should complete the dedicated EHCP contact form so the right member of the team can review the information and discuss next steps.
Admissions Policy
Liberty School’s Admissions Policy sets out the formal process for applying for a place at the school. It explains who the school is for, how applications are considered, what information families need to provide, and how decisions are made.
As a small independent school with a maximum capacity of 55 pupils, places at Liberty School are limited. Admission is based on whether the school believes a child is well suited to its ethos, curriculum and learning environment. Liberty School is designed for children who can engage with an ambitious, practical and discussion-rich curriculum, and who are likely to thrive in a small, progressive school community.
The policy also explains how Liberty School considers applications from children with identified needs. Liberty School is not a specialist SEND school, but we will consider applications from children with additional needs, including dyslexia and neurodivergent profiles, where we believe the school can reasonably and safely meet those needs within our staffing, resources and environment.
Families are encouraged to read the full Admissions Policy before registering their child. This helps ensure that the school’s expectations, decision-making process, registration requirements, suitability assessment, offer process, waiting list arrangements and withdrawal of offer conditions are clear from the beginning.
View the Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Promise
At Liberty School, our admissions process is about understanding the whole child. We do not believe that choosing a school should feel like a rushed decision or a simple form-filling exercise. It should be a thoughtful process where families have time to understand the school, ask questions and consider whether Liberty is the right environment for their child.
Our promise is to make admissions clear, supportive and honest. We will take time to understand your child’s strengths, interests, learning style, experiences and needs. We will also be open with families about what Liberty School can offer, what our approach looks like in practice and whether we believe the school is the right fit.
A place at Liberty School will only be offered where we believe a child can thrive within our ambitious, progressive and practical learning environment. This is part of our responsibility to the child, the family and the wider school community.
Begin Your Admissions Journey
The first step is to make an enquiry. From there, our team can share information, answer questions and guide you through the next stage of the admissions process.
