Wyclif Independent Christian School

Applicant Information Pack

This Applicant Information Pack provides an overview of Wyclif Independent Christian School (WICS), its ethos, admissions process, and a summary of all information required when applying.

1. About Wyclif Independent Christian School

Wyclif Independent Christian School (WICS) is a day school providing high‑quality education with a Christian emphasis. It was founded in 1982 and now educates approximately 190–200 pupils aged 4–18.

The school’s educational philosophy is grounded in mainstream evangelical Christian principles, with the Bible as the foundation for curriculum and moral teaching.

Please see our School Prospectus (WICS Prospectus) for information on our ethos, teaching philosophy and more.

School structure

WICS is organised into four sections:

• Lower Primary: K5 (Reception)–Year 3
• Upper Primary: Years 4–6
• Lower Seniors: Years 7–8
• Upper Seniors: Years 9–13

The school operates across multiple sites in Machen, near Caerphilly.

Leadership

• Headteacher: Mr Andrew Tamplin (since the school’s founding).
• Senior Leadership Team:
  • Deputy Headteacher: Paul Corney
  • Senior Teacher (Senior School): Jonathan Bilton
  • Senior Teacher (Primary School): Joanne Connolly
• Governors: Led by Chair Mr Karl O’Dare.

2. Admissions Overview

Should you wish to make an application for your son or daughter to study at WICS, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

In this section, we provide a simple outline of the steps in the Application and Admissions procedure so that prospective families understand what to expect.

Phase 1 - Application

1. We encourage you to contact the School Office for information, visit our website, download the Prospectus and Admissions Policy, and talk to school families in order to get to know the School before you apply.
2. Read this Applicant Information Pack for details on how to apply.
3. Get in touch with the School Office to express an interest in applying (info@wyclifchristianschool.org). The School Office may offer you a time to visit the school in person, and will also be able to provide an application form. Please note that if no places are available in the year group to which you are applying it may not be possible to arrange a School visit or send an application form at this stage.
4. Submit an application. Online submissions are preferred but paper or PDF copies of the application form are available from the School Office on request.
5. You will receive an acknowledgement of your application.
6. We will process your application. Information is sent to the relevant Senior Teacher (of Primary or Secondary). References and reports are requested by the School.
7. If the application form and references are satisfactory, an interview with a Senior Teacher and the relevant class teacher will be arranged at a mutually convenient time.
8. Finally, the application and interview notes will be sent to Headteacher for the final admissions decision. Admission into Year 8 or later is subject to further approval from the Board of Governors.
9. You will be informed of the application result in writing. Kindly note that we do not keep a record of unsuccessful applications once the result has been issued, so if you were to reapply in the future, you would have to start the process again.

Phase 2 - Acceptance and Admission

1. If the application is approved and there is a place for your child, you will receive a formal offer letter from the School.
2. You will be required to formally accept the offer before the place is confirmed. You must confirm that you wish to accept the offer within 2 weeks; otherwise, we may have to withdraw our offer of a place to offer it to another candidate on the waiting list.
3. The School Office will be in touch requesting that you provide further information during the Acceptance and Admission phase. This includes consenting to the policies and procedures of the School.

3. Information Needed for Application

Here is an overview of the key information (not an exhaustive list) that will be required on the application form.

Family Contact Details

This includes names, email addresses and home address of parent(s) / guardians.

Pupil Details

• Full name of child
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Desired school entry year (e.g., K5, Year 1)
• Desired start date
• Previous school(s) attended with dates
• Reason for leaving most recent school
• Copy of most recent school report (if available)

If no school report is available, the applicant must indicate the reason.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Learning Support

Parents will be asked to answer the following:

• Has the child been assessed for SEN or an IDP?
• Does the child have a statutory statement of SEN or IDP?
• Does the child receive additional learning support?
• Provide any other relevant information about the child's learning needs.

Medical Information

• Does the child have any medical conditions?
• If yes, provide details.

Christian Education Statement

Parents will be asked to explain why they wish their child to receive a Christian education at WICS.

Reference Details

Applicants will be asked to provide contact details for a referee. If the family is Christian, they should provide details of a pastor/leader in their church. Alternatively, the family should provide details of someone who has known the family for at least two years and can support your application.

Consent and Submission

Applicants are expected to read the following documents and agree to their terms when applying:

• School Prospectus: Overview of values, ethos, curriculum, and admissions expectations.
• Admissions Policy & FAQs: Clarification on processes, term dates, uniform, and safeguarding guidelines.
• Privacy Policy: Required reading before submission.
• Other relevant policies are made available electronically at the time of offer of a place.

4. Our Contact Information

School Office: info@wyclifchristianschool.org

Website: https://www.wyclifchristianschool.org/