Barker College offers a predominantly academic program, strongly supported by a wide range of co-curricular activities, which complement the academic program.  The vast majority of Barker’s Senior School students proceed to university or other tertiary study on graduation.  There are few opportunities in the Senior School curriculum for students whose aspirations are otherwise directed.
 
The School thus seeks to enrol young people who, in the opinion of the School’s senior staff, will gain maximum benefit from the academic program Barker offers; are willing to contribute to the life of the School by participating as fully as possible in the range of activities available; and whose families both understand and are supportive of the Christian aims of the School.  It is crucial to a boy’s or girl’s successful participation in the life of the School that the values fostered and expressed by the School across all areas of endeavour closely match the values fostered and encouraged in his or her home.  Parents should study the Prospectus carefully to understand what our School is, and to assess whether we can offer what they are seeking.
 
Enrolment Details

All applicants are waitlisted in the first instance. To place your child on our waitlist, a completed Registration Form with relevant documentation must be submitted. This is sent to you in hardcopy only, please apply for a Prospectus on-line or ring the Registrar if you wish to register your child.
 
Entry Points for Boys:  Years 3, 5 and 7 only:
Generally, all boys are expected to have turned age-appropriate to the Year Level by 15 March of that year. Approximately 18 months before entry into Years 3 & 5 and two and half years prior to entry into Year 7, parents of waitlisted students are required to formally apply to the School. An application and questionnaire is completed which seeks further and more current details about parents and students than the Registration form provides.  The School requests parents provide two written references about them, copies of the students latest two school reports, and most recent NAPLAN results, and any other supporting documents demonstrating attainment in both academic and co-curricular activities of the student.  This information provides a holistic view of the student’s attainments, interests and character.

The process of selection takes into account these elements:

• academic performance in relation to the Barker program
• assessment of personal characteristics and approach to academic work as set out in school reports
• the capacity of the College to support the interests of the student
• assessment of the suitability of the academic program to the student’s needs
• the student’s and the family’s willingness to support the School’s code of conduct and its Christian faith and practice
• the student’s willingness to participate in and contribute to the life of the College, including participation in Saturday sport until Year 12.

All boys undertake academic assessment at Barker, followed by a face to face interview and then offer. Not all applicants are offered an interview or place.

 
Entry Point for Girls: Year 10
Girls registered on our waitlist will be contacted 15 months prior to entry. All girls applying for entry into Year 10 are interviewed. Girls do not undertake academic assessment, but academic competency must be demonstrated in school reports, as well as participation in co-curricular activities and other broader interests. They are required to complete a questionnaire, to send copies of their two most recent reports, and any other supporting documents demonstrating attainment in both academic and co-curricular activities.

Interviews take place late Term 1 and Term 2 the year before entry. Formal offers are made before the end of Term 2.

Because Year 10 is not an entry point for boys, applicants will be selected for interview based on the information provided in the questionnaire, their school reports and academic assessment should a place become available.

BOARDING
Boarding at Barker commences in Year 10 for both boys and girls. Barker is committed to supporting country families and preference is given to country students. Country families are encouraged to contact the Enrolment Office prior to a visit to Sydney to arrange a tour. We would be delighted to show you our school and boarding facilties.

Boarders are expected to board for a complete school year and a term's notice of withdrawal is expected at the end of Term 3 if a boarder is not continuing the following year.

All boarding places are offered and held at the Headmaster's discretion.

Siblings and Children of Past Students
The College reserves the right to offer preferred placement to siblings of students already attending the School, to children whose fathers, mothers and grandfathers have attended the School, and to children whose families can demonstrate an active involvement in a Christian congregation. 

The School Council’s Policy requires children of former students to complete all the normal enrolment formalities.  They complete the Student Questionnaire, sit the entry test, and attend an interview at the School with their parents.

Please note that sibling priority in the enrolment process only exists while a sibling is a current student and ensures only that the sibling will be granted an interview.

Children of former students for whom an application for admission is received prior to their second birthday will automatically be invited to attend an interview and will be considered before any other applicant is offered a place in that particular year.  If children of former students are not registered before their second birthday, they will not automatically be granted an interview, unless a vacancy is available in the year in which placement is being sought.  Clearly, it is a real advantage for children of former students to be enrolled before they turn two.

Declining an Offer of a Place
If any student, including siblings or children of ex-students, undertakes the testing procedure, ie undertakes the formal entry process - returns questionnaire, attends the testing and interview and declines an offered place, the application will be cancelled.  In these cases a fresh application and application fee is required should you wish to apply for another intake year group.  Any priority for a child with ex-student or sibling status is lost with the second application.
 
Documentation
Registration for Enrolment and Questionnaires to proceed with Application will not be processed without all the documentation that is requested on each of the forms.

CHANGING DETAILS FOR YOUR CHILD

All correspondence regarding the enrolment of a student should be addressed to the Dean of Enrolments.

If you wish to change the intake year your child is listed for, please send written details including your child's full name, address, Year Level and Calendar Year currently applied for, and New Year Level and Calendar Year you wish to change to.
In order to have the correct address details for prospective students all changes of address must be communicated to the Enrolments Office in writing, clearly stating student’s full name, and previous address details as well as new address details.

ENROLMENT CHARGES
Registration Fee
On application you will be required to pay a non-refundable registration fee of $300.  The student’s name will be registered on a waiting list.
 
Admission Fee
When a place is offered, all parents will be required to pay a non-transferable nor non-refundable Student Admission Fee.  For each student this sum is payable as a single payment on acceptance of a place and prior to the student entering the School.
 
For entry into Year 10, the Student Admission Fee will be $2,800.  For Junior and Middle School entry the Student Admission Fee will be $4,000. The Admission Fee is not tax deductible.
 
School Fees
Fee invoices are issued prior to the commencement of each term and are payable within the first 10 days of term.  All fees and charges are reviewed annually.
 
Leave
Enrolled students may be granted leave, at the discretion of the Headmaster, for a maximum of two years. Half fees are payable to hold a place. Full fees are payable for any leave less than 12 months.
 
Withdrawal of a Student from Barker College
The School requires at least one full school term’s notice of withdrawal for an enrolled student. Fees in lieu of notice are applicable if sufficient notice is not received.

OVERSEAS STUDENTS
Barker is not registered as an education provider for students holding student visas.

Students whose families have residency are welcome to apply. Any student whose first language is not English must submit an English Proficiency assessment with their application form or before they undertake the normal enrolment process.
 
Policy Changes
All organisations, from time to time, initiate policy changes reflecting the needs of the organisations and their clientele at the particular time.  At Barker, policy changes are implemented by the School Council.  At any time, parents are invited to phone our Enrolments Office to ask if policy has changed.  The School Council reserves the right to alter its enrolment policy to suit prevailing circumstances.