Sixth Form Enrolment: A Discussion with Tom Kennedy Fowler, Nathan Hatch, and Robin Dearing
Introduction
Enrolment day for sixth forms is a crucial event, shaping the experience of incoming students and ensuring a smooth transition from GCSE to A Level studies. In a recent discussion, three experienced leaders—Tom Kennedy Fowler from Urmston Grammar, Nathan Hatch from London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham, and Robin Dearing from St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College—shared their insights into managing enrolment efficiently using Applicaa.
Robin Dearing – St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College
Robin, representing St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College in Harrow, explained their unique enrolment process. As a standalone Sixth Form College without internal students, they manage around 1,500 students across Years 12 and 13. Their enrolment process differs from schools with internal students, as they do not enrol on GCSE results day. Instead, they start their process a week earlier on A Level results day by communicating with offer holders, sending good luck emails, and reminding students to submit their results online.
Results submission opens on GCSE results day and remains open until Friday morning, after which the team verifies who has met their offer criteria. Over the weekend, they issue invitations to enrol, and by the following Tuesday, staff return for training and preparation. The in-person enrolment process resembles an airport check-in system, with document verification, subject discussions, course enrolment, and waiting list management. Enrolment spans two days, followed by induction and timetable finalisation before classes begin the following week.
Tom Kennedy Fowler – Urmston Grammar
Tom, from Urmston Grammar School in South Manchester, described their well-refined enrolment process, now in its sixth cycle using Applicaa. Urmston Grammar, a selective coeducational grammar school, enrols around 190 students each year, with a mix of internal and newcomer students.
Their process begins the day before enrolment when their data manager uploads internal students’ GCSE results. They also send a “best of luck” e-card to all applicants as a friendly touch. On results day, staff arrive early for a briefing that includes reminders about specific enrolment restrictions, such as course availability.
Internal students arrive at 9:30 AM, open their results, celebrate, and then move to one-on-one enrolment discussions. Most simply confirm their original course choices, but some require subject changes based on their grades. By 10:30 AM, the internal students are typically enrolled.
Newcomers arrive from 11:00 AM and first upload their results and confirm course selections before their one-on-one enrolment discussions. The school prioritises customer experience, knowing that students often apply to multiple institutions and may ultimately choose the one that provides the best enrolment day experience. The team ensures a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, helping to secure student commitment.
Nathan Hatch – London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham
Nathan, IT and Operations Manager at the London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham, shared insights from their school, which has no internal students and enrols around 400 students annually. Their process is designed for efficiency and fairness, prioritising looked-after children, those from their local feeder schools and those with the highest grades in the early morning slots.
Unlike some institutions that enrol over several days, they aim to complete enrolment on a single day, managing overflow cases the following week. One key operational strategy is involving all teaching and administrative staff in the enrolment process. This ensures that students move through the process efficiently, reducing bottlenecks.
To support feeder schools, the academy adjusted its start time to 10:00 AM, allowing top-performing students to celebrate their results at their previous schools before heading to enrol. Staff check eligibility upon arrival, ensuring only offer holders proceed through the process.
Managing Queues and Maximising Throughput
One of the key challenges on enrolment day is managing queues while maintaining a positive student experience. Tom emphasised that a completely queue-free system might make the event seem underwhelming, so they aim for an optimal balance, ensuring a lively atmosphere while keeping wait times reasonable.
At Urmston Grammar, the team assigns staff to engage with students in the queue, celebrating achievements and fostering a sense of belonging. Nathan’s approach at LAE Tottenham involves deploying a large number of staff across multiple stations, ensuring a steady flow of students. Robin, managing a larger volume at St. Dominic’s, relies on a structured check-in system and subject-specific discussions to prevent bottlenecks.
Future Improvements
A recurring issue across all schools is students enrolling at multiple institutions. To address this, Applicaa is exploring solutions to prevent multiple enrolments and improve data sharing among sixth forms.
Conclusion
The discussion highlighted that while enrolment processes vary significantly depending on school size, student demographics, and logistical constraints, the core principles remain the same: efficiency, clarity, and a welcoming experience. Each institution has refined its approach over time, leveraging technology and staff engagement to streamline the process.
With continuous improvements in digital admissions platforms like Applicaa, schools can expect even smoother enrolment cycles in the future, ensuring students start their A Level or Vocational Courses journey with confidence.