Admission and Entrance Exams

All registered candidates are expected to participate in the entrance procedure. Offer of admission is based on merit rating and vacancy.
The Merit Criteria also includes points from the Student Information Form which the parents are expected to complete. 

In this way the School tries to balance the emphasis o­n students entering school between pure academic capability and perceived
potential.

Entry points:
As of 2007, we would admit children to Class III, IV and V. Our academic session begins from 1st March and ends on 1st December.

Classes VI-IX are non-entry points and the very few vacancies are filled by merit alone. Parents may register their sons for these classes by special
request provided the following is clearly understood:

There are usually never more than two vacancies in these classes.

That the boy must do well in the entrance procedure so that he can be among the top students o­n the merit list.

The risk of rejection is more likely than not as admission is entirely vacancy and merit based.

If you are interested you may now apply for admission in March, the entrance test for which will be held in September. If, for example, your
son is seeking admission to class V, then he has to prepare for the examinations using the frame of reference for admission into class V.

Test criteria:

The test will comprise half hour written tests in English, Hindi, Mathematics and General Awareness. There will also be a reading assessment and a verbal and non-verbal assessment to see if your child is prepared to cope with life in a residential school.

There is no syllabus for the test, neither are sample question papers available. At the time of registration, a FRAME OF REFERENCE for the class concerned is forwarded to you and the entrance test is based o­n this.

Test Centers:
The entrance tests are conducted over the second weekend of September at Delhi and Shimla respectively.

Reporting time:
The reporting time for the test is usually 9:00 a.m. It would be best if you reach Shimla/ Delhi at least the day before so that your son will have a chance to acclimatize. If you are choosing Delhi as your son's examination centre then please make allowances for traveling in traffic.

About the test:
On registration you will be sent a Frame of Reference for the concerned class with guidelines for preparation.
In July you will be sent a letter intimating the date, time and venue of the examination. You will also be sent a Student Information Form, which has to be filled in completely as it carries points that are added to the points gained from the boy's performance in the written tests and the assessments. The tests are not difficult and are a means to assess the academic ability and study skills of the boy. We do not have old question papers for sale or distribution.

How to apply:
Please write to the Headmaster by post requesting for the registration kit along with a demand draft for Rs. 500/- favouring Headmaster, Bishop Cotton School , Shimla. You will receive the School's prospectus, CD and registration form. On return of the form with a demand draft of Rs. 5000/- your son will be officially registered. Please register him for the class to which he is seeking admission for the next academic year. For example, if he is studying in class III at present, he should apply for admission to class IV for the next academic year.
Similarly, he will prepare for the examinations by using the Frame of Reference for admission into class IV.

The registration amount is non-refundable and non-transferable. Registration entitles a boy to go through the entrance procedure once. Neither registration nor the entrance test and procedure are in any way binding upon the school. Irrespective of the result of the entrance test, as the school reserves all right to admission

Fee:
FEE  STRUCTURE PAYABLE FOR ACADEMIC YEAR – 2008

NON – REFUNDABLE ONE TIME PAYMENT:

Students domiciled in India & Nepal
(a) Registration  Fee - Rs. 5,000
(b) Admission Fee - Rs. 25,000.00
(c) Infrastructure Fee - Rs. 30,000.00

Overseas Students
(a) Registration Fee - $ 200
(b) Admission Fee and Infrastructure Fee - $ 1500

REFUNDABLE AMOUNTS:
Caution Money (refundable at the time of finally leaving school)
Students domiciled in India & Nepal - Rs. 40,000.00
Overseas Students - $ 1300

ANNUAL FEES [The fees is subject to revision]:
Students domiciled in India & Nepal
Classes III to X - Rs. 1,45,000.00
Classes XI & XII - Rs. 1,50,000.00

Overseas Students
Classes III to XII - $ 5500 (Developed countries)
Classes III to XII - $ 4500 (Developing countries)

Tour advance - Rs. 10,000.00

Pocket Money:
Classes III – V
Rs. 5,000.00 per annum to be deposited in the school office at the time of the boy joining school.
Classes VI -  XII
Rs. 5,000.00 per annum  to be deposited in the UCO Bank, BCS, Extension Counter in the boy’s personal account, through the House Master/ Matron, on the day of joining.

School Canteen “Chipus”:
Rs. 5,000/- per annum to be deposited in the School Office on the day of joining.

NOTE:

·         Fees include boarding, lodging and tuition.

·         Admission Fees/ Infrastructure Fee and Caution Money are one time payments payable at the time of acceptance of the offer of admission.

·         School fees can be paid in a lump - sum or in two installments. The first installment should be paid the day of reopening of the School in March.

·         The first installment of school fees for New Admissions which includes the onetime payments will be payable by the 15th October and the balance on the day of re-opening of the School in March.

·         Terminal bills will be sent in July & December every year, which includes expenses incurred by the student during the term, like extra books and stationery, Quarter Master stores, Outfitters, special medical expenses, sports items, tours & treks, school leave parties, hobbies, internet, telephone, special courses of computer, seminars, workshops, memberships etc.

·         If school bills are not settled on time a 5% penalty will be charged for each month of delay.  A delay of more than 3 months beyond the last date will result in the cancellation of admission offer for the child.

WITHDRAWAL NOTICE:

·         Notice of withdrawal of a child/ children must reach the Headmaster by 15th February, by Registered Post/ Courier for the ensuing year.

·         If the parents are desirous of  withdrawing their child during the session, either 3 months notice period is required or 3 months fees will be payable in lieu of notice.

·         The Headmaster may, at any time, without assigning any reason ask the parents/ guardian to withdraw their son/ ward from the school if it is considered to be in the interest of the other students of the school.

Other information:
The academic year begins 1st March and ends on 1st December. Registrations close on 30th June of the year proceeding the year of entry. However, late registrations are permissible along with a late fee, until September, when the entrance tests are conducted. For Indian students, and those Non-resident but able to make it, the entrance tests are conducted in Delhi (St. Stephen's College) and in Shimla.

For Non-resident applicants unable to come to India in September we allow for the school in which the applicant is currently studying or the Indian Embassy/High Commission to invigilate the written test on our behalf. It is the parent's responsibility to negotiate this and obtain written consent for us. This notwithstanding, we prefer to meet the applicants at the time of the entrance test along with both parents. Offers for seats are usually sent out by the middle of October and acceptances are to be received at school by 15th November. If your son is a non-resident Indian he can take French as his second language.

We would like to mention here that Bishop Cotton is a 148-year-old school, quite steeped in tradition, where the discipline is hard and conditions spartan. We do not suit those who are used to a certain degree of luxury and comfort. one of the reasons why we are restrained with regard to registrations in the higher classes is because we often find that boys who join us late find it very much more difficult to adapt to the rigors of boarding life; unless they have been well prepared by their parents as to the reasons for them being sent to boarding school, and in the case of non-resident Indians, miles away from home.

We are also wary of parental expectations, both, of the school and of how they wish for their children to grow. It would be a good idea to think over your decision about a boarding school and ensure that your son is very much a part of the decision making process. At Bishop Cotton we set great stress on commitment and do not expect ourselves, our children or our parents to go back on a commitment...once you join, you are in till you finish year twelve and there are no soft options.

Admission to class XI:
Please note the following:
Bishop Cotton is a boys' school affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (ISC).

Technically a CBSE Class X candidate, or one from any other board, subject to his results and approval of the ISC Council, can join an ISC School if the school is able to admit him.

Normally at Bishop Cotton, we do not have more than 2 or 3 seats for outside candidates in class XI and therefore do not open advance registration. Interested parents may contact the school by post after the Class X board results are out and if there are any vacancies we will advise accordingly when we are able to assess your application against others which may have been received and keeping in mind vacancies that may then exist.

Apart from academics we look at the present Principal's recommendation of the candidate, his record of conduct, his games, extra and co- curricular activity record and his potential to be able to fit in with the school's ethos.