Teenagers hoping to join the JFS sixth-form in September may have to wait until after exams to find out if a place becomes available.

Headteacher Rachel Fink said the school was still considering how many places to offer to its outstanding-ranked sixth-form for the next academic year.

The school offers a minimum 20 sixth-form slots to external applicants annually and this year has around 100 applicants.

Mrs Fink said that at this stage in the year “we are usually in a position to offer a significant number of conditional places.

“Due to Covid-19 and following the pattern of recent years, an increasing number of year 11 students are opting to remain at JFS to complete their secondary education.”

Twenty conditional places had been offered to students “who meet the entry requirements for courses where places are available”, she added.

The school was still reviewing how many further offers to make.

“If demand exceeds supply for specific courses, places will be offered via random allocation to those students who meet the subject specific criteria.

“This means that some external sixth-form places may not be offered until the publication of exam results.”

Because of coronavirus, GCSEs will be awarded on the basis of coursework, teacher assessment and mocks rather than the usual summer exams.

Like many secondary schools this week, JFS began welcoming back some year 10 and year 12 students. Those in year 10 needing extra support had been invited to work in school before their end of year assessment.

Following the assessments, students will come to school on a rota basis with up to quarter of the year group on the premises at any one time.

Year 12s will have interviews with the senior leadership team.