Admission Policy of St. Patrick’s N.S
School Address: Loman Street, Trim, Co. Meath
Roll number: 13775K
School Patron: Bishop Pat Storey (Bishop of Meath &
Kildare)
1.
Introduction
This Admission Policy complies with the requirements of the Education
Act 1998, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and the Equal
Status Act 2000. In drafting this policy, the board of management of the school
has consulted with school staff, the school patron and with parents of children
attending the school.
The policy was approved by the school patron on April 23rd 2020. It is published on the school’s website and will be
made available in hardcopy, on request, to any person who requests
it.
The relevant dates and timelines for St. Patrick’s N.S admission
process are set out in the
school’s annual admission notice which is published
annually on the school’s website at least one week before the
commencement of the admission process for the school year concerned.
This policy must be read in conjunction with
the annual admission notice for the school year concerned.
The application form for admission is published on the school’s
website and will be made available in hardcopy on request to any person who
requests it.
2.
Characteristic spirit and general
objectives of the school
St. Patrick’s N.S
is a co-educational primary school with a Church of Ireland ethos under
the patronage of Bishop Pat Storey.
“Church
of Ireland/Anglican” ethos in the context of a Church of Ireland primary school
means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Anglican Christian tradition.
This seeks to nurture and encourage the formation of the intellectual,
academic, sporting, social and religious abilities of each child within the
framework of the community of faith. A Church of Ireland ethos encourages
intellectual diversity of thought and encourages the individual to seek to
understand themselves, the world around them and the connection between the
world and the Divine. This understanding of school ethos promotes pluralism in
thought and living, in the context of a Christian school community. Drawing on
its Anglican tradition, the Church of Ireland School encourages home/family involvement,
highlighting the importance of the family/home in the social and emotional
development of the child, and more broadly, the community of the school and
church.
In accordance
with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of St.
Patrick’s N.S shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding,
the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural,
educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and
traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of
the school
St. Patrick’s N.S is a
primary school under the patronage of the Church of Ireland. We aim to reflect
the characteristic spirit of the Church of Ireland ethos.
Our school welcomes
children from the Church of Ireland community and children of other
denominations and faiths and those with none. A culture of inclusivity is
fostered within the wider school community.
St. Patrick’s N.S is
an inclusive school as defined by the Equal Status Act 2000. We are committed
to equality of access to children with special educational needs and children
with general learning disabilities; procedures are in place to identify
children who require additional support and to secure the additional resources
to assist them in furthering their education.
We wish to create a
secure and caring environment in which the children in our care can develop to
their fullest potential.
3.
Admission Statement
St. Patrick’s N.S will not discriminate in its admission of a student to
the school on any of the following:
a.
the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the
student concerned,
b.
the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of
the student concerned,
c.
the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of
the student concerned,
d.
the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect
of the student concerned,
e.
the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the
student concerned,
f.
the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the
student concerned,
g.
the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the
student concerned,
h.
the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in
respect of the student concerned, or
i.
the ground that the student or the applicant in respect of the student
concerned has special educational needs
j. St. Patrick’s N.S will cooperate with the
National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its
functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act
2004 relating to the provision of education to children with special
educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a
special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council.
St. Patrick’s N.S will comply with any
direction served on the patron or the board, as the case may be, under section
37A and any direction served on the board under section 67(4B) of the Education
Act.
As
per section 61 (3) of the Education Act 1998, ‘civil status
ground’, ‘disability ground’, ‘discriminate’, ‘family status
ground’, ‘gender ground’, ‘ground of race’, ‘religion
ground’, ‘sexual orientation ground’ and ‘Traveller community
ground’ shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Equal Status Act
2000.
Primary schools receiving applications from applicants of
a minority religion
St. Patrick’s N.S is a school whose objective is to provide
education in an environment
which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate
in relation to the admission of a student who has applied for a place in the
school in accordance with section 7A of the Equal Status Act 2000.
4. Admission of Students
This school shall admit each student seeking
admission except where –
a.
the school is oversubscribed (please see section 5 below for further details)
b.
a parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance
with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in
writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her
and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with
such code by the student
St. Patrick’s N.S is a Church of Ireland school and
may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of the Church of Ireland
where it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the
school.
5. Oversubscription
In the event that the school is oversubscribed, the school will, when
deciding on applications for admission, apply the following selection criteria
in the order listed below to those applications that are received within the
timeline for receipt of applications as set out in the school’s annual
admission notice:
St.
Patrick’s National School is a Church of Ireland school. In the event that the
number of applications exceeds the number of available places, the priority
categories below, which are listed in order of priority, are used to determine
the priority given to applications in the descending order outlined below from
(a) to (c), as follows:
(a) Priority
Category 1: An Applicant Student who is a member of the Church of Ireland or a
Protestant reformed church or is a member of a minority religion which has the
same religious ethos, or a similar religious ethos to the programme of
religious instruction/education which is provided in the school (10) and who
lives within the boundary of Trim, Athboy & Rathmolyon unions of parishes
(b) Priority Category 2: An Applicant Student
who lives within 30km radius of the
School and who complies with the terms of this Policy
(c) Priority
Category 3: All other Applicant Students who comply with the terms of this
Policy
In respect
of Priority categories 1 and 2 above, the Applicant must provide the following
documentation with the application form in order for the application to be
complete, as the School must satisfy itself that the Applicant Student is a
member of a minority religion and that it provides a programme of religious
instruction or religious education which is of the same religious ethos as, or
a similar religious ethos to, the religious ethos of the minority religion of
the Applicant Student.
(i) a
statement from the Applicant confirming (i) that the Applicant Student is a
member of a minority religion and (ii) that the Applicant wishes the Applicant
Student to be educated in a school that provides a programme of religious
instruction/education which is of the same religious ethos, or a similar
religious ethos to, the religious ethos of the minority religion of the Applicant
Student.
and
(ii)
evidence from the Applicant to support the statement that the Applicant Student
is a member of the minority religion. This evidence will consist of: -
-
a
letter from the relevant religious leader confirming, that the Applicant
Student is a member of the minority religion or
-
the
signature and stamp of the relevant Church leader on the application form
confirming, that the Applicant Student is a member of the minority religion or
-
a
baptismal record issued by the relevant minority religion which confirms that
the Applicant Student has been baptised as a member of the minority religion.
10 As
defined in Section 7(A)(2) of the Equal Status Act
11 As
defined in Section 7(A)(2) of the Equal Status Act
It is to be
noted that where oversubscription occurs in any one of the above priority
categories, priority will be given within the priority category (and only in
that priority category) to Applicant Students, who have siblings currently
enrolled in the School (“Sibling Applicant Students”). Where the number of
Sibling Applicant Students in such a priority category, exceeds the available
number of places, the remaining places will be allocated to Sibling Applicant
Students using a lottery system (a person of good character to be invited, who
does not have any direct connection with our school to draw the names). Where
the number of Sibling Applicant Students in such priority category does not
exceed the number places available, the remaining places in this category will
be allocated using a lottery system. (a person of good character to be invited,
who does not have any direct connection with our school to draw the names).
Where the
Applicant Students in a category are not successful in achieving a place, their
names will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which such names were
drawn in the category.
Applicants
will be informed of the Applicant Student’s place on the waiting list as it
applies in the particular priority category.
6. What will not be considered or taken into account
In accordance with section 62(7) (e) of the Education Act, the school
will not consider or take into account any of the following in deciding on
applications for admission or when placing a student on a waiting list for
admission to the school:
a.
student’s prior attendance at a pre-school or pre-school service,
including naíonraí,
b.
the payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the
school;
c.
a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude;
d.
the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude
of a student’s parents;
e.
a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an
interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission;
f.
a student’s connection to the school by virtue of a member of his or her
family attending or having previously attended the school;
g.
the date and time on which an application for admission was received by
the school,
This is
subject to the application being received at any time during the period
specified for receiving applications set out in the annual admission notice of
the school for the school year concerned.
This is
also subject to the school making offers based on existing waiting lists (up
until 31st January 2025 only).
7. Decisions on applications
All decisions on applications for admission to St. Patrick’s N.S will
be based on the following:
·
Our school’s admission policy
·
The school’s annual admission notice (where applicable)
·
The information provided by
the applicant in the school’s official application form received
during the period specified in our annual admission notice for
receiving applications
(Please
see section 13 below
in relation to applications received outside of the
admissions period and section 14 below in
relation to applications for places in years other than the
intake group.)
Selection criteria that are not included in our school
admission policy will not be used to make a decision on an application for a
place in our school.
8. Notifying applicants of decisions
Applicants will be informed in writing as to the decision of
the school, within the timeline outlined in the annual admissions
notice.
If a student is not offered a place in our school, the reasons why they
were not offered a place will be communicated in writing to the
applicant, including, where applicable, details of the student’s
ranking against the selection criteria and details of the student’s
place on the waiting list for the school year concerned.
Applicants will be informed of the right to seek a review/right
of appeal of the school’s decision (see section
17 below for further details).
9. Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant
In accepting an offer of admission from St. Patrick’s N.S,
you must indicate—
(i) whether or not you have accepted an offer of admission for another
school or schools. If you have accepted such an offer, you
must also provide details of the offer or offers concerned
and
(ii) whether or not you have applied for and awaiting confirmation of an
offer of admission from another school or schools, and if so, you must provide
details of the other school or schools concerned.
10 Circumstances in which offers may not be made or may be withdrawn
An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by St. Patrick’s N.S where—
i.it is established that information contained in the application is false
or misleading.
ii.an applicant fails to confirm acceptance of an offer of admission on or
before the date set out in the annual admission notice of the school.
iii.the parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance
with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in
writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and
that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such
code by the student; or
iv.an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance
of an offer’ as set out in section 9 above.
11.Sharing of Data with other schools
11.Sharing of Data with other schools
Applicants should be aware that section 66(6) of the Education
(Admission to Schools) Act 2018 allows for the sharing of certain
information between schools in order to facilitate the efficient admission
of students.
Section 66(6) allows a school to
provide a patron or another board of management with a list of the students in
relation to whom—
(i) an application for admission to the school has
been received,
(ii) an offer of admission to the school has been
made, or
(iii) an offer of admission to the school has been
accepted.
The list may include any or all of
the following:
(i) the date on which an application for admission was received by the school;
(ii) the date on which an offer of admission was
made by the school;
(iii) the date on which an offer of admission was
accepted by an applicant;
(iv) a student’s personal details including his or
her name, address, date of birth and personal public service number (within the
meaning of section 262 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005).
12. Waiting list in the event of oversubscription
In the event of there being more applications to the school year
concerned than places available, a waiting list of students whose applications
for admission to St. Patrick’s N.S were unsuccessful due to the
school being oversubscribed will be compiled and will remain valid for the
school year in which admission is being sought.
Placement on the waiting list of St. Patrick’s N.S is in the order of
priority assigned to the students’ applications after the school has
applied the selection criteria in accordance with this admission
policy.
Applicant students whose applications are
received after the closing date outlined in the Annual Admission Notice, will
be placed at the end of the waiting list in order of the date of receipt of the
application.
Offers of any subsequent places that become available for and during the
school year in relation to which admission is being sought will be made to
those students on the waiting list, in accordance with the order of priority in
relation to which the students have been placed on the list.
13. Late Applications
All applications for admission received after the closing date as outlined
in the annual admission notice will be considered and
decided upon in accordance with our school’s
admissions policy, the Education Admissions to School Act 2018 and any
regulations made under that Act.
Late applicants will be notified of the decision in
respect of their application no later than three weeks after the date on which
the school received the application. Applicant students will be
offered a place if a place is available. In the event that
there is no place available, the name of the
applicant student will be added to the waiting list
in accordance with Section 13 of this policy.
14 Procedures for admission of students to other years and during the
school year
The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students
who are not already admitted to the school to classes or years other than the
school’s intake group are as follows:
Applicants will be notified of the decision in
respect of their application no later than three weeks after the date on which
the school received the application. Applicant students will be
offered a place in the relevant class if a place is available. In the
event that the number of applications exceeds the number of available places in
the relevant class, the school will apply the selection criteria set
out in Section 6 of this policy to those applications. In the
event that there is no place available, the name of the
applicant student will be added to the waiting list in accordance
with Section 13 of this policy.
The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who
are not already admitted to the school, after the commencement of the school
year in which admission is sought, are as follows:
Late applicants will be notified of the decision in
respect of their application no later than three weeks after the date on which
the school received the application. Applicant students will be
offered a place if there is a place available. In the event that there is no
place available, the name of the applicant student will be added to
the waiting list in accordance with Section 13 of this
policy.
15.Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees
The board of St. Patrick’s N.S or any persons
acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions
(howsoever described) as a condition of-
a.
an application for admission of a student to the school, or
b.
the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.
16. Arrangements regarding students not attending religious
instruction
The following are the school’s arrangements for students, where the
parents or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18
years, the student, who has requested that the student attend the school
without attending religious instruction in the school. These arrangements
will not result in a reduction in the school day of such students:
A written request should be made to the Principal
of the school. A meeting will then be arranged with the
parent(s)/guardians or the student, as the case may be, to discuss how the
request may be accommodated by the school.
17. Reviews/appeals
Review of decisions by the board of Management
The parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached
the age of 18 years, the student, may request the board to review a decision to
refuse admission. Such requests must be made in accordance with Section 29C of
the Education Act 1998.
The timeline within which such a review must be requested and the other
requirements applicable to such reviews are set out in the procedures
determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which
are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
The board will conduct such reviews in accordance with the requirements
of the procedures determined under Section 29B and with section 29C of the
Education Act 1998.
Note: Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being
oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of
that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under
section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than
the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of
that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under
section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Right of appeal
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student,
or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student,
may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1) (c) (i) of the Education Act
1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being
oversubscribed.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1) (c) (ii) of the Education Act
1998 where the refusal to admit was due a reason other than the school being
oversubscribed.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being
oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of
that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under
section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of
Management)
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than
the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of
that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under
section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of
Management)
Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 will be considered
and determined by an independent appeals committee appointed by the Minister
for Education and Skills.
The timeline within which such an appeal must be made and the other
requirements applicable to such appeals are set out in the procedures
determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which
are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
