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Junior Infant Admissions Policy for Parish Schools of St. Mochta’s Parish, Porterstown

01 October 2009

Admissions Policy for Parish Schools of St. Mochta’s Parish, Porterstown

This policy is set out in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1998. The Boards of Management trust that by so doing, parents will be assisted in relation to enrolment matters. Furthermore, the Chairpersons of the Boards of Management and the Principal Teachers will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.

The schools are named St. Mochta’s National School and St. Patrick’s National School. They are situated in Porterstown Parish, Dublin 15 and are both Roman Catholic Schools under the patronage of The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. A Roman Catholic School (which is established in connection with the Minister for Education) aims at promoting the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the child: intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and with other people. The schools model and promote a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God. Roman Catholic schools provide Religious Education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and promote the formation of the pupils in the Roman Catholic Faith.

Both schools cater for the full range of primary classes, Junior Infants – Sixth Class. They are recognised schools under the Department of Education and Science. St. Mochta’s NS has 28 mainstream classes and St. Patrick’s NS has 26 mainstream classes. They are both co-educational schools, catering for both boys and girls.

The schools operate under the grants, teacher resources and accommodation provided by the Department of Education and Science. They are governed by regulations laid down by the Department of Education & Science. School policy has regard to the teacher resources, accommodation and funding available.

The schools follow the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance with Sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act (1998).

Applicants must be at least four years of age by September 30th in the year they start school. Compulsory attendance at school does not apply until the age of 6 years.

In the interest of balanced integration, at least two thirds (140) of the 210 Junior Infant places will be offered to Roman Catholic children, with up to one third (70) of the available places being offered to children of other faiths and none. At present approximately 30% of the pupils enrolled in the junior classes in the parish schools are of other faiths and none.

Application forms for Junior Infants (September 2010) are available from 01 October 2009. All applications must be returned to the schools during registration, which takes place on 23, 24 & 25 November 2009. The Boards of Management communicate arrangements regarding enrolment through;

• St Mochta’s Parish Newsletters
• Announcements at Masses in St Mochta’s Parish Church
• St Patrick’s & St Mochta’s School newsletters
• Present parent bodies
• Local newspapers
• School web sites
• Large public sign outside each school.

Decisions in relation to applications for enrolment are made by the Boards of Management in accordance with school policy. The Principals, on behalf of the Boards, will notify parents within 21 days following registration.

In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs, it is open to the Board of Management to request a copy of the child’s medical and/or psychological report or where such a report is not available, to request that the child be assessed immediately. The purpose of the assessment report is to assist the school in establishing the educational needs of the child relevant to his/her special needs and to profile the support services required.

Following receipt of the report, the Board will assess how the school can meet the needs specified in the report. Where the Board deems that further resources are required, it will request that the National Council for Special Education provide the resources required to meet the needs of the child as outlined in the psychological or medical report. These resources may include for example, access to or the provision of any or a combination of the following: Visiting Teacher Service, Resource Teacher for Special Needs, Special Needs Assistant, specialised equipment or furniture, transport services or other. The school will meet with the parents of the child to discuss the child’s needs and the school’s suitability or capability of meeting those needs

The schools support the principles of:

• Inclusiveness with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or other special educational need;
• Equality of access and participation in the school;
• Respect for the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.

within

(a) the rights of the Patron as set out in the Education Act, 1998
(b) the context and parameters of Departmental regulations and programmes,
(c) the provisions of Section 14(b) (i) of The Equal Status Act 2000
(d) and the funding, teacher resources and accommodation available.

Under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, any parent or guardian can appeal a school’s refusal to enrol his/her child.

St. Mochta’s N.S. and St. Patrick’s N.S. will offer places to children in the following order:

Category 1
At least two thirds (140) of the Parish places will be offered to Roman Catholic children. Up to one third (70) of the Parish places will be offered to children of other faiths and none. Category 1 applicants must fulfil one of the following criteria;

(a) Have a sibling(s) in one of the parish schools.
and/or
b) Be residentwithin the boundaries of the Parish.
and/or

(c) Be a child of a current member of staff. (Teachers, Special Needs Assistants, Secretary, Caretaker)

How do the Boards of Management determine who qualifies for a Junior Infant place in the parish schools if there is an over-subscription?

• There are 210 junior infant places available in the parish schools.
• All Roman Catholic children who turn four years of age by the birth date of the 140th eldest Roman Catholic applicant will qualify for a place in one of the parish schools.
• The 70 remaining places will be offered to children of other faiths and none who are four years of age on or before this date. If more than 70 children of other faiths and none qualify, the oldest 70 children will have precedence. If fewer than 70 applicants qualify, the remainder of the 70 places will be offered to applicants of all faiths and none, strictly in order of age, priority to the eldest.

How will each individual Board of Management determine which of the qualifying applicants will be offered a Junior Infant Place in that school.

• Qualifying siblings and children of staff will be offered places in the same school as their brother(s) / sister(s) / school in which their parent is employed.
• The remaining places will be offered in the order in which addresses are listed on page 7 & 8 of this Admissions Policy.

Category 2

All other applicants. Places will be offered in order of age. (Priority to the eldest.)

Explanatory notes
Waiting List
There will be one Waiting List for the Parish. Any places which become available will be offered according to age – priority to the eldest.

What are my options if my child is offered a place in the second choice school?

• Accept the place offered in the school of second choice. Once you accept a place in one of the parish schools your child’s name comes off the waiting list.
• Do not accept the place in the school of second choice and remain on the waiting list for the school of first choice. However it should be noted that a very limited number of places becomes available and these are offered in order of age – priority to the eldest.

The waiting list will remain in place until September 30th 2010

Registration

This takes place on 23, 24 & 25 November. Parents / Guardians register their expression of interest in applying for a school place in one of the parish schools. The school of first choice should be clearly indicated on the application form. Completion of this application does not guarantee or constitute an offer of a place in either of the parish schools.

Procedure for the offer of places

• All applications are received during registration (23, 24 & 25 November).
  
• Applications in each school are divided into;

Category 1 (Brothers and sisters of children in the schools and / or children living within the boundaries of the Parish and / or children of current staff. (Teachers, Special Needs Assistants, Secretary, Caretaker)
and
Category 2 (All other applicants)

• The Principals of both schools meet to calculate the total number of Category 1 applicants to the parish schools.
  
• In the event of over subscription in Category 1, the Boards of Management determine who qualifies for a Junior Infant Place in the parish schools by application of the age criteria as outlined in the policy.
  
  There are 210 junior infant places available in the parish schools. All Roman Catholic children who are four years of age by the birth date of the 140th eldest Roman Catholic applicant will qualify for a place in one of the parish schools. The 70 remaining places will be offered to children of other faiths and none who turn four on or before this date. If more than 70 children qualify, the oldest 70 will have precedence. If fewer than 70 qualify, the remainder of the 70 places will be offered to applicants of all faiths and none, strictly in order of age – priority to the eldest.
  

• Once the Boards of Management have determined who qualifies for a Junior Infant Place in the Parish, each individual Board of Management determines which of the qualifying applicants will be offered a place in its school, as outlined in the policy.
  
  Qualifying siblings and children of staff will be offered places in the same school as their brother(s) / sister(s) / school in which their parent is employed. The remaining places will be offered in the order in which addresses are listed on page 7 & 8 of this Admissions Policy.
  
• Once all Category 1 applicants have been offered places, the remaining vacancies are offered to Category 2 applicants in order of age – priority to the eldest.

Dates for Registration

Registration for Junior Infants September 2010 in the Parish of St Mochta’s National Schools

(St Patrick’s National School Diswellstown andSt Mochta’s National School, Porterstown Road)

Registration takes place in each school from 23 – 25 November 2009 inclusive from 10.00am – 12.00 noon.
(Also 7pm – 9pm on Monday 23 November)

All applications must be accompanied by

• an original Birth Certificate,
• a Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate (if applicable) and
• two current Utility Bills – ESB / Gas / NTL / Landline Telephone only (dated within two months of Registration).

Application Forms are available for collection from the schools in advance or can be obtained during Registration.

Full list of Parish Addresses

Listed on pages 7 & 8 are the addresses in the Parish of St Mochta from which the two schools will offer places to qualifying Category 1(b) applicants should there be more applicants than places in either of the schools. Under the terms of this enrolment policy, St. Patrick’s N.S. will offer places to qualifying Category 1(b) applicants, starting at number 1 and working in numerical order. St. Mochta’s N.S. will offer places to qualifying Category 1(b) applicants starting on number 168 and working in reverse numerical order.

N.B. If you are living in the parish of St Mochta and your address has been omitted in error from the list, please contact the school to which you intend to apply immediately. The Boards of Management of both schools will agree the appropriate adjustment(s) to the list prior to offering any places.

If there are more qualifying applicants from a particular road than available places in the school of first choice, priority will be given to the oldest Roman Catholic applicant(s). The applicant(s) who qualify under the Common Enrolment Policy for a Junior Infant place in one of the parish schools but who do not secure a place in their first choice school will be offered a place in the other parish school.

Full list of Parish Addresses

Full list of the estates in the parish: (continued)

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