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Senior Infant – Sixth Class Admissions Policy for the Parish Schools of St. Mochta, Porterstown.

September 2008

Admissions Policy (Senior Infant  - Sixth Class) St Mochta’s N.S./St. Patrick’s N.S.

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 N.S. 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 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 school models and promotes 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 are developing schools and will cater for the full range of primary classes, Junior Infants – Sixth Class. They are recognised co-educational schools under the Department of Education and Science.

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 must have 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).

St. Mochta’s N.S. opens at 8.50 am and closes at 2.30 pm. Infant classes go home at 1.30 pm.

St. Patrick’s N.S. opens at 8.30 am and closes at 2.10 pm. Infant classes go home at 1.10 pm.

Places will be offered to children from Senior Infants to Sixth Class in the following order:

1. Roman Catholic children of school-going age who live in the Parish of St. Mochta, Porterstown and who do not have a school place. (Fully completed application forms together with relevant documents as outlined on the application form will be accepted at any time during the school year. They will be date stamped and places will be offered in that order).
   
   
2. Non-Roman Catholic children of school-going age who live in the Parish of St. Mochta, Porterstown and who do not have a school place. (Fully completed application forms together with relevant documents as outlined on the application form will be accepted at any time during the school year. They will be date stamped and places will be offered in that order).
   
   
3. Roman Catholic children of school-going age who live in the Parish of St. Mochta, Porterstown and who do not have a school place in the Dublin 15 area as outlined in “The Dublin 15 Educational Services Directory” September 2007 version, as well as Scoil Choilm. Copy attached. (Fully completed application forms together with relevant documents as outlined on the application form will be accepted at any time during the school year. They will be date stamped and offered in that order).
   
   
4. Non-Roman Catholic children of school-going age who live in the Parish of St. Mochta, Porterstown and who do not have a school place in the Dublin 15 area as outlined in “The Dublin 15 Educational Services Directory” September 2007 version, as well as Scoil Choilm. (Fully completed application forms together with relevant documents as outlined on the application form will be accepted at any time during the school year. They will be date stamped and places will be offered in that order).
   
   
5. Roman Catholic children who reside in the Parish of St Mochta, Porterstown and who are attending one of the schools in the Dublin 15 area as outlined in “The Dublin 15 Educational Services Directory” September 2007 version, as well as Scoil Choilm. Fully completed application forms (available from 01 October each year) together with relevant documents as outlined on the application form will be accepted at any time during the school year. They will be date stamped and offered in that order.
   
   
6. Non-Roman Catholic children who reside in the Parish of St Mochta, Porterstown and who are attending one of the schools in the Dublin 15 area as outlined in “The Dublin 15 Educational Services Directory” September 2007 version, as well as Scoil Choilm. Fully completed application forms (available from 01 October each year) together with relevant documents as outlined on the application form will be accepted at any time during the school year. They will be date stamped and offered in that order.
   
   
7. All other applicants.

In accordance with Department of Education and Science Policy, places will only be offered to children in Category 5 and 6 at the end of the school year and in advance of the commencement of the next academic year.  Places will be offered according to date of receipt of the application form. In the event that two or more valid applications are received on the same date the place(s) will be offered by lottery.

Unsuccessful applicants will be invited to re-apply should they wish to remain on the waiting list for the next school year. The date of the original application is used to determine position on the waiting list.

Parents / Guardians may apply to one or both Parish schools.

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 of their decision promptly.

In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs, it is open to the boards 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 Department of Education and Science 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 in meeting those needs. If necessary, a full case conference involving all parties will be held. This will include parents, principal, remedial teacher, special class teacher, resource teacher for special needs or psychologist as appropriate.

The school supports the principles of:

1. Inclusiveness, in particular with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or other special educational need;
2. Equality of access and participation in the school;
3. 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) 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.

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