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/guardians of children attending the school.

 

The policy was approved by the school patron on 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 the Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh 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

 

Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh is a Catholic all boys voluntary secondary school with a Catholic ethos under the trusteeship of the Presentation Brothers Schools Trust.

 

“Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic voluntary secondary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:

 

(a) the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, including the intellectual, physical, mental, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and

(b) a living relationship with God and with other people; and

(c) a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and

(d) the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith,

and which school provides religious education in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.

 

In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh 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.

 

Mission Statement

Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh is a Catholic all-boys school, which seeks to create a caring environment in which Christian values permeate all aspects of school life and teachers and pupils find fulfilment. The school believes in the vital importance of good relationships between teachers, students and parents/guardians and is conscious of its role in the broader community. The school recognises the need for the on-going professional development of its staff to meet the challenges of a changing world.

 

 

The school endeavours to:

 

• provide students with opportunities to live their faith through liturgy, prayer and reflection;

• inculcate good standards of behaviour and respect for one another;

• promote academic excellence to the full potential of the individual student;

• foster the growth of self-worth and confidence through the development of the whole person;

• provide access to the resources of civilization;

• equip students with life-skills and develop their leadership qualities;

• provide an opportunity for the physical development of each student;

The school hopes to achieve the above through a curriculum which provides well-structured learning experiences, both academic and non-academic.

 

 

 3.    Admission Statement

 

Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:

 

(a)  the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(b)  the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(c)  the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(d)  the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(e)  the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(f)    the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(g)  the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or

(h)  the ground that the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned has special educational needs

Coláisie an Spioraid Naoimh is an all-boys school and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit a girl applying for admission to this school

 

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.

 

4.    Special Education Needs

 

The Board of Management will ensure that steps are taken at an early stage to identify children with special needs who have accepted a place in our school and to become familiar with their needs.

The Board will request a copy of the student’s medical, psychological or individual educational report if available. If special resources are required to meet the needs of the student, the Board will request the Department of Education and Science to provide the necessary resources. In seeking to identify the student’s needs, it may be necessary for the Principal to meet with the student’s parents and/or other professionals working with the child.

 

5.    Admission of Students

 

This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –

 

a)    the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 below for further details)

 

b)    a parent/guardian 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

 

 

Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh provides education exclusively for boys and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of the gender provided for by this school.

 

Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh is a Catholic school and may refuse to admit as a student a person where it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.

 

 

6.    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:

 

Places will be offered to applicants based on the following criteria and in this order:

 

1. Brothers (including step-brothers etc.) of students who are in the school, or who have completed their second level education in Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, are accepted. Sons (including step-sons, foster sons etc.) of members of staff, ancillary educational personnel and permanent ancillary personnel directly employed by the school are accepted.

 

2. Sons (including step-sons, foster sons etc.) of past pupils of the school are accepted, subject to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in the school’s annual admission notice.

 

3. Students are accepted from traditional feeder schools. Places are allocated to students from these schools on a proportional basis using the average number of students enrolled in 1st Year in Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh from each of the schools over the previous five years. Applicants who qualify under Criteria 1 – 3 above are included within (and not additional to) their school’s quota

 

The recognised feeder schools for Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh are (in alphabetical order):

 

I.          Ballinora National School

II.          Ballyheada National School

III.          Cloghroe National School

IV.          Gaelscoil Ui Riada, Bishopstown

V.          Glasheen National School

VI.          Goggin’s Hill National School

VII.          Greenmount National School

VIII.          Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown

IX.          St. Joseph’s National School, Mardyke

X.          Togher National School

 

1. Once places have been assigned under Criteria 1 – 3 above, remaining places within a feeder school’s quota will be assigned by reference to the straight line distance from an applicant’s home to Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh (measured using Google maps) i.e. applicants living closest to the school will be given priority. The applicant’s ‘home’ will be defined as per the applicant’s home address as recorded on his primary school’s register. Any remaining places will be allocated in the first instance to applicants from feeder schools and thereafter to applicants from non-feeder schools (other than those who have already qualified under Criteria 1 – 3 above). At all times, straight line distance from the applicant’s home to Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh will be the determining factor in establishing the order of the offer of places. Parents of any student whose application for enrolment is refused by the school may appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science under Section 29 of the 1998 Education Act.

 

 

 

In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above (ie the number of applicants exceeds the number of remaining places), the successful applicant will be determined by means of a lottery carried out under the direction of the Board of Management.

 

Where the number of applicants exceeds the number of available places, then a waiting list will be drawn up determined by the straight line distance from the applicant’s home to Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh. The applicant whose address is closest to the school (measured on Google maps) will be first on the waiting list. At all times however, the quota of each feeder school must be filled in the first instance.

 

 

7.    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)  the payment of fees or contributions to the school (See also Paragraph 16 below);

 

(b)  a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude;

 

(c)  the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;

 

(d)  a requirement that a student, or his parents/guardians, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission;

 

(e)  a student’s connection to the school by virtue of a member of his family attending or having previously attended the school (other than, siblings of a student attending or having attended the school and father/guardian of a student having attended the school. (See section 6 above).  In relation to father /guardian having attended, the school will only apply this criterion to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in the school’s annual admission notice).

 

 

(f)    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.

 

8.    Decisions on applications

All decisions on applications for admission to Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh will be based on the following:

 

• Our school’s admission policy
• The school’s annual admission notice
• 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 14 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and section 15  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.

 

 

9.    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 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 18 below for further details). A letter seeking this review, must be received by the Secretary of the Board of Management within 4 weeks of the issue date of the letter from Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh informing parents that their application was unsuccessful.

 

 

 

10.       Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant

 

In accepting an offer of admission from Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, 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.

 

Applicants should be aware that failure to disclose this information on the acceptance of a place may lead to an offer being withdrawn by the school.

 

11.      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 Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh where:

 

1. it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading
2. 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
3. the parent/guardian 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
4. an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out in section 10 above.
5. where the admission of the applicant would pose a significant risk to the health and safety of the applicant or students and staff of the school, or risk significantly interfering with the right of other students to an appropriate education.

 

The board of management has a duty of care to ensure as far as practicable the health and safety of the students and staff of the school. In addition, the board of management is required under section 15(1) of the Education Act 1998 to provide, or cause to be provided, an appropriate education for each student at the school for which that board has responsibility.

 

 

12.      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 data 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).

 

 

 13.      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 Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh were unsuccessful, due to the school being oversubscribed, will be compiled. This will remain valid for the school year in which admission is being sought.

 

Placement on the waiting list of Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh 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.

 

The waiting list will be drawn up determined by the straight line distance from the applicant’s home to Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh. The applicant whose address is closest to the school (measured on Google maps) will be first on the waiting list. At all times however, the quota of each feeder school must be filled in the first instance.

 

 

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 assigned to them on the list. Please note, however, that the quota of each feeder school must be satisfied in the first instance (See section 6 above).

 

14.      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 not later than three weeks after the date on which the school received the application.  Late applicants 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 will be added to the bottom of the waiting list.

 

15.      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:

 

Pupils may transfer into Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh at any stage subject to:

 

1. The provisions of the Admissions Policy.
2. The school being satisfied that all relevant documentation has been provided to the school and the code of behaviour has been accepted and an agreement signed to abide by this code.
3. The availability of space.
4. Consultation with the Educational Welfare Officer.

 

The board of management has a duty of care to ensure as far as practicable the health and safety of the students and staff of the school. In addition, the board of management is required under section 15(1) of the Education Act 1998 to provide, or cause to be provided, an appropriate education for each student at the school for which that board has responsibility.

An application for admission may be refused, therefore, where the admission of the applicant would pose a significant risk to the health and safety of the applicant or students and staff of the school, or risk significantly interfering with the right of other students to an appropriate education.

 

There are four stages to the application process:

 

Stage one: The applicant will be required to complete a school transfer form, where information regarding the student’s age, year group, desired subjects etc. will be required. The parent(s) and student will be invited to attend a meeting with the Principal and Deputy Principal.

Where the school is oversubscribed and where an unsuccessful applicant wishes to be put on a waiting list, he will be advised of his position on this list.

 

Stage two: Where an applicant successfully moves to stage two, he will be provided with an application form.

 

Stage three: Where all details are satisfactorily filled out in the application form and all appropriate documentation has been received by the school, the applicant will be required to sign an agreement to respect the school’s Catholic Ethos, to observe the school’s code of behaviour and all other school policies.

 

Stage four: The application form and documentation received will be considered. Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application within 6 weeks of receipt of all of the required, completed documentation. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised of the reason for their refusal.

 

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 above (Section 15).

 

16.      Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees

 

The Board of Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh or any persons acting on its behalf shall not, except in accordance with section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, 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.

 

Notwithstanding the above provision, once a parent of a student has been offered and has accepted a place in the school, they will be invited to make a once-off voluntary contribution of €350 per family to cover building projects and school development plus an additional voluntary annual contribution of €200 per child to cover twenty-four-hour personal accident insurance for all pupils and added services such as extra-curricular activities, sports activities, travel to extra-curricular activities, photocopying and other similar services for which the Department of Education and Skills does not provide funding.

 

 

17.       Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction

 

Students at Junior Cycle level in Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh are expected to study the timetabled DES Religious Education programme as a core subject and to sit the State Examination Commission’s Junior Cycle Religious Education examination at the end of 3^rd Year. The specification for this programme is set by the DES and focuses on developing knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and values to enable young people to come to an understanding of religion and its relevance to life, relationships, society and the wider world. The course is built around three interconnecting strands: Expressing Beliefs, Exploring Questions and Living our Values.  No alternative subject will be offered for tuition at these times.

 

In the event of a student not taking Religious Education, the school will not be in a position to offer an alternative subject. The student will engage in readings in Philosophy using texts supplied and owned by the school, while remaining under the supervision of the classroom teacher. There will not be a reduction in the school day of any such students.

 

At post Junior Cycle level, students are expected to participate in a non-examination focused Religious Education framework devised by the school. The content of the senior cycle program is drawn from the NCCA curriculum framework for Senior non-exam Religious Education.

 

A parent of a student, or a student who has reached the age of 18, who wishes to attend Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh without attending religious instruction should make a written request to the Principal. A meeting will then be arranged with the parent or the student, as the case may be, to discuss how the request may be accommodated by the school. However, the student will remain under the supervision of the classroom teacher. There will not be a reduction in the school day of any such students.

 

18.       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.