Admission Policy of St Audoen’s NS

Cook Street, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin 8 D08XP83

Roll Number: 20104A

 School Patron: Catholic Archbishop of Dublin

 

Approval date of 24^th January 2023

 

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 24^th January 2023.  It is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hard copy, on request, to any person who requests it.

 

The relevant dates and timelines for St Audoen’s NS 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 Audoen’s is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.

 

Catholic Ethos in the context of a Catholic primary 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, 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 for the pupils 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 St Audoen’s NS 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. Audoen’s Aims:

 

– To provide a secure and caring environment for all of our students in which we provide a full and varied education which will develop each child to his/her full potential.

 

– To promote 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.

 

– To foster self-esteem and promote respect for self, others and our environment.

 

– To maintain a vision of hope for the future.

 

– To foster strong partnerships with parents, parish and community.

 

Our school and staff are proud to model and promote a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a Catholic school, we provide Religious Education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and we promote the formation of our pupils in the Catholic Faith, while also welcoming children of other faiths and traditions.

 

St Audoen’s NS is a peaceful school; we pride ourselves on consistently demonstrating our core values of Respect, Trust, Empathy, Encouragement, Appreciation and Belonging. Our school conveys a sense of warmth, generosity and enthusiasm as our children and staff are eager to smile and make all those who enter our school feel welcome. We encourage Kind Hands, Kind Words & Kind Feet at all times.

 

We are committed to providing a safe, positive learning environment for our students. Our motto; ‘Be the Best You Can Be’ reflecting an important element of education, success and pride. It demonstrates the effort we encourage each of our students to put into his or her learning. We take pride in working hard to motivate each student to do their best; our staff are also dedicated to doing their best. Working together with students and parents, we strive to ensure that each individual student has the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

 

 

3. Admission Statement

 

St Audoen’s NS will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:

 

1. the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
2. the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
3. the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
4. the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
5. the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
6. the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
7. the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
8. the Traveler community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or
9. the ground that the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned has special educational needs

 

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 ‘Traveler community ground’ shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Equal Status Act 2000.

 

 

St Audoen’s NS 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 Audoen’s NS 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.   St Audoen’s NS is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not Catholic and it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.   St Audoen’s NS is a school which has established 2 Classes for Children with Autism, with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, which provide an education exclusively for students with a category or categories of special educational needs specified by the Minister and may refuse to admit to the class a student who does not have the category of needs specified.

 

 

4. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the school/special class

 

St Audoen’s NS with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, has established two classes to provide an education exclusively for students with Autism.

 

 

5. Admission of Students

 

This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –

 

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

 

• 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 Audoen’s NS is a Catholic school and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of Catholic faith where it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.   The special classes attached to St Audoen’s NS provide an education exclusively for students with Autism and the school may refuse admission to this class, where the student concerned does not have the specified category of special educational needs provided for in this class.   Pupils must have a report containing a diagnosis of Autism/Autistic Spectrum Disorder meeting the DSM IV/V or ICD diagnostic criteria     We also require a written report from a Psychologist / Multidisciplinary Team (A multi-disciplinary team may consist of a Clinical Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Speech & Language Therapist, Social Worker and a Physiotherapist) giving a recommendation by the relevant professionals in the report that a special class placement in a mainstream school is both necessary and suitable for the child. In this regard it should be noted that the academic ability of the child will be taken into account when considering an application and will be subject to continuous assessment and review.   The maximum class size is 6 pupils.

 

 

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:

The following order of priority will be implemented in the enrolment of children into Junior Infants:   1         Siblings and step siblings of children who are already enrolled in the school and children resident in the parish. (eldest child will have priority in this ranking) 2         Children who are resident in Meath St parish and our catchment regions: Cook St, Oliver Bond St, Bridge St, Bridgefoot St, Meath St, Thomas St, James St, Temple Bar, Merchant’s Quay, Ushers Quay. 3         Children of parents who are past pupils of St Audoen’s NS. 4         Children of staff members are entitled to a place if there are any vacancies after the groups from (1) to (4) have been allocated places (eldest child will have priority in this ranking). 5         Children who are not resident in Dublin 8 or it’s immediate environs are entitled to a place if there are vacancies after the groups from (1) to (5) have been allocated. Such applicants will be allocated places based on the distance at which they live from the school (as measured by the Post Code) and according to the date on which the application was received by the school (eldest child will have priority in this ranking).

 

 

In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above (the number of applicants exceeds the number of remaining places), the following arrangements will apply:

 

Children will be placed on a waiting list and the criteria as above will apply.

 

 

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 student’s prior attendance at a pre-school or pre-school service.   1    The payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the school;   2    A student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude; other than in relation to admission to a special class for Children with Autism insofar as it is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not the student has the category of special educational needs concerned.   3   the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;   4    a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission;   5   a student’s connection to the school by virtue of a member of his or her family attending or having previously attended the school; other than siblings of a student attending or having attended the school and/or parents or grandparents of a student having attended the school.   6    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).

 

• Decisions on applications

 

All decisions on applications for admission St Audoen’s NS 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 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.

 

• 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 18 below for further details).

 

 

• Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant

 

In accepting an offer of admission from St Audoen’s NS 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.

 

 

• 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 Audoen’s NS where;

 

• it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading.
• 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.
• 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 Behavior 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
• an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘Acceptance of an Offer’ as set out in section 10

 

 

• 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).

 

• 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 St Audoen’s NS 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 St Audoen’s NS 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.

Applicants 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.

 

 

• 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.  Late applicants will be offered a place if there is place available.  In the event that there is no place available, the name of the applicant will be added to the waiting list as set out in Section 13.

 

 

• 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:   1         Application Forms are available from the school reception or on the school website www.staudoens.ie.com 2         The registration process is initiated on receipt by the school of a completed application. 3         This includes the school’s application form, copy of birth cert and proof of address. This form must be signed and dated by one or both parents and/or guardians. The form will be date stamped on receipt by the school and is attached as appendix 1 to this policy. 4         Applications will be processed when all relevant documentation has been provided (copy of Birth cert & Proof of Address). The Board may seek further evidence of residency if in any doubt of address.  It is the parent’s duty to provide accurate information. Submitting inaccurate, false or misleading information will render the application null and void. Further reports/documentation is required for admission to our special classes (see section 5 above).   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:   1    Application Forms are available from the school reception or on the school website www.staudoens.ie.com 2     The registration process is initiated on receipt by the school of a completed application. This includes the school’s application form, copy of birth cert and proof of address. This form must be signed and dated by one or both parents and/or guardians. The form will be date stamped on receipt by the school and is attached as appendix 1 to this policy. 3     Applications will be processed when all relevant documentation has been provided (copy of Birth cert & Proof of Address). The Board may seek further evidence of residency if in any doubt of address.  It is the parent’s duty to provide accurate information. Submitting inaccurate, false or misleading information will render the application null and void. Further reports/documentation is required for admission to our special classes (see section 5 above). 4     The application will be considered, bearing in mind the appropriate age of the class. Repeating a level is permitted only in exceptional circumstances and with DES approval. 5     The BOM will issue a decision in writing, within 21 days from the date on which the application was received by the school.

 

 

 

• Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees

 

 

The Board of St Audoen’s NS or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of:

an application for admission of a student to the school, or

the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.

 

 

• Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction

 

A written request should be made to the Principal of the school.  A meeting will then be arranged with the parent(s) or the student, as the case may be, to discuss how the request may be accommodated by the school.   Procedures in place:   1    Pupils remain in their class and engage in alternative curricular work during religious instruction.     2    School mass/ RE services: Parents are informed that this is happening and have the option of removing their child during this time.     3    Sacramental preparation (outside classroom): Pupils may work in another class during this time.

 

 

• Reviews/appeals

Review of decisions by the Board of Management

The parent of 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.

 

 

 

 

Chairperson of BOM:  Joseph O’Sullivan

 

 

Approval date of 24^th January 2023