Admission Policy 2008/2009
Aim
St Mary’s is a Catholic Voluntary Aided primary school, which was established by the Church to serve the parish of Holy Family. Within the legal framework allowed and the admission number which is 30 it is the intention that all baptised Catholics living within the parish will be offered a place at either St Mary’s or Holy Family School.
Introduction
1.1. The Governing Body, acting in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Clifton Diocesan Policy Statement and in consultation with the Local Authority, is responsible for the admission of pupils.
1.2. The Admission Number for the Reception Year (2008/9) is 30 pupils. Pupils are normally admitted in the September of the school year in which they reach their fifth birthday. However, they are not required to attend school until the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday and so in appropriate cases admission may be deferred until the beginning of the spring and summer terms. Parents seeking such a deferment should make this clear at the time of applying for a place.
Making an Application
2.1 Applications for a reception place should be made through South Gloucestershire Local Authority on their application form published in the “Admission to Primary Schools in South Gloucestershire - Information for Parents” booklet. These forms must be returned direct to South Gloucestershire Council in accordance with their deadline date.
2.2 The Governing Body requires additional information about the applicant in order to apply the admission criteria. Parents, therefore need to complete an ‘additional information sheet’ available from the school and return it directly to the school by 19 October 2007.
Consideration of Places to be Offered
3.1 The Governing Body will offer places using their published criteria.
3.2 The timing of the offers will be in line with South Gloucestershire Local Authority. Deferred admissions will also follow South Gloucestershire Council’s formal statement.
3.3 A waiting list of unsuccessful candidates will be held until 31 August 2008 and then discarded. If places become available before then offers will be made in accordance with the order of priorities set out below.
3.4 In the event of over-subscription (i.e. more applications than places available) places will be offered in accordance with the order of priority set out below.
3.5 Casual applications, i.e. those that fall out of the normal reception admissions round, will be considered by the Admissions Committee against the priorities set out below.
3.6 Applications received after the closing date, but before the offer of places is made by the Governing Body, will be considered in accordance with the priorities listed below, if, in the opinion of the Admission Committee, there were good grounds for applicants not being able to meet the required deadlines.
3.7 When applications within any of the categories exceed the number of places available and, all other information is of an equal standing, places will be allocated having regard to those children living closest to the school. Distances from home to the nearest school gate are measured using the South Gloucestershire Council Routes to School Gazetteer dated 1 September 2007.
Order of Priority
4.1 Baptised Catholics who are designated as ‘Looked after children’ **.
4.2 Baptised Catholics living in the parish of Holy family with a sibling attending the school at the start of the academic year in question (map available on request).
4.3 Baptised Catholics living in the parish of Holy Family (map available on request).
4.4 Other Looked after children for whom a place is requested by the relevant person/ authority.
4.5 *Siblings of Catholic children already in the school, at the start of the academic year in question.
4.6 *Siblings of non-Catholic children already in the school, at the start of the academic year in question.
4.7 Other baptised Catholic children who live outside the parish of Holy Family and who do not have a Catholic primary school serving the parish in which they live.
4.8 Other baptised Catholics who fall outside category 4.7.
4.9 Children of a Catholic parent who reside within the Parish.
4.10 Baptised children of other Christian churches and practising members of other faiths (evidenced by a supporting statement from their minister).
4.11 Other children from within the Bradley Stoke area.
4.12 All other applicants not in the above categories.
Where it is indicated that a child is baptised, the school will need either a copy of the baptismal certificate/or equivalent or the date and place of baptism/equivalent in order to check registers/ information. This information must be submitted with the additional information form available directly from the school and returned to the school by the 4.30pm on 19 October 2007.
Definitions
* For the purpose of this policy siblings will be defined as children who share one
common parent/legal guardian.
** Looked after children as defined by Section 22 of the Children Act 1989.
Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs
Admission procedures for children with Statements is different and these children take priority over all the above. The Local Authority is responsible for issuing the statement and consulting parents and the Governors of St Mary’s, if a preference has been made for the school, before the school is named in the statement.
Multiple Birth Admissions
In the unusual event of there being one space available within the infant class size limit and children of multiple births having next priority, pupils will be seen as individuals and priority will be given in alphabetical order of the children’s first forenames. The regulations do not allow exceptions to the class size limit in these circumstances.
Appeals
Parents have the right to appeal against the refusal by the Governing Body to admit their child and should put their appeal in writing to the Clerk of Governors (address below) within 14 days of receiving the letter of refusal. Appeals will be arranged by the Diocesan Department for Schools and Colleges and conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice on School Appeals.
Clerk to the Governors: Mrs P Long at 33 Callicroft Road, Patchway, Bristol, BS34 5BU.
Information from the Previous Years Admissions
For September 2007 the Governors received 34 applications which fell into the following categories:
4.1 0 Baptised Catholics designated as looked after children.
4.2 21 Baptised Catholics in Parish of Holy family.
4.3 0 Other looked after children.
4.4 1 Sibling of a Catholic child already in school.
4.5 3 Sibling of non- Catholic child already in school.
4.6 0 Other baptised children outside the parish, without a Catholic school.
4.7 0 Other baptised Catholics not in 6.7.
4.8 2 Child of Catholic parent in parish of Holy family.
4.9 1 Baptised Children of another faith.
4.10 6 Other children whose parents seek a Christian school.
The Governors had to refuse 4 from within category 4.10
Date of Opening Afternoon for 2008 Admissions
Wednesday 26 September 2007 2.00pm (not a meeting for children)