Admission Policy 2008/2009
1. Aim
1.1 The aim of this policy is to provide clear information to Parents and Guardians regarding how to make an application for their child to be educated at St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, Downend.
2. Introduction
2.1 St Augustine’s is a Voluntary Aided primary school which was established by the Church to serve the Parishes of St Augustine of Canterbury, Downend and St John Fisher, Frenchay.
2.2 Children baptised into the Catholic faith will have the right of admission in accordance with the criteria outlined below. Children who are not Catholic, but whose parents wish them to receive their education in a Catholic school and who undertake to support the Catholic character of the School, will be admitted if places are available.
2.3 The Governing Body, acting in accordance with the Code of Practice and the Clifton Diocesan Policy statement and in consultation with South Gloucestershire Local Authority, is responsible for the admission of pupils.
2.4 Parents and Guardians who wish to view the school are invited to contact the Head Teacher, Mr P A Upton.
2.5 The Parish maps are available in the Head Teacher’s office.
2.6 The Admission Number for the Reception Year is 45 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. If parents wish they may apply for a place at the normal time but request on their application that their child does not attend until the beginning of the January (Term 3) or April (Term 5) terms.
3. Making an Application
3.1 Applications for a Reception place at the school should be made through South Gloucestershire Local Authority under the co-ordinated approach arrangements on their application form published in the “Admission to Primary Schools in South Gloucestershire - Information for Parents” booklet. Forms are available from the School or the Local Authority and must be returned to the Local Authority by Friday 19 October 2007.
3.2 Every applicant must provide the school with supplementary documentation i.e. Baptismal Certificate, Birth Certificate and Utility Bill to ensure accurate allocation of places. To be sent directly to the school by Friday 19 October 2007. This also applies to category (f) where parents/carers must provide proof of baptism.
3.3 Casual/Late applications, i.e. those that fall outside the normal admissions round will be considered by the Admissions Committee against the criteria listed in paragraph 4.6.
4. Consideration of places to be offered
4.1 The Governing Body will offer places using their published criteria. All applicants will be considered against the criteria without reference to the applicants’ order of preference.
4.2 Successful applicants will be notified by South Gloucestershire Local Authority on behalf of the Governors.
4.3 Infant class sizes must remain lower than 31 (DCSF legal ruling). Junior class sizes have no formal limit, but Governors will have regard to the provision of effective education and the efficient use of resources when allocating additional places.
4.4 It is to be understood that when one child gains admission this does not guarantee siblings entry to the school.
4.5 When applications within categories exceed the number of places available, then priority will be given in the following order:
- Looked After Children,
- Sibling,
- Distance ruling.
4.6 In the event of over-subscription (i.e. more applications than available places), places will be offered in accordance with the following order of priority.
(a). Baptised Catholic children residing in St Augustine of Canterbury and St John Fisher Parishes.
(b). Baptised Catholic children who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission.
(c). Looked After Children for whom a place is requested by the relevant person or authority (unless covered in the above categories under tie breaker rules).
(d). Children who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission.
(e). Children who are baptised Catholic.
(f). Children of baptised Catholic parents/ carers who request a Catholic education at St Augustine’s School.
(g). Children of other faiths whose parents seek a Catholic education at St Augustine’s School, who agree to their child participating in the full Catholic life of the School.
(h). All other applicants not in the above categories.
The distance rule is defined as the shortest actual distance between the school gate and the house of the applicant as measured by the nearest available walking route as defined by South Gloucestershire Council’s current statement.
5. Definitions
5.1 Parents: Parents or Guardians who have principal care for the child.
5.2 Siblings: Children who share one natural parent or have been legally adopted into the family or children of the same household.
5.3 Looked After Children: As defined by Section 22 of the 1989 Children Act.
5.4 Catholic: Roman Catholic and Syro-Malabar Rite Catholic.
6. Special Educational Needs
6.1 Admission procedures for children with Statements of Special Educational Needs are 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 Augustine’s if a preference has been made for the school, before the school is named in the Statement.
7. Appeals
7.1 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 to the Governors at the School 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.
8. Information from the Previous Year’s Admission
8.1. For admission in September 2007 the Governors received 73 applications. They offered places to 45 children according to the published criteria for that admission year, which fell into the following categories:
(a) Baptised Catholic children residing in St Augustine of Canterbury and St John Fisher Parishes. 25
(b) Baptised Catholic children who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission. 4
(c) Looked After Children (as de? ned by the 1989 Education Act). 0 d Children who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission. 8
(e) Children who are baptised Catholic. 1
(f) Children of a Baptised Catholic Parent(s) who request a Catholic education at St Augustine’s School. 3
(g) Children of other Christian faiths who request a Catholic education at St Augustine’s School. 1
(h) All other applicants not in the above categories. 3