Admissions Policy

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Castleknock Community College Admissions Policy

Introduction:
Castleknock Community College is part of the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee (Co Dublin V.E.C.) and was founded in 1995. Our College is a co-educational post-primary school aspiring towards excellence in a caring and supportive environment.

As Castleknock Community College is catering to an ever-increasing population growth within its catchment area the Board of Management will each year review its Enrolment Policy.

In their examination of this review it is the aim of the Board to maintain the highest standards in terms of the quality of its educational provision and thus its current policy is that total enrolment should not exceed 1100 pupils.

The Board of Management is committed to the successful implementation of the recent legislation, in particular the Education Act (1998), the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 and the Equal Status Act 2000. The Board of Management fully subscribes to the principles of partnership, accountability, transparency, inclusion, and respect for diversity, parental choice and equality.

Programmes:
The College operates within the regulations laid down from time to time by the Department of Education and Science and follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance with Section 9 and 30 of the Education Act 1998.

The College supports the principles of inclusiveness, equality of access and participation in the school including respect for diversity.

Pupils at Junior and Senior Cycle follow a core programme, with a number of optional subjects. The College also offers the option of the Transition Year Programme. Furthermore, when the demand is made, the College may offer the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.

Enrolment Procedures at Castleknock CC:
For those students wishing to enrol in First Year in Castleknock Community College an Application Form must be completed and returned to the Principal by the date stated at the end of that form.

In the Calendar Year preceding entry the following stages will apply:

The closing date will be stated on the Application Form

• The closing date for applications will usually be the second Friday in September unless otherwise determined by the Board.
• The Board will decide in the Spring of each year the total number of places available in First Year of the following year.
• This will be clearly stated on the Application Form.
• In May/June of each year all Fifth Class students in the local National Schools are contacted and issued with Enrolment Forms.
• Application Forms are distributed to fifth class pupils, resident in the catchment area, in the following primary schools:
  • St. Brigids, Castleknock, Dublin 15.
  • Scoil Thomais, Laurel Lodge, Castleknock, Dublin 15.
  • St. Mochtas, Porterstown, Dublin 15
  • *Castleknock Nat. School, Main St., Castleknock, D.15
  • St. Francis Xavier, Roselawn, Dublin 15.
  • Scoil Oilbheir, Clonsilla Road, Dublin 15
  • Educate Together, Beechpark Avenue, D.15
  • Scoil Bhride, Boys & Girls, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
  • St. Patrick’s Nat. School, Luttrellstown, D. 15.

* Note: In the case of Castleknock National School pupils of Church of Ireland and Protestant faiths are eligible to receive application forms irrespective of residence. See Qualifications – Selection Criteria.

• Register of Applicants – Pupils who are resident in the area but not attending the above schools:

Application Forms will be forwarded on request, at time of enrolment, to Parent(s)/Guardians(s) of applicants/pupils who do not attend the above listed schools and have placed their names on The Register of Applicants.

• Local Churches:

Local Churches are notified at time of enrolment and requested to announce that applications for places in First Year for the following school year are now being invited.

Acknowledgement of Receipt of Application Form:

• All applications should be forwarded directly to the Principal of the College.
• A form of acknowledgement/receipt will be issued for each application received within a two week period of lodging the application form. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) who have not received an acknowledgement within this period are advised to contact the College immediately.

Proof of delivery of applications to the school will be the responsibility of Parent(s)/Guardian(s).

Administrative Procedures/Dates.

On receipt and confirmation of all applications the Board will meet to approve the list of applicants. No guarantee of a place in the College can be made to any applicant until the Board has approved the appropriate quota of applications.

Confirmation of Places: Following the meeting of the Board of Management parent(s)/guardian(s) will be informed in writing whether a place is being offered to their child.

In October, an interview is carried out with each applicant and their parent(s)/guardian(s). At this stage voluntary contributions are made, behaviour contracts signed and proof of residence in the catchment area may be sought.

In January/February students will sit their Entrance Assessments.

In January/February the College will host an Information Evening for Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of incoming first year students, addressing the themes of “Moving to Secondary School” and “Choosing the Right Subject Options”.

In May, students are notified of their classes and subject choices. Also in May students will be invited to the College to meet with their mentors.

On the 1st September (unless otherwise determined by the Board of Management) school begins for First Year classes and later in the month or early October Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will be invited to an Information Evening where they will meet their child’s tutor.

Entrance Assessments:

Incoming First Year students are required to sit the College’s Entrance Assessment in the period January/February preceding their entry to College. The purpose of this test is:

• To ensure students are placed in their first year classes in keeping with our Mixed Ability philosophy.
• To screen for students who may require learning support from the College.

Qualifications – Selection Criteria:

1. Church of Ireland and Protestant students attending Castleknock Church of Ireland National School.

Note: There are no non-fee paying Protestant schools in North-West Dublin. Consequently when the college was established, it was designated as a feeder school for Church of Ireland and Protestant children in order to protect the rights of this minority, thus ensuring that a significant number of this community could be educated together. It was also agreed that a representative of the community would be a member of the Board of Management.

2. Siblings of existing and former students and siblings of those who had applied for a place in the previous year, but were unsuccessful in acquiring a place, provided they are resident in the following parishes:
(a) Our Lady Mother of the Church (St. Brigids),
Castleknock.
(b) St Thomas the Apostle, Laurel Lodge.
(c) St Mochtas, Porterstown.

Note: The catchment area refers to that of the parish and not a geographical or postal area.

3. Remaining applicants, resident in the above parishes listed at a, b, c.

Where the number of qualified applicants exceeds that set by the Board of Management the number of applicants from Category 3 will be chosen by reference to the length of residency of Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of the applicant, or the applicant herself/himself if over 18 years of age, within the catchment area.

Proof of Residence:

Due to the increasing demand for places in the College the Board of

Management has decided that proof of residence in the catchment area will be necessary at the time of formal enrolment.

The Board may also request proof of length of residency. This may be verified by a letter from a financial institution or solicitor.

Parents will be required to produce at interview, two original utilities bills and photocopies (to be retained by the college) e.g. Electricity/Gas bill. The B.O.M. reserves the right to make enquiries to ascertain proof of residence, including reference to the Electoral Register.

The onus will be on the Parent(s)/Guardian(s) to offer evidence with regard to the criteria required concerning the length and proof of residency in the catchment area.

Parents will be informed as to whether a place is being offered to their child following the first Board of Management meeting after the closing date.

Late Applications:

Applications, following the closing date, as per Application Form, will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which they are received and will be considered only after all other applications have been dealt with.

Waiting List:

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of pupils on the waiting list will continue to be informed whenever a vacancy occurs and these parents will have the option to accept or refuse the place offered to their child.

The waiting list will remain open until the last Friday in September of the year of entry. Following this date the remaining applicants will be contacted to ascertain whether they wish to remain on the waiting list. A revised waiting list will be formed and applicants will be notified as vacancies arise.

Department of Education Regulations:
Eligibility for admission includes the following DES regulations:

• Having reached the required age: 12 on the 1st January in the calendar year following the child’s entry into First Year.
• Pupils of Irish nationality should have completed Sixth class in Primary School in the academic year prior to entry.
• Students from other countries should have reached a comparable standard of education
• Students must be willing to accept the Code of Behaviour of the College. Confirmation in writing is required that parent(s)/guardian(s) and the student are in receipt of the Code of Behaviour.

Transfer of a student from another school.

The College will make every reasonable effort to facilitate a student seeking a transfer to Castleknock Community College. The Board of Management will decide on applications for admission to any year other than First Year by applying the following criteria.

The Board will decide whether or not a transfer:

• Is in agreement with school’s Admission Policy
• Is in the best interest of the student
• Is in the best interest of the College
• Is of educational benefit to the student

That all relevant information from the former school is made available. This will include the completion of a Reference Form as supplied by Castleknock Community College.

A consultation with the Educational Welfare Officer if necessary.

Where a student is considered for a place, providing such a place exists, the decision will be taken by the Board of Management, in consultation with the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s), her/his former school, the education welfare officer, whether such a place may be offered immediately, or whether it would be better to wait until the beginning of the next academic year.

Appeals

The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse an application for admission in exceptional circumstances. Education Welfare Act. 2000, Section 24; (5), Page 22. Education Act 1998, Section 29, Page 27; Circular Letter M48/01

The Board of Management of Castleknock Community College shall not refuse to admit as a student a child, in respect of whom an application has been made, except where such a refusal is in accordance with the policy published under Section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998. Education (Welfare) Act 2000. (Section 19 (1).)

Should a student’s application for admission to the College be refused the Parent(s)/Guardian(s) have the right to appeal, in the first instance, to the Board of Management of the College. In certain circumstances the Board may make provision to meet the Parent(s)/Guardian(s) or the Parent(s)/Guardian(s) may request a meeting with the Board of Management. The Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will be informed in writing of the Board’s decision and the reasons why the student was not accepted will be clearly stated. The right to appeal will be restated (Circular M48/01) and Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will be advised of the subsequent procedures for appeals to the C.E.O. of the County Dublin V.E.C.

APPEALS MUST BE MADE, IN WRITING, WITHIN 14 CALENDAR DAYS OF NOTIFICATION TO THE PARENT/GUARDIAN, OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT’S DECISION.

The Appeals Application Form will advise Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of the information required for such appeals.

Should an applicant be unsuccessful in her/his appeal to the C.E.O., Co. Dublin V.E.C., the subsequent appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education/Science should be made in writing within the specified time advised from the date the decision of the C.E.O. was notified to the Parent(s)/Guardian(s) concerned. (Circular M48/01)

The Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and the Board of Management will be informed in writing of the decision of the appeal.

Principal – Mr. Thomas J. O’Brien.
 

Enrolment Timeline September 2005