School Address: Louth Village, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Roll number: 01553w

School Patron/s: Archbishop of Armagh

Policy ratified by BOM of St. Mochta’s NS on 24th October 2024

 

  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 16th August 2020. 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. Mochta’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 hard copy on request to any person who requests it.

  1. Characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school

St. Mochta’s NS is a Catholic, co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos under the patronage of the Archbishop of Armagh.

“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. Mochta’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.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to develop critical thinking and character in every pupil empowering them to meet, with assured confidence, the challenges of life now and in the future. We champion the qualities of kindness, empathy and positivity and strive to embed them in our school culture every single day.

Mission Statement

St. Mochta’s NS celebrates the uniqueness of each child as expressed in each child’s personality, intelligence and potential for development. We aim to nurture each pupil in all dimensions of their life – spiritual, moral, cognitive, emotional, imaginative, aesthetic, social and physical.

We strive to cherish and challenge our students in a safe, secure and attractive learning environment. Child Protection is at the core of what we do.

As a Christian community we aim to be a warm and welcoming place respectful and accommodating of diversity in race, culture, religion, gender and ability. We aim to promote equality and support pupils with special educational needs.

We are an integral part of the parish of Louth Village and in partnership with parents and the Church we aim to nurture the Catholic faith through religious education, preparation for the sacraments and through our school ethos.

We are a learning community promoting, modelling and valuing lifelong learning.

Parents are their children’s primary educators and we strive to empower and utilise parents to be actively involved in their child’s education and the life of our school.

We value our relationship with our local community and actively promote our pupils’ and their families’ involvement in their community.

We strive to provide a nurturing, positive, holistic learning experience for every pupil and commit our resources to challenging and empowering each other.

  1. Admission Statement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(h) the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or 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 ‘Traveller community ground’ shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Equal Status Act 2000.

Primary schools receiving applications from applicants of a minority religion   St. Mochta’s NS is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate in relation to the admission of a student who has applied for a place in the school in accordance with section 7A of the Equal Status Act 2000.  

All denominational schools: St. Mochta’s 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.  
  1. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the school/special class
St Mochta’s NS, with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, has established one class to provide an education exclusively for students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Criteria for Admission to our ASD Class:
A child will be offered a place when all of the following requirements have been met:

1. A fully completed application form for enrolment and all available reports have been submitted to the school by the parents / guardians, within the timeframe specified in the Admissions Notice pertaining to the upcoming year.

2. The child must have a multi-disciplinary report with a diagnosis of a qualifying Autism Spectrum Disorder (DSM IV or V) and a recent recommendation to attend an ASD class attached to a mainstream school. This diagnosis must be made using a professionally recognised clinical and psychological assessment procedure.

3. The school has an available place within the appropriate ASD class.
 

From school year 2022/2023 onward:

1.      Brothers & Sisters (including step-siblings, resident at same address) of children already enrolled

2.       All children who live within 10km from the school

3.      Children of current school staff

4.      All children who are not resident within the 10km boundary

In the event of applications for enrolment exceeding, or being expected to exceed, the number of places available the Principal will allocate places using the above criteria and in that order. If the number of applicants under category (1) outnumbers the places available, children will be prioritised and enrolled in order of age, beginning with the eldest. The same applies to the other categories should places then be available.

Note for schools: The act does not require schools and special classes providing for a category or categories of special educational needs to change their current status. The current arrangements in relation to the category or categories of special educational needs provided by schools will continue as in previous years unless otherwise directed by the NCSE or the Department.

  1. Admission of Students

This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –

  1. the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 below for further details)
  2. 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

Schools with Special Education Classes

The ASD classes will provide an education exclusively for students with a primary diagnosis of a qualifying Autism Spectrum Disorder and the school may refuse admission to these classes where the student concerned does not have the specified category of special educational needs.

  1. 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:

1.      Brothers & Sisters (including step-siblings, resident at same address) of children already enrolled

2.      Children living within 10 km of the school  

3.      Children of current school staff  

4.      All children who are not resident within the 10km boundary

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:

Priority will be given to the oldest child 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)    
  1. 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, including naíonraí, other than in relation to a student’s prior attendance at— (I) an early intervention class, or (II) an early start pre-school, specified in a list published by the Minister from time to time;     the payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the school; (other than in relation to a fee charging school or a PLC or further education and training course run by a school in respect of those courses)    

A student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude; (other than in relation to: admission to (a) a special school or (b) a special class insofar as it is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not the student has the category of special educational needs concerned and/or admission to an Irish language school, in accordance with the provisions of section 62(9) of the act  the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents; a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission; (other than in the case of admission to the residential element of a boarding school or to a plc or further education and training course run by a school)    

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, in the case of the school wishing to include a selection criteria based on (1) siblings of a student attending or having attended the school and/or (2) parents or grandparents of a student having attended the school.   In relation to (2) parents and grandparents having attended, a school may only apply this criteria to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in the school’s annual admission notice).    

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).  
  1. Decisions on applications

All decisions on applications for admission to St. Mochta’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.

  1. 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).

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

In accepting an offer of admission from St. Mochta’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.

  1. 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. Mochta’s NS 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 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.
  1. 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).

  1. 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 St. Mochta’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 of St. Mochta’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.

  1. 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.

15(a) Procedures for admission of students to other years and during the school year

15(b) Admission of Students to the Autism Spectrum Disorder Class:

 

15 a. 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:   That a place exists in the relevant class(es), taking all relevant circumstances  into account, mainly, the cap  on  class  sizes  as  provided  for  in  this  policy,  space  in  classrooms, health and safety considerations etc. An application to enrol will not be accepted where the existing class, in respect of which the application relates to, has 28 pupils.

 

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:

 

That a place exists in the relevant  class(es),  taking all  relevant  circumstances  into account, mainly,cap  on  class  sizes  as  provided  for  in  this  policy,  space  in  classrooms, health and safety considerations etc. An application to enrol will not be accepted where the existing class, in respect of which the application relates to, has 28 pupils.  

15b
1.      Admission of Students to the Autism Spectrum Disorder Class:
The special classes attached to St Mochta’s NS provide an education exclusively for students with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The total number of places available in each class is six.
●        An applicant must have a primary diagnosis of a qualifying Autism Spectrum Disorder and must submit a professional report, which confirms a diagnosis (DSM IV/V or ICD 10)
●        An applicant must also furnish the school with a recommendation to attend an ASD class attached to a mainstream school. Such recommendation must be furnished by a professionally recognised clinical psychologist
●        If the applicant presents with a general learning disability it must fall within the mild range.
●        A fully completed, signed and dated application form for enrolment has been submitted and a vacancy exists
●        When a complete application is submitted an acknowledgement is sent indicating the waiting list number (if applicable)
●        Parents and the applicant are invited to a meeting with the ASD class co-ordinator and are encouraged to bring reports from the present educational setting
●        The applications will be assessed by the ASD Enrolment Advisory Board. This will comprise of the Principal, a teacher from the ASD class/ SET teacher and a member of the BOM.
●        The Board of Management will decide on the acceptance or otherwise of an application.
●        If offered a place the parents must confirm acceptance of a place, in writing, within 7 calendar days. If the confirmation is not received the school will take it that the place is not being accepted.
●        In the event that the number of applications seeking admission exceeds the number of places available, names will be placed on a waiting list according to the following criteria

  i.            Pupils currently enrolled in the school who have been formally diagnosed and who have been recommended as suitable pupils for placement.
 ii.            Siblings of pupils currently enrolled in our school at the time of application and who also meet the criteria above.
 iii.            Pupils living within the parish boundary with the specified category of special educational needs provide for in this class.
 iv.            Pupils living outside the parish boundary with the specified category of special educational needs provided for in this class.
In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place in the special classes, in any of the selection criteria categories above, the following arrangements will apply:

●        Where the number of applicants in any of the above categories exceeds the remaining number of places, the applicants who fall int that category will be prioritised beginning with the eldest, in descending order of age by date of birth until all the remaining places have been filled.
●        Parents must confirm in writing within 7 calendar days that a place on the waiting list is being accepted. If this is not received the school will take it that the place on the waiting list is not being accepted.
●         The waiting list will be maintained for the duration of the academic year only, for which the application was initially made.

Placement / Continuing Placement of a Pupil in an ASD Class:
●        Pupils will be phased in gradually to the ASD class through a mutually agreed process between the school and the parents.
●        The individual needs of each pupil will be constantly reviewed to ensure that an ASD class is an appropriate setting to meet the pupil’s needs. A review of each pupil’s progress and his/her Individual Education Plan will be carried out in consultation with the parents and other professionals where necessary.
●        The school reserves the right to review each pupil’s progress at the end of each academic year to determine whether the ASD class continues to be an appropriate placement for him/her.
 
ASD Class Admissions Advisory Board:
●        The Advisory Board consists of the school Principal, a member of the Board of Management and a teacher from the ASD class.
●        The decision as to placement of an applicant in the ASD class lies with the BOM.
●        Places are allocated in the ASD class on condition that the appropriate resources are provided and continue to be provided by the NCSE and the DES.

Transition from ASD Class to Mainstream:
Arrangements for pupils’ integration into the mainstream will be made according to their level of need and attainments. School personnel will decide when inclusion / integration into a mainstream setting is appropriate. The mainstream setting will be the class that is the best suited to meet the pupil’s needs and the one that is chronologically most appropriate.
 
  1. Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees

This rule applies to all schools.

The board of (name of school) or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-

  1. an application for admission of a student to the school, or
  2. the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.

Note: Exceptions apply only in relation to fee charging post primary schools, the boarding element in Boarding Schools and admission to post leaving cert or further education courses run by post-primary schools.

  1.  Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction

This section must be completed by schools that provide religious instruction to students.

The following are the school’s arrangements for students, where the parents or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, who has requested that the student attend the school without attending religious instruction in the school.  These arrangements will not result in a reduction in the school day of such students:  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.    
  1. Reviews/appeals

Review of decisions by the board of Management

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.

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)

  1. 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.

Admentment

St. Mochta’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. Mochta’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.

This policy is reviewed and ratified annually by the BOM of St. Mochta’s NS.