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Drumcondra N.S.
Admissions Policy
1) Parents or Guardians intending to apply for enrolment in Drumcondra National School should contact the school secretary or principal and request a copy of the Notification of Intention to Apply form. If it is your intention to enroll a child in less than 21 days, then an Application Form may be requested, but noting what follows. The school will acknowledge receipt of the form by email.
2) Those who have returned a Notification of Intention to Apply Form will be sent an Application Form in January of the year of enrolment in the school.
3) All applications for places in the school shall be submitted on the approved Application Form to the school principal. An Ethos Statement, Admissions Policy and Code of Behaviour will be furnished to each applicant with a copy of the Application Form in January for consideration of applications for the following school year.
4) The closing date for completed Application Forms will be indicated on the covering letter enclosed with the application pack. The school will acknowledge receipt of the Application Form by email. This acknowledgement does not guarantee the applicant a place in the school.
5) Only those forms that have been completed in full and accompanied by all requested relevant supporting documentation will be considered by the Board of Management.
6) Completion of the form does not guarantee a place in the school.
7) Early completion of the form is not a factor in the allocation of places in the school.
8) All applicants for Junior Infants must have attained their 4th birthday by 30th June in the year of admission.
9) The Board of Management will consider all applications after the indicated closing date and will issue decisions within 21 days of the closing date for return of completed Application Forms.
10) The Board of Management will, in the light of Section 6(e), 9 (m) and 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, give consideration to the following in this order:
a. The number of places available in the school. The number of places available in the school is determined by
i.the number of pupils expected to leave the school
ii. the number of children in each class and the effect that will have on the number of children in the classroom.
iii. future predications of numbers in more senior classes, based on current intakes with reference to the pupil teacher ratio
iv. the size of the classrooms
v. the effect of the intake on the division and pairing of classes and the resources of the school
b. The religious denomination of the child.
c. The place of residence of the child with regard to the catchment area of the school as defined in the criteria below.
d. Whether the applicant is a sibling of another pupil currently enrolled in the school.
e. The gender balance of the class.
11) The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse admission to a child in a particular class, if the Board of Management determines there are too many children in that multi-
12) Admission to Other Classes
a. Applications for admissions to classes other than Junior Infants will be considered by the Board of Management in accordance with the priorities set out in relation to admission to the Junior Infants Class.
b. Pupils who wish to transfer from another school in the locality are not automatically allocated places at the school during the academic year, unless there are special circumstances and there are is spaces and resources available. Applications for transfers during the school year will only be considered:-
i. because of the change in the ordinary residence of the child
ii. with the consent of the Minister for Education
iii. subject to school policy
iv. subject to available space
c. In the event of transfer, information concerning the pupil’s attendance, progress, the most recent school report and any relevant reports must be communicated.
d. The Board of Management may contact the child’s previous school in this regard.
13) Siblings of pupils currently enrolled in the school are not automatically entitled to a place. While the school will attempt to ensure siblings are accommodated within the school; if that class is over-
14) Waiting lists do not carry forward to subsequent years when a child has not been allocated a place.
15) The Board of Management may seek further clarification from applicants before making a decision.
16) All applicants shall be informed, in writing, of the Board of Management’s decision within 21 days.
17) A subsequent review of a decision by the Board may be requested, generally on the grounds only of additional information not previously submitted at the time of application.
18) Unsuccessful applicants may also appeal the decision of the Board under Section 29 (1) (C) of the Education Act 1998.
19) Drumcondra National School is a Church of Ireland (Anglican) school. Priority for places is therefore given in the following order:
a. Church of Ireland (Anglican) parishioners/ accustomed members of the parish of Drumcondra. The rector of Drumcondra must countersign the application form. Note: Members of the Porvoo Communion i.e. The Evangelical Lutheran churches of Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Denmark, Old Catholic and Mar Thoma are full communicant members of the Church of Ireland when resident in Ireland. Members of other Anglican churches i.e. the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church etc are also full communicant members of the Church of Ireland when resident in Ireland.
b. Children who are members of the Methodist church, living within a 2 kilometre radius from the school. A signature of the local Methodist minister is required on the application form.
c. Siblings of children currently enrolled in the school.
d. Children who are members of other Protestant Trinitarian churches, Reformed, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, living within a 2 kilometre radius from the school. These churches include the Presbyterian, Baptist, Religious Society of Friends, as well as others. A signature of a church leader is required on the application form.
e. Children of interchurch families where one parent is a member of the Church of Ireland (Anglican) and who fulfills the qualifications in section (a) above. The family must live within a 2 kilometre radius from the school. The signature of the rector of Drumcondra, home parish rector or other church leader is required on the application form.
f. Children of interchurch families where one parent is a member of a church listed in section (b) above the Methodist church. The family must live within a 2 kilometre radius from the school. A signature of the local Methodist minister is required on the application form.
g. Children of parishoners and members of other Protestant Trinitarian churches, Reformed, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox, living within a 2 km radius of the school, who did not obtain the signature of their minister on the application form.
h. Children who are members of the Church of Ireland and Methodist churches, living outside a 2 kilometre radius from the school. The signature of the rector of Drumcondra, home parish rector or Methodist minister is required on the application form
i. Children who are members of other Protestant Trinitarian churches, Reformed, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, living outside a 2 kilometre radius from the school. A signature of a church leader is required on the Application Form.
j. Children of interchurch families where one parent is a member of the Church of Ireland (Anglican) and who fulfils the qualifications in section (a) above. The family must live outside a 2 kilometre radius from the school. The signature of the rector of Drumcondra, home parish rector or other church leader is required on the application form.
k. Children of interchurch families where one parent is a member of a church listed in section (b) above. The family must live outside a 2 kilometre radius from the school. A signature of a church leader is required on the application form.
l. Children who are active members of churches, which are involved in the Inter-
m. Children of other faiths or none.
Where oversubscription occurs in any category above, all places in this category will be allocated using a lottery system (names chosen from a hat by an impartial observer). Unsuccessful applicants within each category will have their names placed on a waiting list, firstly with reference to gender balance, and secondly in order in which names were drawn on the lottery. Those children in this category who are not successful in achieving a place will have their names placed on a waiting list in the order in which names were drawn on the lottery.. Applicants will be informed of their place on the waiting list as it applies in their particular category.
The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse admission where there is good and sufficient reason for doing so. Applicants retain the right to appeal such a decision.
This Admissions Policy was adopted by the Board of Management of Drumcondra National School at a meeting of the Board on 18th October 2016
First created: May 2003.
Most recent revision: October 2016
Signed __________________________ Chairperson of the Board
Mr James Forbes
Date: _____________________________
PDF of the Admissions Policy