St.Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
Admissions Policy and Procedures 2011 – 2012
St.Joseph’s Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school in the Diocese of Southwark. It is in the trusteeship of the Diocese . The school is conducted by its governing body as part of the Catholic Church in accordance with its Trust Deed and Instrument of Government, and seeks at all times to be a witness to Jesus Christ. The school exists primarily to serve the Catholic community and Catholic children always have priority of admission 1). However, the Governing Body welcomes all applications, particularly from those of other denominations and faiths who support the religious ethos of the school.
Having consulted with the Local Authority and other admission authorities, the Governors intend to admit into the reception class, in September 2011 up to 30 pupils without reference to ability or aptitude.
Where the number of applications exceeds 30 the Governors will offer places using the following criteria in the order stated:-
1. Baptised Catholic looked after children.
2. Baptised Catholic children. A Certificate of Baptism will be required.
3. Children enrolled in the catechumenate. A certificate of enrolment in the catechumenate will be required.
4. Other Looked After Children.
5. Children who are members of Eastern Orthodox Churches. A certificate of Baptism will be required.
6. Children of families including grandparents who are committed members of other Christian denominations that are part of Churches Together in England. A certificate of Baptism (or dedication) provided by a priest or minister of a designated place of worship will be required.
7. Children of other faiths. A certificate of religious commitment provided by a priest, minister or religious leader of a designated place of worship will be required.
8. Any other children.
The following order of priorities will be applied when applications within any of the above categories exceed the places available and it is necessary to decide between applications
1. For Category 2 above - The strength of evidence of commitment to the faith as demonstrated by the level of the family's Mass attendance on Sundays. This evidence must be provided by the parents/carers and be endorsed by a priest at the church(es) where the family normally worship. First priority will go to families with evidence of weekly attendance at church, the next priority is fortnightly, then monthly then occasionally.
For categories 6 & 7 above - Religious commitment is defined by the level of the family’s attendance at the place of worship. First priority will go to families with evidence of weekly attendance at church, the next priority is fortnightly, then monthly then occasionally.
2. Children who live as brother and sister including natural brothers and sisters, adopted siblings stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers or sisters on the school roll at the time of admission. Evidence of the relationship may be required. Siblings need to live at the same address.
3. Social and medical needs which make the school particularly suitable for the child in question. Strong and relevant evidence must be provided by an appropriate professional authority (eg qualified medical practitioner, education welfare officer, social worker or priest). The Governing body will require written evidence in such cases from any relevant professional at the time of application.This evidence must set out the particular reasons why St.Joseph’s is the most suitable school and the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend another school.In reaching a decision advice will be sought from medical and teaching professionals where appropriate.
4. Distance from home to school. Evidence of residence may be required. The home address is where the child lives as the only or principal residence. The principal home address will be considered as being the address of the parent who is in receipt of child benefit for the child if the child lives equally between both parents. Home school needs to be measuredas a straight line fromthe child’s home to the main entrance of the school derived from the local authority's computerisedgeographical information system.This system measures from a single fixed point in the centre of the home address to the main entrance of the school. In multiple occupancy building priority will be given to the lowest number or letter.
Note:
Catholics include members of the Latin and Oriental Rite Churches that are in union with the Bishop of Rome. Reference to other Christian denominations refers to denominations that are full members of Churches Together in England.
Admissions procedure
In addition to the Common Application Form (CAF) supplied by the Local Authority, the Supplementary Information Form available from the school, must be completed and sent to the school office not later than the closing date published by the Local Authority. This should be done even if the CAF is completed online. This form needs to be completed by candidates who wish to be considered under the faith criteria.
If the Supplementary Information Form is not completed, the governing body of the school will only be able to consider the application after all applicants who have completed a Supplementary Information Form. You are advised to make two copies of the forms. You should retain one copy and pass the second copy to the school or your priest, as indicated.
Offers of places will be sent to parents on the common offer date as notified by the Local Authority.
Appeals
Parents whose applications for places are unsuccessful may appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel set up in accordance with sections 88 and 94 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Appeals must be made in writing and must set out the reasons on which the appeal is made. Appeals should be made to the Admissions Appeal Clerk at the school address. Parents/Carers have the right to make oral representations to the Appeal Panel.
Waiting Lists
Parents of children who have not been offered a place at the school may ask for their child’s name to be placed on a waiting list. The waiting list will be operated using the same admissions criteria listed above. Placing a child’s name on the waiting list does not guarantee that a place will become available. This does not prevent parents from exercising their right to appeal against the decision not to offer a place.
Waiting list will be kept for a year.
Late Applications
Any late applications will be considered by the Governors' Admissions Committee, in the event of there being any available places using the above criteria. If all places have been filled, parents will be offered the opportunity of placing their child’s name on the waiting list. This does not prevent parents from exercising their right to appeal against the decision not to offer a place.
This admissions procedure, although primarily relevant to children for whom a place is sought at the normal age of entry to primary education (Year R), applies also to succeeding years, subject to availability of places.
Appendix 2
Notes on Model Admission Policies and Procedures
.
.
Note 1
Catholic education is provided first for baptised Catholic children.
Note 2
If it is decided to give priority to children of families living in, or worshipping in, local named parish(es), consideration must be given to those who worship in ethnic chaplaincies so they are not discriminated against. Where parishes are used it is important to include parishes without schools. It would be preferable to allocate a percentage of places to each parish rather than rank ordering them in order to help ensure that children living in a parish where there is no school have a better chance of gaining a place. In the case of secondary schools, it is acceptable to give priority to named Catholic primary feeder schools. However, care must be taken not to discriminate against children who are unable to get a place in a Catholic primary school or live in an area where there is no Catholic school.
Note 3
The criteria and sub-criteria must 'cascade' reflecting the order in which governors will admit children. Places must be offered strictly in accordance with the numbered criteria using the sub-criteria if necessary in each category.
Note 4
If the parish priest is new to a parish, he may wish to seek assistance from a deacon or parish sister in providing evidence. The parish priest should countersign evidence endorsed by a deacon or parish sister.
Note 5
It should be made clear what is meant by a brother or sister. Normally this would mean a sibling through blood, marriage or adoption. They will not necessarily be residing at the same address or have the same surnames.
Note 6
Social and medical needs are often difficult to determine. It should be made clear it is the child's needs that are being considered and that the evidence required explains why this particular school meets these needs. Pastoral grounds could be considered under this criterion when the evidence is provided by a priest or minister.
Appendix 3 (continued)
Note 7
When proximity to the school is used as a ‘tie-break’ it must be explained how this will be determined. It is admissible to use 'direct line' distance home to school, safest walking distance, time by public transport etc. It may be advisable to adopt the LA's method in measuring distance.
The list of sub (tie-break) criteria given is not exhaustive and governors may wish to add others.
Note 8
Oriental Rite Churches in union with Rome
Alexandrian
Coptic Catholic Church
Ethiopian Catholic Church (‘Gheez rite’) (Includes Eritrean Catholic Church)
Antiochean (West Syrian)
Syrian Catholic Church
(Syro-)Maronite Catholic Church
Syro-Malankar Catholic Church
Armenian
Armenian Catholic Church
Chaldean (East Syrian)
Chaldean Catholic Church
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Constantinopolitan (Byzantine)
Albanian (Byzantine) Catholic Church
Belarussian Catholic Church
Bulgarian (Byzantine) Catholic Church
Georgian Catholic Church
Greek (Hellenic) Catholic Church
Greek-Melakite Catholic Church
Hungarian (Byzantine) Catholic Church
Italo-Albanian (Byzantine) Catholic Church
Church of the Byzantines of the Diocese of Krizevci (Krizevci Catholic Church)
Macedonian Catholic Church
Romanian (Greek) Catholic Church
Russian Catholic Church
Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic Church
Slovak (Greek) Catholic Church
Ukrainian (Greek) Catholic Church
There are an equivalent number of Eastern Orthodox Churches with similar names that are not in union with the See of Rome. The general rule is Eastern Rite Churches in union with the See of Rome will have the word Catholic in their titles. Churches with the word Orthodox in their titles are not in union with the See of Rome and children from these Churches should be considered after Catholic children.
Please refer any queries to the Commission.
Appendix 3 (continued)
Members of Churches Together in England
Antiochan Orthodox Church
Baptist Union of Great Britain
Cherubim and Seraphim Council of Churches
Church of England
Church of God of Prophecy
Church of Scotland (in England)
Congregational Federation
Coptic Orthodox Church
Council of African and Caribbean Churches UK
Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches
Icthus Christian Fellowship
Independent Methodist Church
International Ministerial council of Great Britain
Joint Council for Anglo-Caribbean Churches
Lutheran Council of Great Britain
Methodist Church
Moravian Church
New Testament Assembly
New Testament Church of God
Oecumenical Patriarchate
Religious Society of Friends
Roman Catholic Church
Russian Orthodox Church
Salvation Army
Seventh day Adventist Church
Transatlantic Pacific Alliance of Churches
United Reformed Church
Wesleyan holiness Church
Note 9
The Supplementary Information Form should be completed by the parent and their nominated priest. The form incorporates the priest or minister’s declaration. It is important that only information required to rank the application according to the published criteria is asked for on the form. Questions relating to school administration systems should not be asked (e.g. entitlement to free school meals, emergency telephone numbers etc.) Neither should questions be asked about social or ethnic background. In the event of an appeal being made to an independent appeal panel against the governors not offering a place this form will be required as part of the evidence.
Appendix 4
Black and Ethnic Minority Chaplains
Co-ordinator of Black and Ethnic Minority Chaplains: Rev Canon James Cronin, MCL, LCL, Cathedral House, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7HY. Tel: 020 7928 5256
Albanian: Rev Gary Walsh, 47 Cumberland Street, London SW1V 4LY. Mobile: 07791 054137
Belarussian: Archpriest Alexander Nadson, Marian House, Holden Rd, London N7 8HY. Tel: 020 8445 5358
Brazilian: Rev Frederico Mereilles Ribiero, St Anne’s, Underwood Rd, London E1 5AW. Tel: 020 7247 7833
South London Caribbean Association: President: Mr Lloyd Booker, 17a Cambray Road, London SW12 0DX. Tel: 020 8675 0607
Chinese: Rev Eddie Woo, MAf, 4 Lady Margaret Road, London NW5 2XT. Tel: 020 7485 4023
Croatian: Rev Drago Berisic, 17 Boutflower Road, London SW11 1RE. Tel: 020 7223 3530
Czech: See Slovakian.
Eritrean: Rev Ephrem Andon, Catholic Presbytery, Commonwealth Av. London W12 7QR. Tel: 020 8743 8334
Filipino: Sr Amada Martin SSC, 8 Ridgale Street, London E3 2PW. Tel: 020 8980 3017
French (and all French-speaking nationals): Rev Joaquin Fernandez, Notre Dame de France, 5 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BX. Tel: 020 7437 9363
German: Rev Heinz Medoch, 47 Adler Street, London E1 1EE. Tel: 020 7247 9529
Ghanaian: (Awaiting appointment)
Goan: Rev Oliver Antao, SFX, St Thomas of Canterbury, Commonside East, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 1YG. Tel: 020 8665 2176
Hungarian: Rev Josef Viragh, 141 Gunnersbury Avenue, London W3 8LE. Tel: 020 8992 2054
Iraqi Chaldean: Rev Habib Jaujo, 38 Cavendish Avenue, London W13 0JQ. Tel: 020 8992 2054
Iraqi Syrian: Rev Nizar Semaan, Parish House, More House Road, London W2 5DJ. Tel: 020 7229 0487
Irish: Sr Lucy Troy, PBVM, 50/52 Camden Square, London NW1 9XB. Tel: 020 7482 5528
Italian Mission: Rev Pietro Celotto, 20 Brixton Road, London SW9 6BU. Tel: 020 7735 8235
Kerala (Latin Rite): Rev Chaco Panathara, 29 Eversley Crescent, Isleworth, Middlesex. Tel: 020 8560 7021
(Syro-Malabar Rite): Rev John Biju, St Anselm’s, 9 Tooting Bec Rd, London SW17 8BS. Tel: 020 8672 2179
Korean: Rev Jae Hak Leovino Lee, 2 Ullswater Crescent, London SW15 3RQ. Tel: 020 8546 4013
Latin American: Rev Carmelo Arroyo, 363 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, London SE11 5QY Tel: 020 7820 1697