Admissions Policy - St. Brogan's College, Bandon, Co. Cork
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Admissions Policy
St. Brogan’s College,
Bandon, Co. Cork
1PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
To provide fair, transparent and effective criteria for admission of students to St. Brogan’s
College in compliance with legislative requirements. The policy is based on the principles of:
• Parental/student choice
• Equality of access and participation in the school
• Respect for diversity of traditions, values, beliefs, languages and ways of life in society.
• The physical capacity of the school to accommodate applications for enrolment.
PLACES AT THE SCHOOL
The school cannot undertake to enrol in excess of the places available. These numbers are
based on the school curricular plan, teaching resources available and physical capacity of the
school as well as regulations regarding class size. The maximum number to be enrolled for
First Year will be decided by the schools Board of Management each academic year.
ENROLMENT PROCEDURES
On application (parents/guardians or students aged eighteen years or over) will be provided
with:
• an enrolment application form (as advised under GDPR guidelines)
• advice as to the closing date for receipt of completed enrolment application forms
• advice on any other requirements e.g. the need to submit a birth certificate
• Parents/Guardians will have to submit the enrolment application form before a
specified date.
• Applicants will be informed within 21 days of the closing date of applications of the
decision of the Board of Management on their application.
• Successful applicants will be provided with a detailed enrolment form.
• Late application may result in deferred enrolment or the deferred commencement of
the educational programme for the student at the school.
2Criteria for Decisions to Enrol
General Criteria
ACCORDING TO POLICY
Decisions in respect of the enrolment of students will be made by the Board of Management
on the basis of this school policy.
AGE
Students will normally be required to be twelve years of age or older in the year they apply
for enrolment in the school.
COMPLETION OF SIXTH CLASS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Except in exceptional circumstances, students who have completed sixth class in primary
school will be enrolled on application in First year programmes subject to a place being
available and they fulfil the age requirement, and that they comply with enrolment
procedures.
The maximum number to be enrolled for First Year will be decided by the schools Board of
Management each academic year based on the ability of the school to provide
accommodation and other resources for those students.
If the school is oversubscribed in respect of applications received for the available number of
student places, the following criteria will be used in selecting applicants. The criteria will
be applied in the following order:
1. Brothers and sisters of pupils who are already attending the school.
2. Brothers and sisters of pupils who previously attended the school.
3. Children of a current member of the staff of St. Brogan’s College.
4. Children who are the eldest in the family and attend one of the named feeder schools.
5. Children who attend a named feeder primary school.
If there is a surplus of applicants at any of the above criteria, a lottery for the remaining
places will take place in the next criteria. This lottery will take place at a Board of
Management Meeting.
3The list of feeder schools include:
• Ballinadee NS
• Ballyheeda NS
• Ballymoney NS
• Bandon Bridge NS
• Bishop Galvin Central School, Newcestown NS
• Castlelack NS
• Crossmahon NS
• Desertserges NS
• Gaelscoil Bandon NS
• Goggins Hill NS
• Gurraneasig NS
• Gurranes NS
• Kilbrittain NS
• Kilcolman NS
• Knockavilla NS
• Lauragh NS
• Presentation Convent NS
• Scoil Eoin, Innishannon NS
• Scoil Phadraig Naofa NS
• St. Marys Central School, Enniskeane NS
ELIGIBILITY FOR ENROLMENT IN ASD SUPPORT CLASS
Each year the school in consultation with the SENO (Special Educational Needs Organiser)
will determine the number of spaces available in the ASD support classes.
A child may be eligible for admission into the ASD support class when all of the following
criteria have been met:
a) The child has a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder from a Multi-Disciplinary
team for example; North or South Lee Autism Services or a recognised equivalent and
the pupil is recommended for placement in a Special Class or Unit attached to a
mainstream secondary school.
b) If the child presents with a general learning disability, it must fall within the mild
range (this diagnosis must also be made from a professionally recognised clinical and
psychological assessment procedure within the previous two years).
c) Integration of students in mainstream is the aim of the support class. Although the
support class students have their own base room they will when appropriate to the
student’s learning, attend mainstream classes both with and without SNA support. In
order to enrol in the class students must be capable of integrating into mainstream
classes. Evidence must be provided that the student is capable of integration and a
4multidisciplinary team must support this evidence. Each applicant should be
supported by a report from the primary school outlining the student’s academic,
social, emotional and behavioural needs and outlining the current extent of social
inclusion.
ENROLMENT POLICY FOR ASD SUPPORT CLASS
• Parent/Guardians are required to make written applications for consideration for
enrolment in the ASD programme on behalf of their child. Applications from a third
party will not be considered.
• Applications should be made to the school principal in writing in the academic year
prior to the student starting secondary school. The enrolment application form is
available from the school admin staff.
• All vacancies will be filled subject to all the conditions above being in place e.g.
diagnostic criteria etc. Where there is more than one applicant for a place who
satisfies all the criteria the board of management will apply the criteria outlined on
pages 3 and 4 to determine enrolment.
• Pupils who meet criteria for enrolment but are not offered a place for September will
remain on that year’s waiting list in the event that a mid-school year vacancy should
arise.
• The total capacity for each group is determined by the NCSE.
• The inclusion operates on the understanding that the intellectual ability of students
enrolled in the support class would be similar to the profile of the population of
students attending the main stream section of the school and the student would have
the ability to integrate into mainstream classes according to individual need.
• In line with the policy of mainstream integration, it is envisaged that ASD students
should be able to participate at a minimum level of approximately 70%
inclusion/integration.
• In certain circumstances and following assessment the school may be unable to meet
the needs of an ASD student on the grounds that:
o They are considered a risk to themselves or others,
o Admission of the student would have a serious detrimental effect on the
provision of an educational service to other students.
• An Annual Review of the student’s placement within the ASD programme will be
held by the ASD team to ensure that the ASD programme continues to be the most
suitable placement option available to the student.
• All potential applicants may be visited by a member of the ASD team to observe the
student in their existing placement.
INFORMING THE PARENTS OF THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
• Parents/Guardians will be informed of the decision relating to their child 21 days
following the application deadline.
• The parents/guardians will confirm in writing to the principal whether they will accept
or decline the offer of a place within ten working days of the offer being made.
5• Unsuccessful candidates will not be informed until all offers for enrolment have been
accepted to allow for further offers to be made if a place is declined.
• Parents will be informed in writing if enrolment has been refused, the reason for
refusal and their right to appeal this decision to the Cork Education and Training
Board under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ENROLMENT IN MODERATE SUPPORT
CLASS
A child may be accepted for admission into the moderate support class when they have a
diagnosis of a Moderate General Learning Disability. This diagnosis must be made by a
professional educational psychologist.
ENROLMENT POLICY FOR MODERATE SUPPORT CLASS
• All vacancies will be filled from the date of receipt of applications from parents and
subject to the condition above being met. Where there is more than one applicant for
a place who satisfies all the criteria the board of management will apply the criteria
outlined on pages 3 and 4 to determine enrolment.
• Pupils who meet criteria for enrolment but are not offered a place for September will
remain on that year’s waiting list in the event that a mid-school year vacancy should
arise.
• The total capacity for the group is determined by the NCSE.
CODE OF BEHAVIOUR/SCHOOL POLICIES
All students enrolled within the ASD programme or the moderate support class are required
to co-operate with the School/Board of Management’s Code of Behaviour as well as all other
policies on curriculum, organisation and management.
TRANSFERS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS PROVIDING POST-
PRIMARY PROGRAMMES
The BOM will consider applications for enrolment of students attending other schools
providing post-primary courses, on the completion of an application form indicating reasons
for the students transfer. Other information relating to the student’s educational performance,
school attendance and behaviour will be considered in relation to the whole school
community. The transfer should be in the best interest of the student.
Applications to transfer from other schools providing post-primary courses will be considered
for the commencement of a new school year only, except in exceptional circumstances.
Applications to transfer from other schools providing post-primary education will be
processed in accordance with the policies and procedures outlined in this policy as they relate
to students in general and to students with special education needs.
ENROLMENT CRITERIA FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
6• Applicants must meet criteria laid down by the Dept. of Education & Skills.
• The applicant and his/her parents/guardians must agree to allow the principal to seek
all records relating to the applicant from his/her previous school(s).
• Enrolment is subject to the applicant’s subject choices being available (on the
curriculum as operating at the time of application, and on the basis that maximum
class sizes will not be exceeded)
• Enrolment is subject to spaces being available in the particular year group.
• The school reserves the right to refuse to admit a student whose behaviour and / or
attendance record in their previous school has been unsatisfactory.
RESERVED RIGHTS OF THE BOARD TO REFUSE ENROLMENT
The board of management reserves the right to refuse an application to enrol, in the school,
where in the opinion of the board, adequate physical accommodation is not available for the
applicant or if classes in specific subjects are full.
The board of management reserves the right to refuse an application to enrol in the school
where, in the opinion of the board a decision to enrol would constitute a risk to the health and
safety of other students enrolled.
The board of management reserves the right to refuse an application to enrol in the school
where, in the opinion of the board, the school programme is unsuitable to the educational
needs of the student and alternative suitable arrangements for an appropriate programme
cannot reasonably be made at the school.
The board of management reserves the right to refuse an application to enrol where, in the
opinion of the board, a decision to enrol would clearly have a demonstrable negative impact
on the capacity of the school to deliver programmes to other students and alternative
arrangements cannot reasonably be made at the school.
The board of management reserves the right to refuse or to defer enrolment in the school
where it is not satisfied that it has sufficient information to make an informed decision on the
educational needs of the student.
RIGHT TO APPEAL TO CORK ETB
Under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, Parents / Guardians have the right to appeal a
refusal by the school to enrol a student. A decision of the Board of Management may be
appealed to Cork ETB, in accordance with Department of Education and Science circular M
48/01.
DATE OF REVIEW
Policy adopted on 29th May 2018
Date of Next Review: May 2019
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