St. Wolstan's Community School Admissions Policy 2017/2018 - JUNE 2016
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St. Wolstan’s Community
School
Admissions Policy
2017/2018
JUNE 2016
June 2015 Page 1INTRODUCTION St. Wolstan’s Community School is a recognised Community School for girls in the Celbridge area. This policy statement conforms with the objectives of the School’s Characteristic Spirit/Ethos, Mission Statement and of the Deed of Trust for Community Schools. St. Wolstan’s as a Community School is multi-denominational and inclusive. Therefore, it provides for the admission of girls in the community regardless of religious, social class or educational need, within the limit of the available staffing, accommodation and facilities provided by the Department of Education and Skills. The school is funded by the Department of Education and Skills, and is provided with staff in accordance with the teacher allocation of the Department of Education and Skills. PATRON AND TRUSTEES The school is held in trust for the purpose of providing a comprehensive system of post primary education under the trusteeship of Le Chéile Catholic Schools Trust, the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin and the Kildare and Wicklow Education Training Board in compliance with Education Act 1998 and the Deed of Trust for Community Schools 1970. BOARD OF MANAGEMENT Under the 1998 Education Act, the school’s Board of Management manages the school on behalf of the Patron (Trustees). The Board includes representatives from the Patron, Trustees, Parents and School Staff. PURPOSE AND CURRICULUM The school’s purpose is to:- Provide a comprehensive system of post primary education open to girls of the community combining instruction in academic and practical subjects and ongoing education of the persons living in the community and generally for the purposes of contributing towards the spiritual, moral, mental and physical well being and development of the community (Deed of Trust for Community Schools. Second Schedule Articles of Management. Par. 2) The school’s curricular programme is in line with the regulations set down by the Department of Education and Skills and with Section 9 and Section 30 of the Education Act 1998. CHARACTER AND RELIGIOUS ETHOS The Deed of Trust for the Community Schools enjoins that the Board shall ensure that there is religious worship and religious instruction for the students in accordance with its rites, practice and teaching of the religious denomination to which the student belong. The Board will endeavour to fulfill its obligations in this matter in as far as practically possible and within the available staffing, accommodation and facilities provided by the Department of Education and Skills. ST. WOLSTAN’S MISSION STATEMENT To create a community of excellence in second level education where each person is given the opportunity to reach her own full potential. We endeavour to enable all members of this community to:- Develop Physically Nurture healthy relationships Achieve Academically Make informed moral choices And embrace the spiritual dimension of their lives June 2015 Page 2
ACCOMMODATION
The school’s accommodation capacity is for a maximum of 700 pupils. Classes range from First
to Sixth year and include Junior Certificate, Transition Year, Traditional Leaving Certificate and
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.
PASTORAL CARE
The school provides comprehensive pastoral care. Every student follows the Social, Personal
and Health Education Programme (SPHE) as set out by the Department of Education and Skills.
The maximum class size for each class is thirty for general classes and twenty/twenty four for
practical/skills-based classes.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS/STUDENTS
The school expects that parents, guardians and students should support the school in a positive
and active manner. The students are expected to attend school each day and to participate
positively in the classroom and the extra curricular activities offered by the school. The school
needs the full support of parents/guardians and expects parents/guardians attendance at
parent/teacher meetings, information meetings and other events. The school welcomes the
support and contribution of the Parents’ Association.
SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS (SEN)
The Educational needs of students who have a disability and the educational needs of
exceptionally able students (Education Act 1998 S. 15 (2) (g) and (Education for Persons with
Special Educational Needs Act 2004 Section 2) are welcomed and accommodated in St.
Wolstan’s Community School subject to the following:-
Parents/Guardians are strongly advised to:-
(i). Inform the school as early as possible and discuss with the Special Needs co-ordinator
their particular situation well in advance of making an application;
(ii). Give details regarding disabilities and previous assessment of the educational needs of
the student, as it may take some time for the Department of Education and Skills to
process applications for the resources needed.
School Management is obliged to:-
(i). Assess the educational needs of Special Education Needs students;
(ii). Access approved resources from Department of Education and Skills;
(iii). Assess the capacity of the school to provide access to particular courses or class groups;
(iv). Determine the ability of the school to provide for the educational needs of the student;
(v). Seek, in exceptional circumstances the support of NCSE (National Council for Special
Education Needs)/Department of Education and Skills if:
the disability is making the provision of educational services impossible for other students
OR
the disability is having a seriously detrimental effect on the provision of the schools
services to other students OR
that in the circumstances the disability could cause harm to the person or to others.
St. Wolstan’s welcomes female students with special needs and will use in as far as practically
possible its financial resources and qualified personnel, provided by the Department of
Education and Skills to make reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities or special
educational needs up to a nominal cost so these students are free to participate in the life of the
school in so far as is reasonable practicable.
The school will meet with parents/guardians to discuss the student’s needs and the school’s
suitability/capability in meeting those needs.
June 2015 Page 3This Admissions Policy has been drawn up by the Board of Management of St. Wolstan’s
Community school in consultation with the school staff and Parents’ Association. The policy
has been approved by the Patron and Trustees.
FIRST YEAR ENROLMENT PROCESS
1. The enrolment process is by written application only. Application forms are available
through the primary schools in the local area by the 14th day of October prior to year of
entry and also from the school office in St. Wolstan’s Community School.
2. Completed application forms must be submitted to St. Wolstan’s Community School
before 30th November of the student’s final year in primary school.
3. Parents/Guardians coming into the area who wish to enrol a student should notify the
school in advance, not later than 26th May of the year of entry.
4. Assessment will take place after enrolment to ensure that each student is given every
opportunity to maximise her potential.
5. The applicant must have reached 12 years of age by 1st January of their first year in St.
Wolstan’s Community School.
6. A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate, two passport photographs, two recent different
utility bills and a payment of €75 to cover essential student requirements (please see
enrolment application form for further details) must accompany all applications.
7. St. Wolstan’s Community School will enrol a maximum of 150 female students in first
year at the school.
8. All applicants should have completed a full course of primary education or an equivalent
standard of education approved by the Department of Education and Skills.
9. Students are admitted to St. Wolstan’s Community School subject to the resources in the
following order:-
(a) Students resident in Celbridge and attending school in Celbridge;
(b) Students resident in Celbridge and attending school outside Celbridge;
(c) Students resident in Straffan and attending school in Straffan;
(d) Students resident in Ardclough and attending school in Ardclough;
(e) Sisters of Students already registered in the school;
(f) Daughters of staff
(g) Daughters of Past pupils
(h) Students other than (a) to (g) on a first come first serviced basis and living in
Clane, Kilcloon, Leixlip, Maynooth, Newcastle, Prosperous, Rathcoffey.
10. Where the number of applicants exceeds the number of places a waiting list is established
on a first come first served basis (date and time of application). Students on a waiting
list are admitted to St. Wolstan’s Community School subject to resources and in the
order outlined at 9 (a) – (h) above. A place on the waiting list does not in any way
guarantee a place in the school. The Board of Management in accordance with school
policy make the decisions in relation to applications for enrolments. All admissions are
subject to the approval of the Board of Management.
11. The Board of Management may review the admissions policy from time to time. The
Board of Management makes the final decision regarding the applications for enrolment
under the terms of the current published admissions policy.
June 2015 Page 412. Acceptance of Places: Applicants who are offered places will be required to confirm in
writing acceptance or otherwise within 14 days of the posting of the offer. Parents are
also asked to supply details of medical conditions, disabilities, special educational needs,
psychological educational assessment, individual educational programme provided in a
previous school, personal family details (where relevant).
13. Parents/Guardians of the student who has been offered a place in St. Wolstan’s
Community School are expected to:-
- Confirm in writing their acceptance of a place by a specific date
- Attend an information evening prior to registration of a student.
- Sign full acceptance of Code of Behaviour prior to their daughter’s entry.
ENROLMENT INTO A YEAR OTHER THAN 1ST YEAR
Places will be offered to those eligible in accordance with the categories set out in 9 above.
Enrolment in a year other than 1st year can occur only if vacancies have arisen and if the Board
of Management considers that it is advisable to do so. Should a vacancy arise, the prospective
student along with her parents/guardians will attend a meeting with the Principal. All relevant
data such as school attendance, school reports, as per the Education Welfare Act 2000
concerning the application will be sought by the Principal of the school which the applicant is
attending or has most recently attended. The parents/guardians and student are also required to
sign full acceptance of Code of Behaviour of the school prior to their daughter’s entry.
SCHOOL CURRICULUM
The school provides a wide curriculum. Some subjects are compulsory while some are chosen as
options. The school aims to offer students their preferred option subjects; however, this may not
always be possible due to timetable and resource restrictions. The options being offered may
change from year to year depending on resources available. Furthermore, if the demand for a
particular subject is very low in any given year, Management reserves the right to withdraw that
subject from the curriculum. Where any difficulty arises in relation to the provision of option
subjects the decision of Management is final.
TRANSFERS
Students may transfer to the school, subject to the terms of the school’s admissions policy,
available space, staffing resources, availability of subjects and suitability and in some cases, the
approval of the Department of Education and Skills. Students must apply to the school and
provide necessary data by 2nd June of the year of entry. Reference will be sought in each case
from the students previous school(s) in relation to her conduct at school. Where it is established
that a student’s behaviour is unacceptable in her previous school(s) the Principal may decide not
to accept such a student in the welfare and educational interest of the general school community
and may refer the student application to transfer to the Board of Management for determination.
In order to consider an application from a student who has been asked to leave another school it
is required by the parents of that student to provide written evidence of the completion of the
Section 29 process against the said school that is required by the Education Act 1998.
As soon as it is practicable but not later than 21 days, after a parent has provided a full formal
application, the Board of Management of the school concerned shall make a decision in respect
of the application concerned and inform the parent in writing thereafter.
Normally a student who leaves the school to enrol in another school will only be accepted back
at the school subject to the criteria already stated above, capacity of the school to deliver a full
programme of studies, available space and accommodation and where the resources permit.
The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse admission where an enrolment would
have a seriously detrimental effect (Equal Status Act 2000) on the provision of services to others
or might unreasonably impede the good order and discipline in the school or which might place
June 2015 Page 5the safety or security of students and/or staff at risk (c.f. Education (Welfare) Act 2000, Section 24, Subsection 5), (Education Act 1998, Section 29, Page 27 Circular Letter M48/01). APPEALS The Board of Management shall not refuse to admit a student, in respect of whom an application (to be so admitted) has been made, except where such refusal is in accordance with our admissions 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 school be refused, the parents/guardians have the right to appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills (Education Act 1998, Section 29 (d) or any amendment or substitution thereof. The parents/guardians will be informed in writing of the Board’s decision and the reasons why the student was not accepted will be clearly stated. An application form for such an appeal will be provided on request from the school office or may be obtained from the Educational Welfare Officer, NEWB at Telephone No. 045-866018. The appeal must be made within 42 calendar days from the date the decision of the Board of Management is notified to the parents/guardians concerned (circular M48/01). The appeal should be made in writing on the prescribed Application Form supplied by the Department of Education & Skills. The Appeals Application should be completed in full and should state:- 1. The decision being appealed; 2. The grounds on which the decision is being appealed. 3. The date that the parents/guardians were informed of the decision. 4. All other relevant information (circular M48/01). The appeal may be made to the Secretary General of the Department of Education & Skills. The Appeals Administration Unit, Department of Education & Skills, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. Having regard to the desirability of resolving a grievance within the school where possible, the parties to an appeal under Section 29 or any amendment or substitution therefore, i.e. the appellant and the school’s Board of Management, will be asked to consider the matter in the first instance at local level to see if accommodation can be reached. As a general rule, appeals will only be considered by an appeals committee under section 29 where the parties are unable to resolve the issue at local level (circular M48/01). The school must be informed in writing of the decision to appeal. SCHOOLS ORGANISATION PARENT’S ASSOCIATION The Parent’s Association promotes the interests of the students in St. Wolstan’s Community School in co-operation with the Board of Management, Principal, teachers and students and for that purpose may adopt a programme of activities, which promote the involvement of parents in consultation with the Board of Management and the Principal in the operation of the school. STUDENT COUNCIL The Board of Management has established and maintains a Student’s Council in order to promote the involvement of students in school life. The Student’s Council facilitates the involvement of the students in the operation of the school, having regard to the age and experience of the students, in association with their parents/guardians and teachers. June 2015 Page 6
JUNIOR CYCLE PROGRAMME (This will change with the new Junior Cycle Student
Award due to be introduced September 2017)
At Junior Certificate level, all pupils study the Junior Certificate core subjects and two option
subjects and a foreign language.
Subjects in the optional list are only available if there is sufficient demand for them and students
cannot be guaranteed their preferred subject options.
St. Wolstan’s operates a mixed ability system of education. However, at the end of the first year
in May all first year students sit common examinations in Irish and Mathematics. Students are
allocated to place/places in higher or ordinary level classes (prior to the summer holidays in first
year). Parents who wish to appeal their daughter’s placement must notify the Head of
Department prior to the summer holidays.
JUNIOR CYCLE CORE SUBJECTS OPTION SUBJECTS
Irish/Gaeilge Home Economics
English Art, Craft and Design
Maths Business Studies
History Music
Geography Technology
French/Spanish
Science
Religious Education
Physical Education
C.S.P.E.
S.P.H.E.
Information Technology
(Maybe offered subject to availability & resources)
It is school policy that students may not drop subjects at Junior Certificate level except in
exceptional circumstances.
After Junior Certificate pupils may proceed into either:-
- Transition Year
- Traditional Leaving Certificate Programme
- Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme
THE TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMME RATIONALE AND MISSION
The aims of the Transition Year Programme offered in St. Wolstan’s Community School are:-
o To provide students with the opportunity to find the skills and supports necessary to
continue to develop their talents, aptitudes, abilities and strengths.
o To allow students to experience a year where the emphasis will be on individual
responsibility.
It is the objective of the Transition Year Programme to:
o Promote a mature attitude towards study by encouraging self-directed learning.
o Provide opportunity to develop skills related to the world of work.
o Encourage communication skills by providing opportunities for team work.
o Allow students to take time to explore their awareness of issues and concerns in the
world at large.
June 2015 Page 7ADMISSION POLICY TO THE TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMME
The Transition Year Programme in St. Wolstan’s Community School is open to all students that
have completed 3rd Year Junior Certificate State Examinations.
A completed application form must be submitted by a specific date to the Transition Year
Co-ordinator. Applicants who have not previously been a student at St. Wolstan’s Community
School may be considered for Transition year upon admission to St. Wolstan’s Community
School subject to a place/places being available.
Students will be admitted to the programme subject to resources. The Board of Management has
decided to limit the intake of students to Transition Year. It would be irresponsible of the Board
to admit an excessive number of students as to do so could involve a decline in educational
standards and an erosion of the ethos of the Transition Year Programme. In the 2016-2017
school year, St. Wolstan’s Community School has accommodation for an enrolment of 110
students on the Transition Year Programme.
Where the number of applicants exceeds the number of places a waiting list will be established.
A place on the waiting list does not in any guarantee a place in the Transition Year Programme.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Students must complete an application for entry to the programme.
Recommendations will be made by 3rd Year Teachers and 3rd Year Year-Head to the
Transition Year Co-ordinator, Deputy Principal and Principal.
Students will be accepted on the general consensus of above parties.
Any student who does not meet the necessary criteria will not be offered a place on
the programme.
The following criteria will ascertain suitability:-
Discipline record
Work record
Suitability of applicant to the programme
Suitability of the programme for individual applicants.
Students indicate willingness to pay Transition Year fee.
Student is willing to accept place for full school year.
Student is willing to sign contract
A student who fails to secure a place on the programme may appeal the decision in writing to the
Principal within fourteen days herein specifying the paragraph page of reference of the
Admissions Policy under which they are making their appeal.
June 2015 Page 8SENIOR CYCLE PROGRAMME
At Leaving Certificate level all students study the Leaving Certificate core subjects plus three
subject options. Every effort will be made to accommodate student preferences, however, these
cannot be guaranteed.
Subjects in the optional lists are only available if there is sufficient demand and resources for
them.
Students wishing to do higher level subjects at Leaving Certificate level must have completed
higher level at Junior Certificate.
SENIOR CYCLE CORE SUBJECTS OPTION SUBJECT LEAVING
CERTIFICATE
- Irish - Accounting
- English - Art
- Maths - Biology
- French/Spanish - Business Studies
- Religious Education - Chemistry
- Physical Education - Geography
- Career Guidance - History
- ECDL - Home Economics Social & Scientific
- Music
- Technology
- LCVP
- Physics
It is school policy that students may not drop subjects at Leaving Certificate level except in
exceptional circumstances.
ENROLMENT
Enrolment is limited by the schools capacity and by requirements of the school curriculum and
organisation as prescribed from time to time by the Board of Management, and as determined by
Department of Education and Skills.
In assessing the application for admission, the school will take fully into account:-
1. The rights of students within the local community;
2. The rights of parents/guardians to enrol their children in the school of their choice;
3. The capacity of the school to provide adequately for the education of all its students;
4. The health, safety, welfare and security of the whole school community.
June 2015 Page 9CODE OF BEHAVIOUR
St. Wolstan’s Code of Behaviour is embedded in the values of the School Mission Statement.
Students are expected to behave in a positive manner so that each student takes responsibility for
promoting and contributing to a community of learning which aspires to excellence. A
worthwhile awards system is in place at the school to encourage leadership, respect and co-
operation and students respond well. St. Wolstan’s Community School seeks to promote a sense
of responsibility within an atmosphere of friendliness, care, honesty, justice and commitment to
each other.
Central to the operation of an effective caring school is a fair and efficient Code of Behaviour to
which students, parents/guardians, staff and management can subscribe, which encourages
mutual respect and co-operation and which has regard to the rights and responsibilities of all
concerned. The School Code of Behaviour accompanies this enrolment policy document.
Parents/Guardians and students are required to renew their acceptance of the School’s Code of
Behaviour in writing annually at the commencement of each school year. Parents/Guardians of
students and students themselves wishing to attend St. Wolstan’s Community School must read
and accept the schools Code of Behaviour.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE FOR STUDENTS OF ST. WOLSTAN’S COMMUNITY
SCHOOL
Parents/Guardians are strongly advised to check the student’s journal on a regular basis.
St. Wolstan’s Community School recognises that the majority of students are very well behaved
and understand the need for good order in classrooms and in the school. However, difficulties
may arise. In order to cope with these difficulties, clearly defined procedures and sanctions are
required. These procedures and sanctions are based on the table below
Disciplinary Report Sheet (DRS):
This is issued by the class teacher. The student brings it home to the parent(s) for signing. It
must be returned to the class teacher. It is filed away in school. Failure to return a DRS by the
required date will be viewed as a serious breach of discipline.
Detention: before/after school and at lunchtime.
Discipline Action Taken By
1 Talk with Tutor (Pastoral) Tutor
2 Talk with Tutor/detention refer to Y/H Tutor/Year head
3 Discussion with Student/Detention Yearhead
4 Discussion with Student/Detention
and or Report Card Yearhead
5 Discussion with Student/ Yearhead &
Detention and/or Report Card Deputy Principal
6 Discussion with Parents-detention Yearhead &
Deputy Principal
7 Suspension/Detention Yearhead &
Deputy Principal
8 Suspension Yearhead &
Deputy Principal
9 Refer to BoM Suspension Yearhead &Deputy
Principal/BoM
10 Refusal to BoM Expulsion Principal/BoM
Serious incident such as blatant defiance/health and safety issues can be dealt with at a level
deemed appropriate to the situation.
June 2015 Page 10GROSS MISCONDUCT:
Where a student is suspected or charged in having behaved in a seriously unacceptable
manner or there has been a serious incident, the normal progressive disciplining process
would not be appropriate. In this case the procedure is as follows:
1. Teacher seeks assistance from the Yearhead/Deputy Principal.
2. Deputy Principal/Year Head withdraws the pupil from the class.
3. Teacher puts his/her observation into writing.
4. Deputy Principal/Year Head undertakes a full investigation.
5.1 Student/Parents/Guardians should be made aware of the complaint in writing
5.2 Parents/Guardians is made aware of complaint in writing
6. Parents/Guardians/Students over the age of 18 are invited in writing to attend a formal
meeting at which the student will be given an opportunity to fully state her version of
events. Adequate notice should be given.
7. Deputy Principal /Year Head/Principal will carefully consider all the relevant facts and
recommend an appropriate course of action.
8. If a penalty/sanction is appropriate it may range from a verbal warning to a
recommendation in writing to the Board of Management for expulsion.
9. Parents/Guardians/Students over the age of 18 may appeal the penalty/sanction by
lodging an appeal in writing with the Secretary of the Board of Management within
fourteen days.
DISCIPLINARY SANCTION
DETENTION
Certain breaches of discipline are punishable by detention. Detention is an approved sanction in
the school. It will be used reasonably and will be appropriate to the offence, the age of the
student, inconvenience or danger from travelling home alone or at a later time.
Parents/Guardians/Students over the age of 18 will have due notice of detention. Detention
will be held at times specified by school management.
SUSPENSION
Suspension is a serious sanction and will be imposed by the Principal in cases where other efforts
to resolve a disciplinary situation have failed or where the nature of the incident dictates that a
student be temporarily suspended from the school. Before suspending a student the Principal
will inform the parents/guardians in writing of the reason for the suspension, the length of the
suspension and the requirements that must be met to gain re-instatement. The school will
require a student to give a written undertaking that she will behave appropriately if permitted to
return to the school from suspension. Parents/Guardians/Students over the age of 18 are fully
informed in writing of their right to appeal to the Board of Management against the suspension.
All suspensions will be reported to and recorded by the Board of Management.
In accordance with section 21 Education Welfare Act 2000, where a student is suspended for six
days or more, the Principal must report by notice in writing to an educational welfare officer.
EXCLUSION (Expulsion)
Exclusion (Expulsion) is the most severe sanction imposed by a school. It will only be imposed
for serious breaches of school discipline (gross misconduct) or for a consistent and progressive
failure to abide by the school Code of Behaviour and values. In accordance with the Deed of
Trust the Principal may for a cause, which he/she judges adequate, recommend the expulsion of
a student to the Board of Management. The parents/guardians/students over the age of 18 will
be informed in writing of the complaint. The case against the student will be put to the student
in the presence of her parents/guardians and they will be given an opportunity to respond.
Parents/guardians/students over the age of 18 will be provided with a fair opportunity to
challenge the evidence. The parents/guardians/students over the age of 18 are informed in
writing of the decision, the reasons for it and the right to appeal to the Board of Management by
a specified date.
June 2015 Page 11THE EQUAL STATUS ACT, 2000
Schools are now regulated by the Equal Status Act 2000, which aims to promote equality and
prohibit types of discrimination, harassment and related behaviour in connection with the
provision of services, property and other opportunities to which the public generally has access.
The School is an educational establishment and provider of services. The school has duties “In
these areas as set out in sections 4, 5 and 7 of the Equal Status Act, 2000”. A school may also be
involved in the disposal of goods or in the supply of services under section 5 or as an
“educational establishment” under section 7. There are nine heads of discrimination contained
in section 3(2) of the Act. They are: gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation,
religion, age (over 18 years), disability, race and traveller community.
DISCRIMATION
Discrimination occurs when, on any of the above discriminatory grounds, a person is treated less
favourably, was treated less favourable or would be treated less favourable than another person.
DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUNDS OF DISABILITY
For the purposes of this Act discrimination includes a refusal or failure by the provider of a
service to do all that is reasonable to accommodate the needs of a person with a disability by
providing special treatment or facilities. If without such special treatment of facilities it would
be impossible or unduly difficult for the person to avail himself or herself of the service. Thus, a
school is required “to do all that is reasonable to accommodate the needs of a person with a
disability by providing special treatment or facilities, if without such special treatment or
facilities it would be impossible or unduly difficult for the person to avail himself or herself of
a service section 4 (1) A refusal or failure to provide the special treatment or facilities to
which subsection (1) refers shall not be deemed reasonable unless such provision would give
rise to a cost, other than a nominal cost, to the provider of the service in question” Section 4
(2).
“Where a person has a disability, that in the circumstances could cause harm to the person or to
others, treating the person differently to the extent reasonably necessary to prevent such harm
does not constitute discrimination.
SEXUAL OR OTHER HARASSMENT
The Act prohibits sexual and other harassment. Sexual harassment takes place where a person:-
o Subjects another person (“the victim”) to an act of physical intimacy
o Requests sexual favours from the victim, or
o Subjects the victim to any act of conduct with sexual connotations, including spoken
words, gestures or the production, display or circulation of written words, pictures or
other materials
In order to constitute sexual harassment, the act request or conduct must be:
o Unwelcome to the victim and could reasonably be regarded as offensive, humiliating or
intimidating, OR
o The victim must be treated differently by reason of his or her rejection of a submission to
the act, request or conduct complained of, or it could reasonably be anticipated that the
victim would be so treated.
Harassment without sexual element, is also prohibited by the Act and takes place where a
person, subject the victim to any unwelcome act, request or conduct including spoken words,
gestures, or the production display or circulation or written words, pictures or other material,
which in respect of the victim is based on any discriminatory ground and which could be
reasonably be regarded as offensive humiliating or intimidating to him or her.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HARASSMENT OR SEXUAL HARASSMENT
June 2015 Page 12Section 11(2) provides that “A person (“the responsible person”) who is responsible for the
operation or any place that is an educational establishment or at which goods, services or
accommodation facilities are offered to the public shall not permit another person who has a
right to be present in or to avail himself of herself of any facilities, goods or services provided at
that place, to suffer sexual harassment or harassment at that place”.
The Board of Management carries a heavy responsibility in this sphere (viz section (42). The
Board expressly states in the School Plan and in the Guidelines for Staff in their dealings and
relationships with students that both harassment and sexual harassment are strictly prohibited by
the Board, that anti-harassment and anti-sexual harassment policies are drawn up and
implemented and that these policies are expressly communicated to all staff and students of the
school and are also incorporated in school letting agreements or other agreement to third parties
and in teacher contracts of employment.
St. Wolstan’s Community School’s Admissions Policy is drawn in conformity with:-
- Article 43 (Education) and 44 (Religion) of the Irish Constitution
- Education Act 1998 Section 15(2) & Section 29 (1)
- Education Welfare Act, 2000 Section 19, Section 23
- Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 Section 2
- Equal Status Act, 2000 Section 3 (2), Section 4, Section 7 (2) (3) (4)
- Deed of Trust for Community Schools (The Second Schedule, Articles of Management)
Par 2
- European Union Law, Council Directive 2000/43/EC 29th June 2000.
Parents/Guardians should also note the terms of the following:
Code of Practice for processing Complaints made by Parents/Guardians or Students
(who have reached the age of 18 years) against a Teacher in Community and
Comprehensive Schools (ACCS, ASTI, TUI and PACCS).
Code of Practice for Dealing with Complaints of Sexual Harassment of a Teacher by a
Student in Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS, ASTI, TUI and PACCS).
Copies of these Codes of Practice are available from the school website.
REVIEW
The Admission Policy will be reviewed annually.
This policy was reviewed by the Board of Management of St. Wolstan’s Community School on
23rd June 2016.
Signed:
_____________________________ ________________________
Chairperson Board of Management. Date
____________________________ ________________________
Witness Date
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