| Admissions Policy for 2008/9
Saint Monica’s Catholic Primary School was founded by the
Catholic Church to provide education for the children of
Catholic families. 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.
First consideration will be given to children from practising
Catholic families who are resident in the St. Monica’s parish.
Whenever there are more applications than places available,
priority will then be given to applicants in accordance with the
over subscription criteria listed below.
As a Catholic school, we aim to provide a Catholic
education for all our pupils. At a Catholic school, Catholic
doctrine and practice permeates every aspect of the school’s
activity. It is essential that the Catholic character of the school’s
education is fully supported by all families in the school. All
applicants are therefore expected to give their full, unreserved
and positive support for the aims and ethos of the school.
The Governing Body has sole responsibility for admissions
to this school and intends to admit 30 pupils to the Reception
Class in the school year, which begins in September 2008.
Applicants should be aware that nursery education is a
non-statutory service and that accordingly a child’s attendance
in the school’s nursery does not guarantee a future place in the
reception, infant and junior classes. An application for a place
must be completed.
Over-subscription criteria
Where there are more applications than places available, places
will be offered according to the following order of priority:
1 Catholic looked after children.
2 Baptised children from practising Catholic families resident
in the parish of St. Monica’s.
3 Baptised children from practising Catholic families resident
in a neighbouring parish to that of St. Monica’s.
4 Other baptised Catholic children.
5 Other looked after children.
6 Catechumens and members of an Eastern Christian Church.
7 Any other applicant.
In prioritising applications within the over-subscription criteria:
• the attendance of a brother or sister at the school at the time
of enrolment will increase the priority of an applicant within
each category
• the Governing Body may increase the priority of an
application within a category where evidence is provided at
the time of application of an exceptional social, medical or
pastoral need of the child, which can be met at this school.
Tie break
Where the offer of places to all applicants in any sub-categories
listed above would lead to over subscription, the places up to
the admission number will be offered to those living nearest to
the school. This is the shortest distance from the main door of
St. Monica’s RC Primary School to the parent’s/carer’s residential
address when measured in a straight line on a map.
Application procedure & timetable
Applications must be submitted by 1 February 2008 in
accordance with The Learning Trust’s timetable.
Parents must also to fill in The Supplementary
Information Form available from the School Office and return
it directly to the school. Applicants are requested to note that
all sections of the application form must be filled in before it is
considered by the Governing Body.
All applications must be accompanied by:
a Birth certificate
b Baptismal certificate where appropriate
c Completed priest reference form
d Proof of residence at the address given on the application form.
The Governing Body will set up an Admissions Committee
to consider applications for places at the school. Parents will
be sent a letter advising them of the outcome of their application
on 1st May 2008.
Unsuccessful applicants will be given reasons related to the
over-subscription criteria listed above and advised of their right
of appeal to an independent appeal panel.
Waiting list
In addition to their right of appeal, unsuccessful candidates
will be offered the opportunity to be placed on the waiting list.
This waiting list will be maintained in order of the over
subscription criteria set out above and not in the order in which
applications are received or added to the list.
Names are normally removed from the list after six months
unless parents/carers submit a written request asking for their
application to remain on the waiting list.
Pupils with Statements of Special Educational Needs
The admission of pupils with Statements of Special
Educational Needs is dealt with by completely separate
procedures. The procedure is integral to making and
maintaining statements by the pupil’s home local education
authority. Details of this separate procedure are set out in the
Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.
‘Looked after children’ means children in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation by them e.g children living with foster parents
(see section 22 of the Children’s Act 1989).
‘Catholic’ means a baptised person who is in full communion with the Catholic Church ie a member of any Catholic Church that is in full communion with the See
of Rome. It can also be gained by other baptised Christians who are subsequently
received into the Catholic Church. It will normally be evidenced by a certificate of
baptism in a Catholic Church or a certificate of reception into the full communion
of the Catholic Church.
‘Practising Catholic families’ means families who regularly attend Sunday Mass (this includes attendance at Saturday evening mass). The Governing Body will
expect this practice to be verified by reference from a priest in the standard
format laid down by diocese.
‘Catechumen’ means member of the catechumenate of a Catholic Church.
This will normally be evidenced by a certificate of reception into the order of
the catechumens.
‘Eastern Christian Church’ includes orthodox churches, and is normally
evidenced by a certificate of baptism or reception from the authorities
of that church.
To demonstrate an exceptional social, medical or pastoral need of the child
which can most appropriately be met at this school, the governing body will
normally require written evidence from an appropriate professional such as
a social worker, doctor or priest.
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0208 820 7000