Admissions Policy 2023-2024

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Admission Policy of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush

School Address: Convent Lane, Rush, Co Dublin K56 A308

Roll Number: 60343T

School Patron: CEIST

Introduction

This Admission Policy complies with the requirements of the Education Act 1998, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and the Equal Status Act 2000. In drafting this policy, the Board of Management of St Joseph’s Secondary School has consulted with school staff, the school patron (CEIST) and with parents of children attending the school.

The policy was approved by St Joseph’s Secondary School patron on 10 May 2022. It is published on St Joseph’s Secondary School website, www.stjosephsrush.ie and will be made available in hardcopy, on request, to any person who requests it.

The relevant dates and timelines for St Joseph’s Secondary School admission process is set out in our Annual Admission Notice which is published annually on our website, www.stjosephsrush.ie at least one week before the commencement of the admission process for the school year concerned.

This policy must be read in conjunction with the Annual Admission Notice for the school year concerned.

The application form for admission is published on St Joseph’s Secondary School website, www.stjosephsrush.ie and will be made available in hardcopy on request to any person who requests it.

A decision on an application for admission will be based on the implementation of this Policy, the information set out in the Annual Admission Notice (see Appendix A) of St Joseph’s Secondary School and the information provided by the Applicant in the application for admission, once received before the closing date set out in the Annual Admission Notice.

Glossary of Terms

‘Applicant’ means the parent/guardian of a Student, or, in the case of a Student who has reached the age of 18 years, the Student, who has made an application for admission to St Joseph’s Secondary School.

‘Student’ means the person in respect of whom the application is being made. All uses of the word throughout this Policy therefore imply ‘prospective’ as part of the interpretation. That is, the use of the word ‘Student’ does not mean that the application for him/her has been accepted such that s/he is regarded as a Student of St Joseph’s Secondary School by virtue of application alone.

‘Sex’ refers to the designation of a person, on that person’s birth certificate, or gender recognition certificate, as male or female based on their anatomy (genitalia and/or reproductive organs) or biology (chromosomes and/or hormones). This does not prejudice any Student who is Intersex or identifies as Androgynous/Androgyne,

Bigender, Demigender, Gender Fluid, Genderqueer, Multigender, Neutrois, Non-binary, Transgender, Transsexual or otherwise.

‘Catchment Area’ refers to the designated residential area for application to St Joseph’s Secondary School in respect of the person on whose behalf the application is being made. The catchment area for St Joseph’s is shown in Criteria 1 of the selection criteria.

‘Parent’ has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1998 and includes a guardian appointed under the Guardianship of Children Acts, 1964 to 1997.

‘Feeder Primary School’ refers to the primary schools of preference for application to St Joseph’s. The feeder primary schools for St Joseph’s are listed in Criteria 2 of the selection criteria.

‘First-Year’ means the intake group of Students for the most junior class or year in a school.

2. Characteristic Spirit and General Objectives of the School

St Joseph’s Secondary School is a Catholic co-educational voluntary secondary school with a Catholic ethos under the trusteeship of CEIST (Catholic Education an Irish Schools’ Trust).

In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management of St Joseph’s Secondary School shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.

“Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic voluntary secondary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church which aims to promote:

(a) the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person, including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and

(b) a living relationship with God and with other people; and

(c) a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and

(d) the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.

Catholic education is therefore a lifelong process of human growth and development which has been at the heart of the Church’s mission since Jesus Christ urged his disciples to ‘go teach all nations’. The person of Christ is the core of Catholic education.

St Joseph’s Secondary School draws on the richness of the religious and cultural heritage of the past, interpreted and lived out for students living in today’s world. The charism of founder Catherine McAuley of the Religious Order Sisters of Mercy who began this school is of very significant importance in the life of the school.

As a CEIST school, St Joseph’s values teaching as one of the most important of all human activities. Our school seeks to build a quality learning community that welcomes, and bears witness to the Gospel values of Jesus Christ, expressed through the lens of the CEIST Charter. These are encapsulated in the core values which are intended to support and nourish the lives of the people who are at the heart of our schools.

- Promoting Spiritual and Human Development

- Achieving Quality in Teaching and Learning

- Showing Respect for Every Person

- Creating Community

- Being Just and Responsible

St Joseph’s Secondary School is inspired by the words of Jesus Christ to his disciples, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10). Because of this, St Joseph’s Secondary School provides a rich, holistic education in the Catholic tradition where engagement with and development of the whole person; the intellectual, moral, religious, physical, spiritual and psychological are at the core of our practice.

Education has as its goal the formation of a human person who is free, rational and mature in relationships. St Joseph’s Secondary School offers educational opportunities which promote excellence so that students can respond responsibly and creatively to their own lives, the lives of others and to the earth, which is our common home.

In St Joseph’s Secondary School, the dignity and uniqueness of every human being as a child of God is acknowledged and affirmed. The Catholic school is an inclusive community, ideally built on love and formed by the interaction and collaboration of its various components: students, parents, teachers, non-teaching staff and members of the Board of Management. Catholic schools are also outward looking. They are connected to their local parish and Diocese and other local organisations which enrich the life of the school. Our school draws on the rich resources of the local community and, in turn, contributes to the life of the local community.

As a Catholic school, Religious Education is central to our curriculum. Alongside Religious Education, the school supports the formation in faith of our students through many school-based experiences of prayer and ritual. All students’ spiritual growth is further enhanced through such areas as sport, language, nature, art, poetry and music.

St Joseph’s Secondary School aims to provide a secure and caring environment that promotes effort, achievement and the enjoyment of learning, where students develop self-esteem, responsibility and self-management skills in an atmosphere of respect and mutual support, inspired by our Catholic tradition.

This Admission Policy should be read in conjunction with the school:

• Mission Statement
• Child Safeguarding Statement
• Code of Behaviour
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Internet Acceptable Use Policy and Agreement
• Mobile Devices, Use of Headphones and other Technological Devices Policy
• iPad Acceptable Use Policy
• Uniform Policy
• School Trips Policy
• Suspension Policy
• Expulsion Policy

All other relevant school policies are available on St Joseph’s Secondary School website, www.stjosephsrush.ie.

Aims

The school operates within the regulations laid down by the Department of Education and Skills and follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education and Skills, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance with Sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act 1998.

The Board of Management is committed to the successful implementation of this legislation and fully subscribes to the principles of partnership, accountability, transparency, inclusion, respect for diversity, parental choice and equality.

Rationale

Enrolment is limited by the capacity of the school and by the 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 regulations and standards.

The Board of Management shall decide on the maximum number of places to be offered for enrolment each academic year, mindful of the need to ensure overall student numbers do not exceed levels appropriate to the capacity of St Joseph’s Secondary School building and safety considerations arising from its design. In determining its activities and programmes for any school year, St Joseph’s must have due regard to the teaching, management and administrative resources and the accommodation, equipment and funding available to it.

Contact Details

St Joseph’s Secondary School

Convent Lane,

Rush,

Co Dublin K56 A308

Website: www.stjosephsrush.ie

Telephone Number: 01-8437534

School Profile

The school opened in 1961 and serves the community of Rush and its immediate hinterland. St Joseph’s provides a full range of educational programmes, gives students a wide range of subject options, and offers a broad range of extra-curricular activities.

Mission Statement

We aim to provide a secure and caring environment that promotes effort, achievement and the enjoyment of learning, where students develop self-esteem, responsibility and self-management skills in an atmosphere of respect and mutual support, inspired by our Catholic tradition.

3. 3. Admission Statement

St Joseph’s will not discriminate in its admission of a Student to the school on any of the following grounds:

• the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
• the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
• the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
• the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
• the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
• the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
• the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
• the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or,
• the ground that the student of the applicant in respect of the student concerned has special educational needs
• As per Section 61 (3) of the Education Act 1998, ‘civil status ground’, ‘disability ground’, ‘discriminate’, ‘family status ground’, ‘gender group’, ‘ground of race’, ‘religion ground’, ‘sexual orientation ground’, and ‘Traveller community ground’ shall be construed in accordance with Section 3 of the Equal Status Act 2000.

St Joseph’s Secondary School will cooperate with the NCSE in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 in relation to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council.

St Joseph’s Secondary School will comply with any direction served on the board or the patron under section 37A and 67(4)(b)

St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate where it admits a student who is Roman Catholic in preference to others or where it refuses to admit as a student, a person who is not Roman Catholic and it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.

4. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the school

St Joseph’s currently does not have a special class but welcomes children with Additional Educational Needs.

5. Admission of Students

St Joseph’s Secondary School shall admit each student seeking admission except where-

• the school is oversubscribed (please see Section 5 below for further details)
• a parent of a student, when required by the Principal in accordance with Section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the Code of Behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student

Criteria for Enrolment/Admission

1 – Catchment Area K56, K34 and K45

● Permanent residency in the Parish of Rush K56, K34 or ● Permanent residency in the Parish of Lusk K45 Proof of permanent residency within the Parishes of Rush/Lusk is required to support application K56, K34 and K45

2– Designated Feeder School

The following Primary Schools have been established by the Board of Management as Designated Feeder Schools to St Joseph’s Secondary School: ● Corduff National School, Lusk, County Dublin ● Gaelscoil Ros Éo, Rush, County Dublin ● Lusk National School, Lusk, Co Dublin ● Rush & Lusk Educate Together National School, Lusk, Co Dublin ● Rush National School, Rush, Co Dublin ● St Brendan’s National School, Loughshinny, Co Dublin ● St Catherine’s National School, Rush, Co Dublin ● Holmpatrick National School, Skerries, Co Dublin

3 – Sibling

● Sibling of student currently enrolled in St Joseph’s Secondary School or ● Sibling of student enrolled in St Joseph’s Secondary School in the previous six years

4 – Other

All other applicants who do not meet any of the above criteria

In the interests of attracting and retaining a high calibre of staff in St Joseph’s Secondary School, the children of staff members will automatically receive a place in St Joseph’s. This also applies to the children of staff of our local feeder school.

Allocation of Places in St Joseph’s Rush as per Criteria for Enrolment/Admission – Points System

There are four criteria for enrolment/admission into St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush, as detailed above.

Each criteria attracts a predetermined number of points, as outlined in the table below:

	Criteria	Requirement	Points
1	Catchment Area	Permanent Resident in Parish of Rush K56, K34 or Permanent Resident in Parish of Lusk K45	25 Points or 15 Points
2	Primary School	Designated Feeder School	15 Points
3	Sibling	Current or Past	10 Points or 5 Points
4	Other		5 Points

The criteria under which you qualify, based on your Application Form, will be added together to give you your total points (the maximum total points is 50).

Places will be allocated from the highest to the lowest number of points, until all places have been filled, in the following order:

Category A – a student living permanently in the Parish of Rush, K56 and K34 from a Designated Feeder School and who has a sibling currently in St Joseph’s Secondary School (50 points)

Category B – a student living permanently in the Parish of Rush, K56 and K34 from a Designated Feeder School and who had a sibling in St Joseph’s Secondary School within the previous six years (45 points)

Category C – a student living permanently in the Parish of Lusk, K45 from a Designated Feeder School and who has a sibling currently in St Joseph’s Secondary School (40 points)

Category D – a student living permanently in the Parish of Rush, K56 and K34 and is from a Designated Feeder School (40 points)

Category E – a student living permanently in the Parish of Lusk, K45 from a Designated Feeder School and who had a sibling in St Joseph’s Secondary School within the previous six years (35 points)

Category F – a student living permanently in the Parish of Rush, K56 and K34 and who has a sibling currently in St Joseph’s Secondary School (35 points)

Category G – a student living permanently in the Parish of Lusk K45 and is from a Designated Feeder School (30 points)

Category H – a student living permanently in the Parish of Rush, K56 and K34 and who had a sibling in St Joseph’s Secondary School within the previous six years (30 points)

Category I – a student living permanently in the Parish of Lusk, K45 and who has a sibling currently in St Joseph’s Secondary School (25 points)

Category J – a student from a Designated Feeder School and who has a sibling currently in St Joseph’s Secondary School (25 points)

Category K – a student living permanently in the Parish of Rush, K56 and K34 (25 points)

Category L – a student living permanently in the Parish of Lusk K45 and who had a sibling in St Joseph’s Secondary School within the previous six years (20 points)

Category M –a student from a Designated Feeder School and who had a sibling in St Joseph’s Secondary School within the previous six years (20 points)

Category N – a student living permanently in the Parish of Lusk K45 (15 points)

Category O – a student from a Designated Feeder School (15 points)

Category P – a student who has a sibling currently in St Joseph’s Secondary School (10 points)

Category Q – a student who had a sibling in St Joseph’s Secondary School within the previous six years (5 points)

Category R – other (5 points)

Application Process

The Annual Admission Notice 2023-2024 and Application Form for Admission to St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush for the year 2023-2024 will be posted on the school’s website, and will be available to download on the 26th September 2022 at www.stjosephsrush.ie

It is also available on request by emailing office@stjosephsrush.com or writing to St Joseph’s Secondary School, Convent Lane, Rush, Co Dublin K56 A308.

The Annual Admission Notice must be read in conjunction with this Admission Policy for key dates relevant to your application for admission to St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush.

Places in 1^st year 2023-2024 have been restricted by the Board of Management at 144 as the combined total numbers in the school, the permanent building, temporary accommodation and current facilities can only cater for this amount. See the Criteria outlined above.

The following are required when applying for a place in 1^st year at St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush.

4.1 Completed application forms must include the following:

1. All sections that require a signature must be signed.
2. A copy of the applicant’s original birth certificate must be submitted with the completed application form.
3. Proof of evidence of normal place of residence must be submitted with the completed application form e.g. utility bill, Bank Statement. Please note whatever is submitted as proof of evidence must include the Eircode linked to the address.

A copy of the St Joseph’s Secondary School Code of Behaviour is available to download at www.stjosephsrush.ie or by request to the school office.

4.2 All applications received after the closing date (See Admissions Notice) are placed on a waiting list

4.3 The later applications will be processed under the first year application procedures. The school records the date and time each application is received.

4.4 Proof of delivery of applications to the school office is the responsibility of parents/guardians.

4.5 Completion of an application form does not constitute an offer of a place in the school

4.6 Applicants must have reached twelve years of age on January 1 in the calendar year following the applicant’s entry into first year.

4.7 Students/Parents/Guardians must confirm in writing that s/he accepts the Code of Behaviour of St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush and s/he will make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student.

4.8 Students of Irish residency must have completed sixth class in primary school in the academic year prior to entry.

4.9 Students from other countries must have reached a comparable standard of education. Parents may be required to submit documentation/reports to support the application.

6. Oversubscription

In the event that St Joseph’s Secondary School is oversubscribed, the school will, when deciding on applications for admission, apply the following selection criteria in the order listed below to those applications that are received within the timeline for receipt of applications as set out in the Annual Admission Notice of St Joseph’s Secondary School.

Should the number of applicants with the maximum total points (50) exceed the number of places (144), these applicants will be entered into a lottery. The lottery will take place in St Joseph’s Secondary School under the supervision of an independent observer.

In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above (the number of applicants exceeds the number of remaining places), the following arrangements will apply:

The tied applicants will be entered into a second lottery. This lottery will serve to allocate the available places based on order of selection. Once the available places are filled, the remaining applicants will be drawn and placed on the waiting list in order of selection.

7. What will not be considered or taken into account

In accordance with Section 62(7)(e) of the Education Act 1998, St Joseph’s Secondary School will not consider or take into account any of the following in deciding on applications for admission or when placing a student on a waiting list for admission to the school:

• Student’s prior attendance at a pre-school or pre-school service including naíonraí;
• the payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the school
• a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude;
• the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;
• a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission;
• a student’s connection to the school by virtue of a member of his or her family attending or having previously attended the school, other than in the case of siblings of a student attending or having attended the school;
• the date and time on which an application for admission was received by the school;

This is subject to the application being received at any time during the period specified for receiving applications set out in the Annual Admission Notice of St Joseph’s Secondary School for the school year concerned. This is also subject to the school making offers based on existing waiting lists until 31^st January 2025 only.

8. Decisions on applications

All decisions on applications for admission to St Joseph’s Secondary School will be based on the following:

• Our school’s Admission Policy
• The school’s Annual Admission Notice
• The information provided by the applicant in the school’s official application form received during the period specified in our Annual Admission Notice for receiving applications.

Please see Section 14 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and Section 15 below in relation to applications for places in years other than the intake group.

Selection criteria that are not included in our school’s Admission Policy will not be used to make a decision on an application for a place in our school.

9. Notifying applicants of decisions

Applicants will be informed in writing as to the decision of the school within the timeline outlined in the Annual Admissions Notice. If the applicant in respect of whom, the application is made is offered a place, the applicant will be issued with an acceptance form by St Joseph’s Secondary School.

The applicant shall indicate acceptance of an offer by fully completing and returning the acceptance form by the date set out in the Annual Admissions Notice or within 3 weeks of issuing by the school if it is a late application or if it is a second/third round offer. This includes indicating whether or not s/he has applied for and is awaiting confirmation of an offer from another school.

If a student is not offered a place in St Joseph’s Secondary School, the reasons why they were not offered a place will be communicated in writing to the applicant, including, where applicable, details of the student’s ranking against the selection criteria and details of the student’s place on the waiting list for the school year concerned.

Applicants will be informed of the right to seek a review/right of appeal of the school’s decision (See Section 18 below for further details).

10. Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant

In accepting an offer of admission from St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush, you must indicate -

• whether or not you have accepted an offer of admission from another school or schools. If you have accepted such an offer, you must also provide details of the offer or offers concerned; and
• whether or not you have applied for and are awaiting confirmation of an offer of admission from another school or schools, and if so, you must provide details of the other school or schools concerned.

Applicants should be aware that failure to disclose this information on the acceptance of a place may lead to an offer being withdrawn by the school

11. Circumstances in which offers may not be made or may be withdrawn

The board of management has a duty of care to ensure as far as practicable the health and safety of the students and staff of the school. In addition, the board of management is required under section 15(1) of the Education Act 1998 to provide, or cause to be provided, an appropriate education for each student at the school for which that board has responsibility.

An application for admission may be refused, therefore, where the admission of the applicant would pose a significant risk to the health and safety of the applicant or students and staff of the school, or risk significantly interfering with the right of other students to an appropriate education.

An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush where:

• the information contained in the application is false or misleading in a material aspect;
• the applicant fails to confirm in writing acceptance of an offer of admission on or before the dates set out in the Annual Admission Notice of St Joseph’s Secondary School;
• the parent/guardian of a student, when required by the Principal in accordance with Section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the Code of Behaviour of St Joseph’s Secondary School is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student;
• when accepting an offer of admission, the applicant has not provided details of whether or not s/he has applied for and is awaiting confirmation of an offer of admission from another school(s) comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out in Section 9 above.

Where a student in respect of whom an application is being sought has not been offered a school place, the applicant will be provided in writing with:

• the reason(s) that the student was not offered a place in St Joseph’s Secondary School;
• details of the student’s ranking against the published selection criteria; and
• details of the students place on the waiting list, if applicable;
• details of the applicants right to appeal the decision.

12. Sharing of Data with other schools

Applicants should be aware that section 66(6) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 allows for the sharing of data between schools in order to facilitate the efficient admission of students. Section 66(6) allows a school to provide a patron or another board of management with a list of the students in relation to whom—

(i) an application for admission to the school has been received;

(ii) an offer of admission to the school has been made; or

(iii) an offer of admission to the school has been accepted.

The list may include any or all of the following:

(i) the date on which an application for admission was received by the school;

(ii) the date on which an offer of admission was made by the school;

(iii) the date on which an offer of admission was accepted by an applicant;

(iv) a student’s personal details including his or her name, address, date of birth and personal public service number (within the meaning of section 262 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005).

13. 13. Waiting List in the event of oversubscription

In the event of there being more applications to the school year concerned than places available, a waiting list of students whose applications for admission to St Joseph’s Secondary School were unsuccessful due to the school being oversubscribed will be compiled and will remain valid for the school year in which admission is being sought.

Placement on the waiting list of St Joseph’s Secondary School is in the order of priority assigned to the student’s applications after the school has applied the selection criteria in accordance with this Admission Policy.

Offers of any subsequent places that become available for and during the school year in relation to which admission is being sought will be made to those students on the waiting list, in accordance with the order of priority in relation to which the students have been placed on the list.

14. Late Applications

All applications for admission received after the closing date as outlined in the annual admission notice will be considered and decided upon in accordance with our school’s admissions policy, the Education Admissions to School Act 2018 and any regulations made under that Act.

Late applicants will be notified of the decision in respect of their application not later than three weeks after the date on which the school received the application. Late applicants will be offered a place if there is a place available. In the event that there is no place available, the name of the applicant will be added to the waiting list.

15. Procedures for admission of students to other years and during the school year

The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school to classes or years other than the school’s intake group are as follows:

This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –

• the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 for further details)
• a parent of a student, when required by the Principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student.

The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school, after the commencement of the school year in which admission is sought, are as follows:

• the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 for further details)
• a parent of a student, when required by the Principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student.

The Board of Management has a duty of care to ensure as far as practicable the health and safety of the students and staff of the school. In addition, the Board of Management is required under section 15(1) of the Education Act 1998 to provide, or cause to be provided, an appropriate education for each student at the school for which that board has responsibility.

An application for admission may be refused, therefore, where the admission of the applicant would pose a significant risk to the health and safety of the applicant or students and staff of the school, or risk significantly interfering with the right of other students to an appropriate education.

Transfer Application Forms(Application for Entry Year) will be available from the school office of St Joseph’s Secondary School. Transfer Application Forms for the school year 2023-2024 will be posted on the school’s website, www.stjosephsrush.ie and available for download. They will also be made available either by emailing office@stjosephsrush.com or writing to St Joseph’s Secondary School, Convent Lane, Rush, Co Dublin K56 A308.

In order to ensure that the educational interests of incoming students are met the BoM may instruct the Principal to request specific information and supporting documentation as detailed below. Only fully completed applications will be processed.

Documents Required

• completed Application Form
• copy of original birth certificate

Students who wish to transfer to St Joseph’s Secondary School for a place in Transition Year or Leaving Certificate Applied must also read the Transition Year/Leaving Certificate Applied Policy, complete and submit the Transition Year/Leaving Certificate Applied Application Form with the Transfer Application form to the school office. In the first instance places on these programmes will be offered to students already enrolled in St Joseph’s.

Appendix 1: Transition Year Policy and Application Form

Appendix 2: Leaving Certificate Applied and Application Form

Both of these are to be read in conjunction with this Admission Policy and Annual Admissions Notice.

16. Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees

St Joseph’s Secondary School/Board of Management or any person’s acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions as a condition of

• an application for admission of a student to the school, or
• the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.

17. Arrangements regarding students not attending Religious Instruction

The following are St Joseph’s Secondary School’s arrangements for students, where the parents/guardians or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, who has requested that the student attend the school without attending religious instruction in the school. These arrangements will not result in a reduction in the school day of such students.

In this instance a meeting will be arranged with the principal.

18. Reviews/Appeals

Review of decisions by the Board of Management

The parent/guardian of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may request the Board to review a decision to refuse admission. Such requests must be made in accordance with Section 29C of the Education Act 1998.

The timeline within which such a review must be requested and the other requirements applicable to such reviews are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister for Education and Skills under Section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.

The Board will conduct such reviews in accordance with the requirements of the procedures determined under Section 29B and with Section 29C of the Education Act 1998.

Note: Where an applicant has been refused admission due to St Joseph’s Secondary School being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the Board of Management prior to making an appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998.

Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the Board of Management prior to making an appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998.

19. Right of Appeal

Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent/guardian of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of St Joseph’s Secondary School to refuse admission.

An appeal may be made under Section 29(1)( c)(i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to St Joseph’s Secondary School being oversubscribed.

An appeal may be made under Section 29(1)( c)(ii) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed.

Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review within 10 days of receipt of the notification of the decision by the Board of Management prior to making an appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (See 17. Review of Decisions by the Board of Management)

Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the Board of Management prior to making an appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (See 17. Review of Decisions by the Board of Management)

Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 will be considered and determined by an independent appeals committee appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills.

The timeline within which such an appeal must be made and the other requirements applicable to such appeals are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister for Education and Skills under Section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.

Appendix 1 – Transition Year Policy and Application Form

Transition Year Policy and Application Form

Introduction

St Joseph’s Secondary School Transition Year Programme is an optional one-year programme and it is designed to help bridge the gap between the Junior and Senior Cycle programmes. The school strives to achieve the mission of Transition Year which is “To promote the personal, social, educational and vocational development of the students and to prepare them for their role as autonomous, participative and responsible members of society.”

For acceptance on to the Transition Year Programme, the school must be of the opinion that a student is capable of benefiting from participation in Transition Year and, equally, that his/her participation will not prevent any other student(s) from benefiting from participation. Any decision in this regard will be taken by the Senior Management team in consultation with the Student Support Team (SST).

Application Procedure:

• A ‘Parents’ Information Night’ is held each year to inform parents/guardians and students about the senior cycle programmes offered in St Joseph’s.
• Following the information night, 3rd year students must complete an Application Form (see Appendix 1) clearly indicating and explaining their Senior Cycle programme choice. The Application form for Transition Year will be available from the school office.
• Transition Year in St Joseph’s is an optional programme however, some students who are still 14 years old on the 31st August of the year they sit their Junior Certificate may be advised to consider Transition Year and not go straight to 5th Year Leaving Certificate Traditional.
• Once completed, the applications will be considered by the Senior Management team and SST.
• The behaviour, punctuality, attendance record and the ability of a student to commit to St Joseph’s Transition Year Programme will be taken into account before a student is offered a place on the TY programme.

Offer and acceptance of places:

The number of Transition Year classes will be broadly decided by the number of applicants for the course. However, the maximum number of available places will be dependent on staffing, facilities and resources and will be determined annually by the Board of Management.

External Applicants:

Any applicant wishing to transfer into the Transition Year Programme who is not presently a student in the school will be considered under the terms of the school’s Admission Policy.

Programme Costs:

The programme costs are set annually by the Board of Management.

This Policy was ratified by the Board of Management on _________2020

Signed _______________________________

Chairperson Board of Management

St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush

Application for Transition Year Programme

Name _________________________________ Class __________

Please complete the following self-reflection on aspects of your progress to date:

School record to date	Very Good	Good	Fair	Needs Improvement
Attendance
Punctuality
Homework/Assignments
Involvement in school life
Ability to followinstructions
Ability to take correction
Positive contribution to my form class

Please outline your reasons for applying for a place on St Joseph’s Transition Year Programme:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

What do you hope to achieve personally as a result of doing Transition Year:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Please explain how you will contribute positively to the Transition Year programme:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Please outline why you should be offered a place on the Transition Year programme in St Joseph’s:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Activity Explanation of role

Please list (with a brief explanation), your achievements/involvement in extracurricular activities in school eg: sports team; choir; debating; charity work...

Please list (with a brief explanation), your achievements/involvement in activities outside of school e.g.: sports team; drama; youth clubs

Student Signature ________________________________Date __________

Parent(s)/ Guardian(s) Signature_________________________Date________

The closing date for applications for the TY Programme is

________________________

Appendix 2: Leaving Certificate Applied Policy and Application Form

Admission Policy

Leaving Certificate Applied Programme

St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush

Introduction: St Joseph’s offers the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme (LCA)) as a two-year programme after the Junior Certificate or Transition Year.

For acceptance onto the LCA Programme, the school must be of the opinion that a student is capable of benefiting from participating in LCA and equally, that his/her participation will not prevent or interfere with any other student(s) benefiting from participating.

Aims: The aims of the LCA Programme reflect those specific to the guidelines published by the Department of Education and Skills:

• Education that recognises the talents of all students and helps them apply what they learn in the real world.
• Education that provides opportunities for development in terms of responsibility, self-esteem and self-knowledge.

Curriculum Framework: St Joseph’s follows the LCA Curriculum Framework and Module Descriptors as specified by the Department of Education and Skills.

Application Procedure:

• A ‘Parents Information Night’ is held each year to inform parents/guardians and students about the Senior Cycle programmes offered in St Joseph’s
• Following the information night, Transition Year students must complete application form (see Appendix 1) clearly indicating and explaining their Senior Cycle programme choice. 3^rd year students are expected to complete Transition Year before applying for LCA and applications from 3^rd year students will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
• Hardcopies of the application form are available on request from the school office.
• Senior Management in consultation with the Student Support Team (SST) may recommend the LCA Programme to a student and his/her parents/guardians where it considers LCA to be in the most suitable programme for that student.

• Any application received subsequent to the stated deadline each year will be considered only after applications which were submitted on time have been processed.
• Once completed, the applications will be considered by the Senior Management team and SST.
• Only where the LCA programme has been recommended to a student prior to September of Year 1 and he/she does not apply and or accept a place on the programme, he/she may be allowed to transfer into LCA if it is deemed to be educationally the best option for that student. Any decision with regard to this will be taken by the senior Management in consultation with the SST.

Offer and acceptance of places:

When the above is completed, a final list of successful applicants will be put together. The behaviour, punctuality, attendance record and the ability of a student to commit to St Joseph’s LCA Programme will be taken into account when determining this final list and offer of places.

Senior Management in consultation with the SST team must be of the opinion that the programme is of educational benefit to the student and that a student is capable of benefiting from participation in the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme and equally that his/her participation will not prevent any other student(s) from benefiting from participation. Any decision in this regard will be taken by Senior Management in consultation with the SST.

Students who have applied for and accepted a place in TY or the 5^th year traditional Leaving Certificate Programme will not be able to transfer into the LCA Programme after the first week in October once the LCA Programme has commenced. Transfer will be considered for students who were advised to apply for the programme.

Leaving Certificate Applied Programme class numbers are set annually by the Board of Management each year.

External Applicants:

Any applicant wishing to transfer into the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme who is not presently a student in the school will be considered under the terms of the school’s Admission Policy.

This Policy was ratified by the Board of Management on __________2020

Signed _______________________________________________

Chairperson Board of Management

St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush

Application for Leaving Certificate Applied Programme

I wish to apply for a place on the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme.

Name ______________________________ Class_____________

Please complete your personal statement below

1. Why I am applying for the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme:

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

2. How I would benefit from doing the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme:

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3. As a member of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme, I think I could make a positive contribution in the following way: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Please complete the following self-reflection on aspects of your progress to date

School record to date	Very Good	Good	Fair	Needs Improvement
Attendance
Punctuality
Ability to follow instructions
Ability to take correction
Completion of Homework

I understand that I will be required to complete 90% attendance for each subject in the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme and failure to do so will affect the number of credits awarded to me.

I understand that Work Experience is an integral part of the programme and that I must organise and complete this one day a week module over the two years as part of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme

Student Signature ____________________________________ Date _____________

Parent/Guardian Signature ________________________________ Date ___________

The closing date for applications for the LCA Programme is ________________________