Admission Policy

 St. Paul’s College welcomes all boys for whom the school can provide an appropriate education.  The school aims to provide an integrated and an inclusive education.
Admission to the College is a function of the Board of Management.
Each year the Board of Management may have to decide in advance the number of first year students for whom the school can provide an appropriate education, having regard to the facilities, its duty of care to the students and the College staff.

ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS FOR ADMISSION:

Students are considered when they:

 will have reached the required age of 12 on the 1st January in the calendar year following the child’s entry into First Year;

 have completed sixth class in Primary School;

 are willing to accept the College Ethos;

 are willing, with Parents/Guardians to accept College Code of Behaviour;

  when Parents/Guardians have confirmed in writing they and the student accept the Code of Behaviour;

 give the College access to their Primary School files which are relevant to their transfer to second level education;( This includes any medical, psychological, or educational reports. )

 are willing to sit the *College Assessment Test.

* Generally, this test is used to assess achievement levels in order to best facilitate students according to their needs. 
  

ENROLMENT FOR FIRST YEAR ENTRANTS.

Parents of prospective students can familiarise themselves with the application procedure by:

1. Contacting the College Office.
Parents/guardians are welcome to contact the college office for information in relation to enrolment of students in the College.
The following information can be provided:
• College Brochure.
• Application Form. ( Appendix A )

An appointment can be made to visit the College to view the facilities and discuss any relevant matters.

OR

2. Attend the Open Evening and / or the Information Night. One event is typically held in May with the other in September.

These two events provide opportunities for parents and students to visit the College and talk to members of staff, students, and members of the Parents’ Association.

Enrolment procedure for students in 6th class in Primary school.

(a) Students who attend a Primary school within the Howth Deanery

Together with all the Primary Schools and Post-Primary Schools in the Howth Deanery , St.Paul’s College co-operates in a common entry procedure. When Students are in sixth class in local Primary Schools, they will receive a Howth Deanery Application Form for entry to Post-Primary School. This form should be completed, naming St. Paul’s College as the school of choice. It is returned to the Primary School Principal.

(b) Students who attend a Primary school outside the Howth Deanery

An application form ( Appendix A ) should be completed and returned to the college office.

Procedure where applications exceed the number of places available:

If the number of applicants is greater than the number of places available offers will be made using the criteria below:

1. Applicants who have a family member who is a present /past pupil or a current staff member.
2. Students attending a Primary school in the Clontarf, Dollymount, Killester, Our Lady of Mercy Artane or Raheny parishes.
3. Students living in any of the parishes at 2 above but who attend primary school outside that parish
4. Students from Primary schools that have sent students to St. Paul’s within the past 3 school years.
5. If there are still more applicants than places, a random draw will take place.

Offer of Place in the College.
Decisions on entry for all applicants are finalised during the November of the year when the student is in sixth class of the Primary School. All applicants will be informed whether a place has been allocated to them within 21 days of the arrival in the College of the Howth Deanery Application Forms.

Applicants for a place in First Year are asked to pay a refundable deposit when offered a place. This deposit is refunded in full on 1st October after the date of entry of the student to the College.
This deposit is charged to minimise the possibility that students will accept places in more than one school and then make a late choice not to take up the place offered and accepted for St.Paul’s College.

Parents are given a limited time to accept an offer. It is important that the acceptance/rejection of an offer is confirmed within the stated time frame.
Failure to confirm the status of the offer may result in the loss of a place or deny others admission to the College.

Late Applications are accepted subject to the availability of places as set down by the Board of Management for the relevant academic year in question.

Please note that it is the responsibility of Parents/Guardians to ensure that all details relating to an application are accurate and to keep the College informed of any change in application details e.g. change of address etc.
 

APPLICATIONS FROM STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL  NEEDS.

The Board of Management of St.Paul’s College welcomes all applicants including those with special educational needs.
The Board of Management will do all it possibly can to identify, plan, and provide for the special needs of all seeking admission to the College.
To enable the College to assess the needs of such students, it will require access to all relevant records from the Primary School/Individual Educational Programme well in advance of entry into the College.
This will include, if available, access to a copy of the student’s medical/psychological or educational reports.
The College may need to arrange an immediate assessment in order to assist it in establishing the educational and training needs unique to the student and relevant to his special needs and to establish the support services required. Parental/Guardian permission is necessary to do this.

Having gathered all the relevant information the Board of Management will assess how the student’s needs can be met. College personnel will also meet with the Parents/Guardians and the student to discuss his needs and the ability of the College to meet such needs.
If further resources are required, the Department of Education & Science will be asked to provide the necessary assistance e.g. special needs assistant, specialised equipment, transport, etc.
If adequate resources are not forthcoming from the Department of Education & Science the School may have to postpone, or refuse, admission until the Department of Education & Science put such resources in place.

“The school reserves the right to refuse enrolment to any student in exceptional cases.  Such an exceptional case could include the following:

1. The student has special needs such that, even with additional resources available from the Department of Education and Science, the school cannot meet such needs and/or provide the student with an appropriate education or

2. In the opinion of the Board of Management, the student poses an unacceptable risk to other students, to school staff or to school property.”

Note: It may take some time for the Department of Education and Science to process applications for special needs students. Parents are strongly advised to inform the College as early as possible of their intention to apply and to arrange to meet and discuss their particular situation well in advance of making application.

TRANSFER OF A STUDENT FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL.

The College will make every reasonable effort to facilitate a Student seeking a transfer to St. Paul’s College. The Board of Management will decide on applications for admission to any year other than First Year by applying the following criteria:   

• A transfer is in agreement with College Admission Policy.
• All relevant information from the former school has been made available.
• A transfer is of educational benefit to the student.
• A transfer is in the best interest of the College.

Initially an Application form ( Appendix B) should be completed and returned to the College. Where a Student is considered for a place, the decision will be taken by the College in consultation with Parents/Guardians, his former school, and where necessary the Education Welfare Officer. In some instances it may be possible to offer a place immediately. In other cases entry may be offered from the beginning of the next academic year.

Applications from outside candidates to transfer directly from Third Year to Fifth Year are not accepted.

As soon as is practicable after a parent/guardian has provided the relevant information, the Board of Management shall make a decision in respect of the application concerned and inform the parents in writing thereof2. 

        APPEALS.

The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse an application for admission in exceptional circumstances

The Parents/Guardians will be informed in writing of the Board's decision and the reasons why the Student is not being accepted will be clearly stated.

Should a student’s application for admission to the College be refused the Parents/Guardians have the right to appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science.

An appeal may be made to The Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science, The Appeals Administration Unit, Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.

An appeal should be made in writing on the appropriate Application Form.

 The College must be informed in writing of the decision to appeal.

Having regard to the desirability of resolving grievances within the College where possible, the parties to an appeal under Section 291, i.e. the appellant and the College Board of Management, will be asked to consider the matter in the first instance at College level to see if an 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 College level.  
 (Circular M48/01).