St Mary's CBS New Building


 

Admissions

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INTRODUCTION

The Admissions Policy is issued by the Board of Management in accordance with the provisions of Section 15(d) of the Education Act 1998 and all related legislative and regulatory requirements. 

St. Mary’s C.B.S. supports the principles of inclusiveness, equality of access and participation in the school and parental choice in relation to enrolment and application for admission to the school.  In this context, the school expresses respect for diversity of traditions, values, beliefs, languages and ways of life within the community it serves today.  The school follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance with Sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act 1998.

Parent(s)/Guardians seeking the admission of their children to the school are invited to carefully read this Policy.see full policy

GENERAL INFORMATION

St. Mary’s C.B.S. is a Roman Catholic Voluntary Secondary School for boys only under the Trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST).  It is a grant-aided school situated on the Borris Road in Portlaoise, Co. Laois.  The school aims to promote the full and harmonious development of all its students (cognitive, intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual) and promotes a Christian philosophy of life.

Students are prepared for:

  • The Junior Certificate examination.
  • The Transition Year Programme, which is optional.
  • The Leaving Certificate examination.
  • The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, which is optional.

St. Mary’s C.B.S. has an active and vibrant Parents’ Council and Students’ Council.A Board of Management composed of 4 nominees of the trustees, 2 elected nominees of parents of students in the school and 2 elected nominees of the teaching staff governs the school.  The Principal acts as secretary to the Board and is a non-voting member.

This policy is guided by the ERST Charter.  The 5 key elements of the Charter form the guiding principles for this policy.  They are:

  • Nurturing faith, Christian spirituality and Gospel-based values;
  • Promoting partnership;
  • Excelling in teaching and learning;
  • Creating a caring school community;
  • Inspiring transformational leadership.

When all places have been filled, then a waiting list shall be created under the remaining ranked criteria, using a lottery to decide on the order of applicants within each category.
The ranked criteria which sets out the order of priority to be applied is as follows:

  1. Brothers of present pupils or past pupils of the school.
  2. Sons of current staff members with a minimum of twelve months service.
  3. Applicants resident in the catchment area as defined by the School Transport Scheme (See Appendix 2).
  4. Applicants resident outside the catchment area.

If the number of applicants who applied prior to the closing date for receipt of completed applications exceeds the number of places in any of the above, the balance of applicants will be ranked by lottery and placed on a waiting list.

Any applications received after the above has been applied, shall be ranked on a waiting list in the order they apply.A number of places may be reserved for exceptional cases as determined by the Board of Management and in keeping with the ethos and mission statement of the school. 

These places may revert back to the normal enrolment procedure at such times as directed by the Trustees, or in any event no later than the end of May of the school year.Parents/Guardians shall sign a statement confirming that all information supplied is true and accurate. 

Failure to do so may result in the offer of a place being rescinded.  The Board of Management reserves the right to verify the information supplied.Applicants shall be notified in advance as to the status of their application before any lottery takes place.

Parents/Guardians of applicants may attend the lottery.The lottery shall be conducted by means of a draw of numbers rather than names and these numbers will be drawn from a drum.Confirmation of enrolment or otherwise follows this procedure within 21 days.