Admission Policy
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Primary School was founded by the Catholic Church to provide education for 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.
Whenever there are more applications than places available, priority will always be given to Catholic applicants in accordance with the oversubscription criteria listed below. The Governing Body welcomes all applications, particularly those of other denominations and faiths who support the religious ethos of the school.
The Governing Body has sole responsibility for admissions to this school and intends to admit 30 pupils at one point of entry to the Reception class in the school year which begins every September.
Oversubscription Criteria
Where there are more applications for places than the number available, places will be offered according to the following order of priority.
1. Baptised Catholic Looked After Children.
2. Baptised Catholic children from practising Catholic families (where at least one parent/carer is practising) who are resident in the parish of Our Lady of Grace (map available from the School office). Evidence of practice must be supported by a priest.
3. Other baptised Catholic children from practising Catholic families (where at least one parent/carer is practising) who are not resident in the parish of Our Lady of Grace (map available from the School office). Evidence of practice must be supported by a priest.
4. Baptised Catholic children but whose parent(s)/carer(s) are non-practising members of the Catholic Church.
5. Other Looked After Children.
6. Baptised children of other Christian denominations from Christian families whose parent(s)/carer(s) desire a Christian education for them.
7. Non-Christian children whose parent(s) / carer(s) desire a place for their children in a Catholic school promoting Christian values and beliefs.
8. Any other children.
Tie Break
When applications within any of the above categories (unless stated below) exceed the places available and it is necessary to decide between applications, the following order of priorities will be applied:
(i) Children with siblings in the school at the time of admission.
(ii) For categories 2 and 3, the frequency of Mass attendance as shown on the supplementary information form. Applications will therefore be ranked weekly, fortnightly, monthly, occasionally.
(iii) If evidence is provided at the time of application of an exceptional social, medical, pastoral or other need of the child, which can most appropriately be met at this school and which make the school particularly suitable for the child in question. Strong and relevant evidence must be provided by an appropriate professional authority e.g. qualified medical practitioner, education welfare officer, social worker, priest and this should set out the particular reasons why Our Lady of Grace is the most suitable School and the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend another School. This evidence will be considered by the Governing Body and advice sought from professionals if necessary.
(iv) To those living nearest to the school measured as a straight line from the home to the main gate of the school using the measurement supplied by the Greenwich Local Authority derived from their geographical information system. The computerised mapping system measures from single fixed point in the centre of the home address to the main entrance of the School. If more than one applicant lives in a multi-occupancy building eg, flats, priority will be given to the applicant whose door number is the lowest numerically and/or alphabetically.
Definitions:
Siblingsare defined as natural brothers/sisters, adopted brothers/sisters, step-brothers/sisters and foster-brothers/sisters but not other relatives (e.g. cousins) or unrelated children who live at the same address.
Practiceis defined as regular and faithful worshippers who attend Sunday Mass (or a Saturday evening vigil Mass). The frequency of Mass attendance will be ranked as laid out in the tie-break above.
Homeis defined as the principal home address at which the child lives for the majority of his/her time and with the parent who is in receipt of child benefit.
Application Procedures and Timetable
Common Application Forms should be submitted to Greenwich Council by 15th January 2012. Applicants wishing to apply under the faith criteria must submit a completed supplementary information form to the school by 15th January 2012. Letters informing parents of the outcome of their applications will be posted 1st class by the home LA at the beginning of April 2012.
If the supplementary information form is not completed, the Governing Body of the school will consider the application under criterion 8. (Copies are available from the School Office, School website, Greenwich Council website and from the Admissions Section at Greenwich Council).
Procedures for late applications and in-year admissions will be in accordance with the Local Authorities scheme for the co-ordination of primary school admissions and Fair Access Protocol.
Appeals
Candidates whose application for places are unsuccessful may appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel set up in accordance with sections 88 and 94 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Appeals must be made in writing and must set out the reasons on which the appeal is made. Appeals should be made to the Admissions Appeal Clerk at the school address. Parents/carers have the right to make oral representations to the Appeals Panel.
Waiting Lists
In addition to their right of appeal, unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity to be placed on a waiting list. This waiting list will be maintained in order of the oversubscription criteria set out above and not in the order in which applications are received or added to the list.
Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs
The admission of pupils with a statement of Special Educational Needs is dealt with by a completely separate procedure. This procedure is integral to making and maintaining statements by the pupil’s home Local Authority. Details of this separate procedure are set out in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.
