Admissions Policy 2010

ST BERNARD’S CATHOLIC GRAMMAR SCHOOL

ADMISSIONS POLICY 2010

NUMBER

The Planned Admission number for admission at age 11+ for the academic year beginning September 2010 is 120.

RESPONSIBILITY

The Governing Body is the Admissions Authority for St. Bernard’s which is a Roman Catholic, Voluntary-Aided, Co-educational Grammar School.  The Governing Body will, therefore, give priority in the consideration of applications to baptised Roman Catholic children who have a written reference from their Roman Catholic priest. The criteria set by the Governing Body are designed to preserve the character of the School.  This policy is decided after consultation with the Diocese of Northampton, the Local Authority and other relevant bodies.

ADMISSIONS

The Governing Body will consider for admission those children who have gained
a mark of 111 or above in the Slough 11+ Consortium tests.  Where the number of pupils gaining 111 or more in the tests exceeds the number of places available, the Governors will apply their oversubscription criteria.

Where there is written evidence of special education needs (from a recognised authority specialising in the needs of the child) the Governors will ensure that the tests are accessible for children with disabilities and special needs.

The Governing Body will give priority to relevant looked after children (within the meaning of Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) at the time of their application and who will still be looked after when they are admitted to school.

There is, however, no guarantee of a place, even for those children who have qualified for admission, if there are more applications than places available.

OVER-SUBSCRIPTION CRITERIA
For Admissions to the Planned Admission Number i.e. at Age 11+:

Should places be oversubscribed, the Governing Body will consider children for admission following the criteria set out below.  The Governing Body will give priority to relevant looked after children (within the meaning of Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) at the time of their application and who will still be looked after when they are admitted.

1. Roman Catholic children, in respect of whom the Governing Body has a written recommendation from their Roman Catholic Priest.

2.  Children of other Christian denominations

In the event of there being vacancies after all the Roman Catholic children have been considered, the Governing Body will consider admitting children of other Christian denominations whose parents wish to obtain an education for their children in a Roman Catholic atmosphere, and in respect of whom the Governing Body has a written recommendation from their Minister of Religion.

3.  Children of Other Faiths

In the event of there being vacancies after all the children of other Christian denominations have been considered, the Governing Body will consider admitting children of other faiths whose parents wish to obtain an education for their children in a Roman Catholic atmosphere, and in respect of whom the Governing Body has a written recommendation from their Minister of Religion.

In the event of there being vacancies after all the above have been considered, the Governing Body will consider admitting other children.

If necessary, the Governing Body will determine an order of priority within the above categories based, firstly, on the child’s score in the Selective Tests and, secondly, on proximity to the school, by a suitable walking route as measured from the main double entrance gate of St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School to the front door of the candidate’s house.

WAITING LIST

The school will keep a waiting list of the names of applicants who have qualified for admission but have not been allocated a place, ranked in descending order according to the above criteria.  The placing of a child’s name on the waiting list does not remove the right of appeal.  Parents will be informed if their child’s name has been placed on this list.
The waiting list will be in operation from the day the original places are allocated until the end of the end of the Autumn term 2010.

APPEALS

Appeals against a decision of the Governing Body should be addressed to the Clerk to the Governors within 14 days (10 working days) from the date of notification of the decision regarding admission.  These appeals will be considered by an Independent Appeal Committee set up in accordance with the 1998 Schools Standards and Framework Act before which parents are entitled to appear.

FOR ADMISSION TO OTHER SCHOOL YEARS

In the event of there being vacancies in other school years, the Governing Body, in consultation with the Headteacher, will consider admitting students who have demonstrated their suitability for education in a Selective School, and their intention to respect the Roman Catholic ethos of the School.  Should applications for places in these years be oversubscribed, the Governing Body will consider children in order of priority following the criteria listed above.

No pupils will be admitted to the school, other than at the start of Year 7, unless there are available places and:
(i)    they are transferring from another grammar school, or
(ii)    they have not already taken the 11+ test, or
(iii)    they are successful in the school’s entrance examination relevant to their year of entry.

Any pupil who has taken the 11+ test will not be permitted to re-sit the entrance examination for St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School whilst at statutory school age.

The maximum number of places in the Sixth Form is 250.  The intended number of students admitted from outside the school is 20.  There are a variety of Sixth Form courses on offer, some with different entry requirements.  Full details of these are published annually in the Sixth Form prospectus and applicants should contact the school for information.  A supportive school report in the form of a letter from the current Headteacher will be required.

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

Applications for admission to St. Bernard’s should be addressed to the Admissions Secretary at the school.

Approved by the Governing Body January 2009