Admission Policy of Kinsalebeg NS
Kinsalebeg Nr Youghal Co Waterford
Roll number: 18318 H
School Patron/s: Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan
- 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 the school has consulted with school staff, the school
patron and with parents of children attending the school.
The policy was approved by the school patron on September 16th 2020 and will be made
available in hardcopy, on request, to any person who requests it.
The relevant dates and timelines for Kinsalebeg NS admission process are set out in the
school’s annual admission notice which is published annually on the school’s website 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 the school’s website and will be made
available in hardcopy on request to any person who requests it. - Characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school
Kinsalebeg National School is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos
under the patronage of the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore.
Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic primary school means the ethos and characteristic
spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:
(a) the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, 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,
and which school provides religious education for the pupils 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.
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In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of
Kinsalebeg National 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 - Admission Statement
Kinsalebeg NS will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the
following:
(a) the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student
concerned,
(b) the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student
concerned,
(c) the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student
concerned,
(d) the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student
concerned,
(e) the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student
concerned,
(f) the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student
concerned,
(g) the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
(h) the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the
student concerned, or
(i) the ground that the student or 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 ground’, ‘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.
We in Kinsalebeg N.S., in partnership with parents and the Board of Management are
committed to providing a quality education for the whole child, fostering the pursuit of
excellence and self-reliance in a caring nurturing environment.
We accept responsibility to educate our pupils to
think creatively and critically,
to communicate effectively
to work co-operatively
to reason critically
to learn continuously
We aim to help children to respect, appreciate and understand their own and other
cultural traditions and identities.
We aim to help children to acquire and develop moral and religious values and to respect
the beliefs and values of others
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All denominational schools
Kinsalebeg NS is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment
which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate 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. - Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the school/special
class
In the case of special schools and schools with a special class or unit attached, the
category/categories of SEN catered for by the school/special class/unit must be set out here.
Schools must retain the following statements that apply to them and delete those that do
not:
(a) In the case of a special school
[School name] with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, provides an
education exclusively for students with (insert details of category or categories of SEN the
school caters for).
(b) In the case of a mainstream school with a SEN class attached
[School Name] with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, has established
a class to provide an education exclusively for students with (insert details of category or
categories of SEN the special class caters for).
This section is not applicable to our School. - Admission of Students
This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –
a) the school is oversubscribed (please see section 5 below for further details)
b) 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
c) A student has not reached the age of 4 years on or before the 1st September in the
school year for which he/she seeks admission.
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All denominational schools
Kinsalebeg National School is a Catholic School and may refuse to admit as a student a
person who is not of the Catholic faith where it is proved that the refusal is essential to
maintain the ethos of the school. - Oversubscription (this section must be completed by all schools including
schools that do not anticipate being oversubscribed)
In the event that the 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
school’s annual admission notice:
These criteria are listed in order of priority. When spaces are allocated under criterion 1
and space is still available, criterion 2 will apply and so on. This prioritisation proceeds
until all available places are allocated. - Brothers and sisters of children already enrolled (including stepsiblings, resident at same
address) - Children living within the parish.
- Children of current staff
- Children who live outside the parish
In the event of being unable to enrol children in any year, the child’s name will be placed on the
waiting list in accordance with the criteria as above.
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: - On the basis of criterion 1, places will be allocated on the basis of age starting with
the oldest applicant until all places are allocated. - On the basis of criterion 2, places will be allocated on the basis of age starting with
the oldest applicant until all places are allocated. - On the basis of criterion 3, places will be allocated on the basis of age starting with
the oldest applicant until all places are allocated. - On the basis of criterion 4, places will be allocated on the basis of age starting with
the oldest applicant until all places are allocated. - What will not be considered or taken into account
In accordance with section 62(7)(e) of the Education Act, the 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:
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Points (a) to (g) must be included here by all schools. There are limited exceptions to some
of these (highlighted in red below) and schools must retain the exceptions that apply to them
and delete those that do not:
(a) a student’s prior attendance at a pre-school or pre-school service, including naíonraí,
other than in relation to a student’s prior attendance at:
(I) an early intervention class, or
(II) an early start pre-school, specified in a list published by the Minister from time to time;
(b) the payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the school;
(c) a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude;
(d) the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;
(e) a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other
meeting as a condition of admission;
(f) a student’s connection to the school by virtue of a member of his or her family attending
the school;
Other than, in the case of the school wishing to include a selection criterion based on (1)
siblings of a student attending the school
(g) 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 the school for the school
year concerned.
This is also subject to the school making offers based on existing waiting lists (up until 31st
January 2025 only). - Decisions on applications
All decisions on applications for admission to Kinsalebeg NS will be based on the following:
Our school’s admission policy
The school’s annual admission notice (where applicable)
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 admission policy will not be used to
make a decision on an application for a place in our school. - 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 a student is not offered a place in our school, the reasons why they were not offered a
place will be communicated in writing to the applicant, including, where applicable, details of
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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). - Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant
In accepting an offer of admission from [school name], you must indicate—
(i) whether or not you have accepted an offer of admission for another school or schools. If
you have accepted such an offer, you must also provide details of the offer or offers
concerned and
(ii) whether or not you have applied for and 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.
11.Circumstances in which offers may not be made or may be withdrawn
An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by Kinsalebeg NS where—
(i) it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading.
(ii) an applicant fails to confirm acceptance of an offer of admission on or before the
date set out in the annual admission notice of the school.
(iii) the 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; or
(iv) an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’
as set out in section 10 above. - 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 certain information 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;
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(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.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 Kinsalebeg NS 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 Kinsalebeg NS is in the order of priority assigned to the
students’ 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.
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: - Brothers and sisters of children already enrolled (including stepsiblings, resident at same
address) - Children living within the parish.
- Children of current staff
- Children who live outside the parish
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:
1) Pupils who move to the Parish of Clashmore/Kinsalebeg may transfer to the school
at any time, if the school is not full (the Board of Management considers the school
full when the number of pupils reaches 26 times the number of mainstream class
teachers, i.e. 26 x 3= 28). Even if the school is full the Board may consider
applications up to a maximum of 30 pupils in any one class. The pupil teacher ratio
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applied in this Policy will change in accordance with changes in the national pupil
teacher ratio as determined by the Department of Education and Skills.
If the school is full, the school may consider applications over and above a total of 104 if a
place is available in the appropriate class.
16.Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees
This rule applies to all schools.
The board of Kinsalebeg NS or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or
seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-
(a) an application for admission of a student to the school, or
(b) the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.
Note: Exceptions apply only in relation to fee charging post primary schools, the boarding
element in Boarding Schools and admission to post leaving cert or further education courses
run by post-primary schools. - Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction
This section must be completed by schools that provide religious instruction to students.
The following are the school’s arrangements for students, where the parents 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:
A written request should be made to the Principal of the school. A meeting will then be
arranged with the parent(s) or the student, as the case may be, to discuss how the
request may be accommodated by the school - Reviews/appeals
Review of decisions by the board of Management
The parent 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 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.
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Note: Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being
oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review within 3 calendar weeks of the date of
the written refusal 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 within 3 calendar weeks of the date of
the written refusal of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal
under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Right of appeal
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent 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 this
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 the 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 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 of that decision by the board of management prior to
making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see 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
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 under
section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the
Department of Education and Skills.
Signed: _____________ Dated:__
Chairperson, BOM
Kinsalebeg National School
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Appendix 1
Kinsalebeg National School
ANNUAL ADMISSION NOTICE
in respect of admissions to the 2021/2022 school year
Admission Policy and Application Form
A copy of the school’s Admission Policy and the Application Form for Admission for the
2021/2022 is available on request: By emailing principal1kns@gmail.com or writing to:
Kinsalebeg National School, Kinsalebeg via Youghal, Co. Waterford, P36 F827
PART 1- Admissions to the 2021/2022 school year
Application and Decision Dates for admission to the 2021/2022 school year.
The following are the dates applicable for admission to Junior Infants.
The school will commence accepting applications for admission on 2
nd October 2020
The school shall cease accepting applications for admission on 1st March 2021
The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their
application is
30th March 2021
The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer
of admission is
30th April
2021
*Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer
being withdrawn
Note: the school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance
with the school’s admission policy.
Number of places being made available in 2021/2022
The number of places being made available in Junior Infants is TBD