Admissions and Student Registration Policy
Gaelscoil Dara, in recognising the ever-changing education and training needs of
the community it serves, has an Admissions Policy, which fosters a spirit of cooperation and inclusiveness so as to facilitate pathways of progression for
lifelong learning. Learning opportunities take place in a range of settings in a
spirit of equality and fairness to all. With the aim of being inclusive, each centre
of learning has a specific Admissions Policy in compliance with guidelines laid
down by the Department of Education and skills. Under our Policy for Equality
Gaelscoil Dara welcomes applications from children with Special Needs.
Children are accepted in Gaelscoil Dara in the normal primary school age range
i.e. 4 years to 12/13 years of age.
Children must be 4 years of age before they can be accepted into Naíonáin
Bheaga. The Board of Management may set a higher age limit from year to year
(4 years of age before June 2012 for the school year 2012/2013).
Applications for places will have a cut off date. There will be no obligation on
Gaelscoil Dara to accept a child after the cut off date for applications in any given
year even if some or all other criteria fulfilled.
Cut off for applications for
2012/2013 school year is 21/02/2012.
All admissions to Gaelscoil Dara are dependent on the availability of space and
staff.
Admissions
This policy relates to:
New students, their parents, management and staff of Gaelscoil Dara.
Rationale
To ensure effective planning and administration in order to provide for each
student’s requirements. Also, to promote and to foster Gaelscoil Dara’s Irish
language ethos.
Aims
 To implement a fair and transparent system.
 To adhere to the requirements of the Department of Education and
Science.
 To ensure equal opportunities for students with disabilities and/or special
needs.
Content
Place offers are made to children in Naíonáin Bheaga based on the
following order of priority:

A: Brothers and sisters of children already attending or have
attended Gaelscoil Dara.

B: Children of current Gaelscoil Dara School Staff.

C: Children attending Naíonra Dara, the pre-school attached to the
school.

D: Children of past pupils.

E: Children with an Irish language home background and children
who have attended a Naíonra Lán-Ghaelach other than Naíonra
Dara.

After places have been allocated to children from A, B, C, D, E
above, places will be filled in order of date of receipt of official
application form.
Following offer of place:

Each student and parent/guardian must indicate acceptance of
place offer by signing and returning same before the stated
deadline and payment of non-refundable deposit.

Each student and parent/guardian must indicate acceptance of the
Code of Conduct.

Each student and parent/guardian must indicate acceptance of all
of the school’s policies.

No guarantee of a place can be assumed without an official letter
from the school, even if some or all criteria fulfilled.
Students transferring to Gaelscoil Dara from other schools
Students transferring from other schools will be accepted based on the following
criteria and conditions:

Provision of a filled official application form. Provision of extra
information about the child’s progression (i.e. School Reports,
standard testing, psychologist’s reports (if available))

An acceptable standard of Irish, appropriate to class group, as
determined by the Board of Management.

Each student and parent/guardian must indicate acceptance of
place offer by signing same.

Each student and parent/guardian must indicate acceptance of the
Code of Conduct.

Each student and parent/guardian must indicate acceptance of all
of the school policies.
When an applicant fails to fulfil all the above requirements, the application may
be referred to the Board of Management for consideration.
Implementation and Evaluation:
The school management and administrative staff will implement the policy on an
ongoing basis.
This policy will be reviewed on a yearly basis.
In the case of any discrepancy between the English and Irish versions of this
policy the Irish version will take precedence.