OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
Park Avenue, Staines, Middlesex TW18 2EF
Tel: 01784 453539
GOVERNORS’ ADMISSION POLICY
FOR ADMISSION IN SEPTEMBER 2015-2016
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School is a Catholic Foundation intended for the education of
Catholic children. Applications are invited for September 2014 from families whose child attains 4
years of age between 01/09/2014 and 31/08/2015.
Responsibility for the admission of pupils rests with the Board of Governors whose criteria for
admissions is set out below. Accordingly, the Governors will consider applications for admission to
the school made on behalf of eligible pupils
A Catholic School provides a Catholic education for all its pupils. Catholic doctrine and practice
permeate every aspect of the school’s activity. It is essential that the Catholic character of the school’s
education is fully supported by all families in the school. All applicants are therefore expected to give
their full, unreserved and positive support for the aims and ethos of the school.
The school’s published admission number is 30 pupils for the Reception class. Whenever there are
more applications than places available, priority will always be given to Catholic applicants in
accordance with the over subscription criteria listed below. At least one parent must be a baptised
Catholic. For the past 2 years no applicant has been admitted beyond oversubscription criterion
4.
1. Catholic Looked after children and Catholic children who have been adopted (or
subject to residence orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following
having been looked after.
2. Baptised Catholic siblings from a practising Catholic family, with the support of the
approved Diocesan Priest’s Reference Form.
3. A Baptised Catholic child from a practising Catholic family with the support of the
approved Diocesan Priest’s Reference Form living within the admissions priority area
(see map attached).
4. A baptised Catholic child, of a practising Catholic family, with the support of the
approved Diocesan Priest’s Reference Form.
5. A Catholic child, supported by a certificate of Catholic baptism.
6. Other looked after children and other children who have been adopted (or subject to
residence orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been
looked after.
7. Other siblings with the support of a Religious Leader.
8. A member of an Eastern Christian Church with the support of a Religious Leader.
9. Members of Other Christian Churches with the support of a Religious Leader.
10. Members of other faiths, with the support of a Religious Leader.
11. Any other applicant
Sibling
 A sibling is defined as a brother or sister, or a half brother or sister, or a step brother or
sister, or an adopted brother or sister living at the same address.
 Older Siblings must be a pupil at the date of reception entry.
Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Need
The admission of pupils with a statement of Special Educational Needs is dealt with by a
completely separate procedure. This is administered by the Local Authority.
Admissions Priority Area
The admissions priority area is shown on the attached map
Over Subscription/Tie Break
If there are insufficient places for children within the same category, places will be offered to those
children who live nearest to Our Lady of the Rosary School. The Governors will decide on a place
being given by the distance measured in a straight line from the school gate to the front door of the
child’s normal place of residence, using Ordinance Survey address point data supplied by the Local
Authority. The distance is calculated using the Admission and Transport Team’s Geographical
Information System . A block of flats has a single address point reference, so applicants living in
the same block will be regarded as living the same distance away from the school. Where two or
more children live equal distance from the school and only one place remains, the Governing Body
Admissions Committee will draw lots to determine which child should be given priority.
Exceptional Need
The Governing Body will give top priority within a category to an application where compelling
evidence is provided at the time of application, from an appropriate professional such as a
doctor, Priest or social worker, of an exceptional social, medical, pastoral or other need of the
child, which can only be met at this school.
Late Applicants
Applicants will be deemed to be ‘late’ when the application form has not been received by the
Governors by the closing date set by the Local Authority. The governors may use their discretion
to accept an application if the application form with all the necessary appropriate supporting
documentation eg Baptism Certificate, Priests reference form etc, arrives before the date of the
Governing Body meeting to consider admission applications, providing it is accompanied by an
explanation stating the circumstances of the late submission. The LA would be kept informed of
the receipt of any such application(s) and subsequent action.
Application Procedure
All applicants must complete the Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) obtained from the Local Authority
and returned to the Local Authority by the closing date for applications. The school will share the same closing date
as the Local Authority. The School Information Form (SIF) is available from the school and the Local Authority and
should be returned to the school by the closing date. If you do not complete both the CAF and the SIF and return them
by the closing date, the governing body will be unable to consider your application fully and it is very unlikely that your
child will get a place at the school.
In-Year Admissions
Applications for In-Year admission are made directly to the school. In 2015 the school will be
responsible for its own in-year admissions. Where there is no waiting list the local authority will
be notified and the child will be admitted. If more applications are received than there are places
available then applications will be ranked by the governing body in accordance with the
oversubscription criteria, with the following modifications: Catholic children without an offer of
a school place elsewhere are given priority immediately after Catholic ‘looked-after’ children
(Criteria 1); similarly, other children without an offer of a school place are given priority
immediately after other looked after children (Criteria 6) . If a place cannot be offered at this time
then you may ask us for reasons and you will be informed of your right of appeal. You will be
offered the opportunity of being placed on a waiting list. This waiting list will be maintained by
the governing body in the order of the oversubscription criteria (as modified above) and not in the
order in which the applications are received. Names are removed from the list at the end of each
academic year. When a place becomes available the governing body will decide who is at the top
of the list so that an offer can be made.
Practising Catholics
‘Practising Catholic’ means a Catholic child from a practising Catholic family where this practice
is verified by a reference from a Catholic priest in the standard approved Diocesan Priest’s
Reference Form. At least one parent must be a baptised Catholic.
NOTES
 Catholic means a member of a Church in full communion with the See of Rome. This includes
Eastern Catholic Churches but not other Eastern Christian Churches.
 The Diocesan Priest’s Reference Form is available from the school and also from the
Westminster Diocese website.
 Regular worship – A Practising Catholic is one who attends Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of
Obligation.
o The tradition and practice of the Catholic Church is for infant baptism.
 A Looked After Child – has the same meaning as in Section 22 of the Children Act 1989 and
means a child in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation by them e.g. a
child with a foster family.
 All applications should be accompanied by proof of date of birth and must be accompanied by
a Baptism Certificate if applicable.
 No priority is given to children attending the playschool.
 When an applicant cannot be offered a place, the parents have the right of appeal. Appeals
should be addressed in the first instance to the Chairman of the School Governors, c/o the
school.
 Unsuccessful applicants may go on to a waiting list which will remain in place until the end of
the academic year following admission . If a place becomes available all the waiting list
candidates will be considered strictly according to the admissions criteria.
 Parent is defined as the person or persons who have legal responsibility for the child
 Home address is defined as ‘Where the child resides for 50% or more of the school week
 Christian is defined as a member or church which belongs to ‘Churches Together in Britain and
Ireland. .
Reception Year Deferred Entry
Applicants may defer entry to school up until statutory age i.e. the first day of term following the
child’s fifth birthday. Application is made in the usual way and then the deferment is requested.
The place will be held until the first day of the spring or summer term. Applicants may also request
that their child attend part-time until statutory school age is reached. Entry may not be deferred
beyond statutory school age or beyond the year of application. Applicants whose children have
birthdays in the summer term should be aware that, if they wish to defer, they will need to apply for
a Year 1 place for the following September and if the school is oversubscribed they are very
unlikely to obtain a place.
Fair Access Protocols
The school is committed to taking its fair share of vulnerable children who are hard to place, in
accordance with locally agreed protocols. Accordingly, outside the normal round of admissions,
the governing body are empowered to give absolute priority to a child where admission is
requested under any local protocol which carries the agreement of both the governing body and the
diocese for the current admission year. The governing body has the power even when admitting
such a child would exceed the normal admission number.
If for any reason help is required in the Admissions Process please contact the Admissions Officer at the School.
J/admin/admissions/admissionpolicy2014/2015