Enrolment Policy for Griffith Barracks Multi-Denominational School (to be used for applications with effect from 2013)

1. Our school runs under the four principles of Educate Together - we are multi-denominational, child-centred, co-educational and democratically run. We endeavour to provide the best education possible to each child throughout the school. This is our ethos.

2. The aim of this enrolment policy is to be as equitable as possible to all applicants to our school, while safeguarding our ethos and the quality of education for all pupils. In looking at our applicants, we at GBMDS believe that the children are better able to engage with the learning environment if they are a little older starting.

3. The Board of Management reserves the right to make exceptions to this policy, and its operation, should circumstances arise in which the Board considers it necessary to do so.

4. The Board of Management has a right to limit the intake of pupils: it would be irresponsible of the Board to admit an excessive amount of students as to do so would be against the ethos of the school, would involve a decline in educational standards and would be a danger to health and safety in the school.

5. Griffith Barracks Multi Denominational School (GBMDS) operates a system for entry to Junior Infants based on the following criteria, and subject to availability:
5.1. Children who will be four before 1st May of the year of entry.
5.2. Younger siblings (sibling and half sibling living in the same house) of pupils who started GBMDS in Junior Infants - entry once they apply on the week requested, subject to availability.
5.3. Children of staff,
5.4. Children who are older in a given year will be given preference.
5.5. The Board of Management reserves the right to offer up to 3 discretionary places each year.

6. Parents are asked to fill out an ‘intention to enrol' form, downloadable from the School's website or available from the school office. This should be posted or emailed to the indicated address for the attention of the secretary by the ‘intention to enrol' closing date (see point 12 below, on such dates).

7. In December/January each year the children whose names and addresses have been received by the school are sent an enrolment form for the following September. A copy of the enrolment policy is also sent out at this time and the date by which applications must be returned (see point 12 on such dates).

8. All enrolment forms received by the specified date (see point 12 below) are then considered and places are allocated according to our criteria as outlined under point 5 above. Anyone who does not apply during that week is automatically excluded from the first round of offers.

9. Unsuccessful applicants will remain on our list for that year and, should any places become available, places my be offered using the criteria of point 5, subject to availability in the class. The list of applicants begins afresh each year i.e. those unsuccessful in a given year are not carried forward to the following year but must apply again, as described under point 4 above.

10. When entry to a higher class is requested, the parents should arrange to meet the principal, fill out the pre-enrolment form in the normal way and notify the principal of the school the child is presently attending. If the principal is satisfied with the report received from the principal of the child's previous school, a place will be offered, provided a place is available in the requested class. Allocation of such places is subject to the criteria similar to point 5 - siblings, children of staff, children older in a given year, and places at the discretion of the Board of Management

11. Enrolment policy with regard to children with special needs will be looked at on an individual basis. The school is committed to promoting and advancing the involvement of pupils with special needs. It will accommodate these students and encourage them to fully participate in the school. The school has a right to ask for the necessary paperwork to ensure the full range of resources is made available for the child.

12. In a given year the various dates associated with the application and enrolment process will be published by the end of September of that academic year e.g. dates for 2013 intake will be published in September 2012.

13. These timelines apply to all applicants i.e. applications for the siblings of current pupils must be made in the same way, and according to the same timing requirements, as all other applicants.

Revised and updated by the Board of Management - October 2008