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 15/5/2020. It is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hardcopy, on request, to any person who requests it. The relevant dates and timelines for St. Aloysius’ College 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 Admissions Application Online form for admission is published on the school’s website and will be made available for a period of 3 weeks. Applications can only be made online, guidance is available for parents/guardian on the process from the main school office to any person who requests it.

St. Aloysius’ College, Carrigtwohill is a Catholic All-girls voluntary secondary school with a Catholic ethos under the trusteeship of Le Chéile Schools Trust.

The purpose of our school is according to the values set out by our trust, Le Cheile, to provide an education that acknowledges and affirms the dignity and uniqueness of every human being as a child of God. It embraces the intellectual, physical, cultural, emotional, social, moral and spiritual growth of each student.

Our school seeks to build a learning community that welcomes, and witnesses to, the Gospel values expressed through the lens of the Le Chéile Charter. The school draws on the richness of the religious and cultural heritage of the past and their foundress, Mother Magdalen Taylor of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God.

Our school is committed to creating a place of inclusivity, equality and openness, where people can live with and be taught by one another, however diverse our experiences might be. It does not discriminate on religious grounds and is open to students from diverse backgrounds. It offers educational opportunities which promote excellence so that students can respond responsibly to their own lives, the lives of others and the earth, which is our home.

As a Catholic school, Religious Education is central to our curriculum. Alongside Religious Education the school supports students in their Catholic religious formation. All students’ spiritual growth is enhanced through areas such as nature, art, poetry and music. The spiritual life of students can also be deepened through prayer and ritual.

In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of St. Aloysius’ College 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.

The general objectives of all Le Chéile schools include:-

• Welcome recognises the unique dignity and worth of each person.

• Wisdom is the pursuit of a greater understanding and appreciation of the world.

• Witness comes from the expression of Gospel values, in everyday life, and recognises that every person is made in the image and likeness of God.

School Mission Statement

“St. Aloysius’ College, both in its teaching and environment, affirms the uniqueness and fosters the potential of each individual“

Within St. Aloysius’ College, we are a Catholic school while respecting and welcoming those with other beliefs

Our school exists to meet the educational needs of its students and recognises that each student who enrols is unique and has different gifts as well as different needs

We see ourselves as working in partnership with parents / guardians to provide an ordered learning environment

Within our curriculum activities are designed to aid in the holistic development of the student, so that students leave us with enhanced self-confidence and with the life skills and attitudes, which will enable them to lead lives satisfying to themselves, contribute to the betterment of society, and also help them to cope effectively with the continuing change in society

We encourage student involvement in activities that allow them to share fully in promoting the colleges philosophy

We recognise that the school community consists also of parents/ guardians, teachers and non-teaching staff. Therefore we aim to promote an environment, which enhances the self-esteem, personal development and talents of all its members, recognising everyone’s unique contribution.

St. Aloysius’ College will not discriminate in its admission to the school of any student based on the following grounds:

• the gender of the student or applicant [St. Aloysius’ College, Carrigtwohill is an all-girls school and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit a student not of this gender to the school.]

• the civil status of the student or applicant

• the family status of the student or applicant

• the sexual orientation of the student or applicant

• the religious beliefs, or absence, of the student or applicant [St. Aloysius’ College is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate where it admits a student of a Catholic faith in preference to others.]

• disability of the student or applicant

• the race of the student or applicant

• the student or applicants membership of the Traveller community

• the student or applicant having any 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.

St. Aloysius’ College provides a denominational education exclusively for girls and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of the single gender provided for by this school. 

This school shall admit each female student seeking admission into First Year who is aged over 12 years of age and has completed the full course of primary education or its equivalent, except where –

the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 below for further details)

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 Cooperation (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

Admissions Procedure

The school organises an “Open Night/Information Night” so that parents may inform themselves about the school. The Information Evening/ Open Night is open to all eligible students for enrolment and their parents/guardians who will then have to choose a school for their child. If attending the Open Night, the parent(s)/guardian(s) are required to accompany the student to this evening.

Applications will be open on the date stated on our Admissions Notice through an online Admissions Application Form. This will be freely available on the school website www.saintals.ie and social media platforms. Assistance will be available from the school office regarding the filling in of our online forms. Any applications after the designated date specified in the Admissions Notice will be deemed as late.

Stage 1:

Places will be allocated after the specified open window has passed, based on the Enrolment Criteria / Admissions Criteria as laid out below.

At any stage when the enrolment reaches its maximum specified number a waiting list will be created.

Late Applications: Any application made after the stated period on the admissions notice shall be deemed as late. Any late application regardless of school attended, area of residence or sibling attending/ attended the school will be considered after all applicants fulfilling the above criteria have been allocated places in the school and on the waiting list.

After all applications received by the admissions deadline have been allocated places in the school or on the waiting list, each late application will be dealt with by applying the Enrolment Criteria /Admission Criteria on the date the application is received.

Stage 2:

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will be advised of the outcome of their application via email within three weeks of the enrolment deadline on the Annual Admissions Notice.

An Admissions Acceptance and Enrolment Form will be posted out to successful applicants and must be completed and returned to the school within 14 days of receipt of the letter of offer. Any successful applicant who does not return the enclosed all forms will put their admission at risk.

The following must also be included with the acceptance of a place

Provision of Personal Public Service Number (PPS No.)

Birth Certificate (not Baptismal Certificate)

Accurate and full completion of the Enrolment Form

Signature of parent/guardian and student

Passport Photograph

Regarding all applications, Parents/Guardians may be required to complete a further information form upon or after the acceptance of a place, regarding their child’s educational progress at a later date and/or co-operate with the schools’ attempts to identify the educational or other relevant needs of the child. Copies of all psychological/psychiatric reports pertaining to the child will be required. The school may wish to meet with the applicant and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) to discuss the needs of the applicant or the parent(s)/guardian(s) may request a meeting. In either case the school will make all reasonable effort to accommodate such a meeting.

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.

Priority is given to students who indicate St. Aloysius’ College as their first choice of secondary school: 

Selection Criteria:

Category A: By direction of the Board, up to five (5) places may be allocated to students at the discretion of the SMG sisters.

Category B:  Sisters of students currently enrolled or who have graduated from St. Aloysius’ College, graduated is defined as having completed their Leaving Cert in the college.

Category C: Daughters of staff members of the school. This is defined as being that the staff members has been employed for more than 2 years in the college and it is reasonably expected to be employed by the school at the time their daughter commences secondary school.

Category D: Girls attending the sister school of the SMG Order, Scoil Chlochair Mhuire, Carrigtwohill, to a maximum of 25 available places in 1st Year. 

Category E: Girls residing in the Parish of Carrigtwohill not included above.

Category F: Daughters and Granddaughters of past pupils, to a maximum of 25 available places in 1st Year. 

Category G:  Girls attending other nominated feeder primary schools as per the list attached.

Category H:  Girls who are the oldest girl in a family not included above. This is defined as girls who have indicated on the Admissions Application Online  Form that St. Aloysius’ College is their first school choice for secondary school.

Category I: All other applicants. 

See Appendix 2 for list of Nominated Feeder Schools, which are in alphabetical order for organisational purposes solely. 

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:

A lottery system will operate, under the supervision of the Principal, Chairperson of the Board of Management and a Commissioner of Oaths. 

From this lottery a waiting list will be created. This will operate until July of the year prior to entry. 

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:

a student’s prior attendance record at a pre-school or pre-school service, including naíonraí, 

the payment of fees or contributions to the school; 

a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude

the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;

a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission; 

a student’s connection to the school by virtue of a member of his or her family attending or having previously attended the school; other than

Female siblings of a student attending or having fully completed their secondary school education in St. Aloysius’ College. 

Students having attended the sister school of the SMG Order, Scoil Chlochair Mhuire, Carrigtwohill, to a maximum of 25% of the available places in 1st Year.  These places are allocated by a lottery purpose.

Mothers or grandmothers having attended the school, up to a maximum of 25% of the available places in 1st Year as set out in the school’s annual admission notice. Allocated by lottery purposes.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 31stJanuary 2025 only.)

All decisions on applications for admission to St. Aloysius’ College  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 main admissions period/ during the school year and for entry into year groups other than 1st year)

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.

Applicants will be informed in writing via email 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 to the applicant, including, where applicable, details of 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 16 below for further details).

In accepting an offer of admission from St. Aloysius’ College , 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.

Applicants should be aware that failure to disclose this information on the acceptance of a place may lead to an offer being withdrawn by the school.

St Aloysius’ College will cooperate with the NCSE in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational  Needs Act 2004 in relation to the provision of education to children with special  educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special  class or classes if requested to do so by the Council.”  

St. Aloysius’ College  will comply with any direction served on the board or the  patron under section 37A and 67(4)(b).

Amended  by the Board of Management of St. Aloysius’ College: 15/12/2022

An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by St. Aloysius’ College  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 Cooperation (Code of Behaviour) of the school is acceptable to her and that 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 8 above.

The Board of Management has a duty of care to ensure as far as practicable the health and safety of the students and staff of the school. In addition, the Board of Management is required under section 15(1) of the Education Act 1998 to provide, or cause to be provided, an appropriate education for each student at the school for which that board has responsibility.

An application for admission may be refused, therefore, where the admission of the applicant would pose a significant risk to the health and safety of the applicant or students and staff of the school, or risk significantly interfering with the right of other students to an appropriate education.

Applicants should be aware that section 66(6) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 allows for the sharing of data 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;

(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).

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 St. Aloysius’ College  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 until July prior to entry. 

Placement on the waiting list of St. Aloysius’ College  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.

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.  

Late applicants will be notified of the decision in respect of their application not later than three weeks after the date on which the school received the application.  Late applicants may be offered a place if there is a place available.  In the event that there is no place available, the name of the applicant will be added to the end of the waiting list. If more than 1 late application is received, applicants will be ranked in order of date received.

Where parents wish to make an application for their daughter to a year group other than First Year or during the school year, they should in the first instance fill in an Application Form. 

An offer of a place can only be made if there is space in the year group in question. A decision on whether a place can be offered will be conveyed to the parents within 21 days of the initial application.

Applications made for a place in Transition Year or Fifth Year in the forthcoming academic year will be deferred until the Principal has established the number of available spaces in each of these year groups, which will depend, in turn, on the number of existing Third Year students who progress to either year group. Such applications will be placed on a waiting list until the number of available places in the relevant year group has been established by the Principal.

Before accepting the offer of a place in the school the parents and their daughter may be invited to attend a meeting with the Principal and/or Deputy Principal to ascertain whether there is a place available in the particular subject classes required by their daughter. The fact that there may be a space in a year group would not automatically mean that there is a place available in a particular subject class at the level required by the student. This is because class size is limited in certain subjects. For this reason parents and their daughter are strongly recommended to attend a meeting with the Principal and/or Deputy Principal to ensure that a transfer to the school would be in the best interests of their daughter given the curricular provision, subject choices/levels available at the time.

Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant to a year group other than First Year or during the school year:

The parents must confirm their acceptance in writing of an offer of a place within three weeks of the date of the offer of a place.

In accepting an offer of admission from St. Aloysius’ College, the parents must indicate—

(i) whether or not they have accepted an offer of admission for another school or schools. If they have accepted such an offer, they must also provide details of the offer or offers concerned and

(ii) whether or not they have applied for and awaiting confirmation of an offer of admission from another school or schools, and if so, they must provide details of the other school or schools concerned.

Parents should be aware that failure to disclose this information on the acceptance of a place may lead to an offer being withdrawn by the school.

Circumstances in which offers of a place in a year group other than First Year or during the school year may not be made or may be withdrawn:

An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by 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 within three weeks of the date of the offer of a place;

(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 Cooperation/ 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;

(iv) an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out above;

(v) the admission of the applicant would pose a significant risk to the health and safety of the applicant or students and staff of the school, or risk significantly interfering with the right of other students to an appropriate education. The Board of Management has a duty of care to ensure as far as practicable the health and safety of the students and staff of the school.

In addition, the Board of Management is required under section 15(1) of the Education Act 1998 to provide, or cause to be provided, an appropriate education for each student at the school for which that board has responsibility; or

(vi) the application is made for a place in Transition Year or Fifth Year in the forthcoming academic year before the Principal has established the number of available spaces in each of these year groups, which will depend on the number of existing Third Year students who progress to either year.

Oversubscription to the year group other than First Year:

In the event of there being more applications to the year group other than First Year than places available, a waiting list of students, whose application for admission to the particular year group has been refused, will be compiled and will remain valid for the school year in which admission is being sought.

Placement on the waiting list will be in the order of priority assigned to the students’ applications after the school has applied the selection criteria in accordance with this admission policy see Section 6 above. If there are two or more students in any of the selection criteria categories set out in Section 6 above, then the position on the waiting list (for places in a year group other than First year) will be determined by a lottery process overseen by the Principal, Deputy Principal and an independent observer appointed by the Board of Management.

Offers of any subsequent places in the year group other than First Year that become available during the school year 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.

Sharing of Data with other schools:

Applicants should note that the provisions of Section 12 above relating to the sharing of data with other schools will apply in all cases where an application is made to a year group other than First Year or during the school year.

Applicants should be aware that section 66(6) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 allows for the sharing of data 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;

(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).

The Board of St. Aloysius’ College or any persons acting on its behalf shall not, except in accordance with section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-

an application for admission of a student to the school, or

the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.

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,

These arrangements will not result in a reduction in the school day of such students:

A parent of a student, or a student who has reached the age of 18, who wishes to attend St. Aloysius’ College without attending religious instruction should make a written request to the Principal.   A meeting will then be arranged with the parent or the student, as the case may be, to discuss how the request might be accommodated by the school. 

Religious Education is a separate matter to religious instruction and is a core subject in the school and all students are required to take it up to Junior Cycle.

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.

Note:  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.

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.   

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.

Passed by the Board of Management of St. Aloysius’ College: 15/12/2022