|
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC PRIMARY
SCHOOL
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA 2010/2011
 As
a Catholic school, we aim to provide a Catholic education
for all our pupils. At a Catholic school, Catholic doctrine
and practice permeates 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 governing body has responsibility for admissions to this
school and intends to admit 30 pupils to the reception class
in the school year which begins in September 2010.
Oversubscription criteria
Where there are more applications than the number of places
available, places will be offered to the following in order
of priority.
| |
1. |
Catholic Looked after children. |
| |
2. |
Baptised Catholic children from practising Catholic
families who are resident in the parishes of the
Holy Apostles and Westminster Cathedral. |
| |
3. |
Other baptised Catholic children from practising
Catholic families who live outside the parishes of
the Holy Apostles and Westminster Cathedral. |
| |
4. |
Other baptised Catholic children. |
| |
5. |
Other looked after children. |
| |
6. |
Christians of other denominations whose parents wish
them to have a catholic education whose application
is supported by a minister of religion. |
| |
7. |
Children of other faiths whose parents wish them to
have a Catholic Education the school whose
application is supported by a religious leader.
|
| |
8. |
Any other applications. |
Where the offer of places to all the applicants in any of
the categories listed above would lead to oversubscription
the following provisions will be applied.
The attendance of a siblings brothers and sisters, step
brothers and sisters, half brothers and sisters or adopted
brothers and sisters at the school at the time of enrolment
will increase the priority of an application within each
category.
Within a category, the governing body will give top priority
to an application where the child has documented social
and/or medical reasons for an appropriate professional (e.g.
doctor or social worker) specifying why Westminster
Cathedral is the most suitable school and the difficulties
that would be caused if the child had to attend another
school.
Tie Break
Where the offer of places to all the applicants in any of
the sub-categories listed above would still lead to
oversubscription, the places up to the admission number will
be offered to those living nearest the school. This will be
determined using Westminster LEA software The Admissions
Department at Westminster Local Education Authority have
provided the following explanation of how the software
measures the distance from home to school. “The home to
school walking distance is that measured by the geographical
information function embedded in the Local Authority’s
dedicated admissions software. This accurately measures the
shortest walking distance from the centre of the applicant’s
home address to the school gate using the existing road
network. The distance measured for this purpose, uses only
routes ordinarily accessible by road traffic but not
footpaths or pedestrianised areas.”) Where the admission of
children from multiple births would lead to exceeding the
Published Admissions Number of 30, priority will be given to
the eldest of the siblings. Where distance is used as a tie
breaker, and where it is necessary to differentiate between
applicants living in the same block of flats and eligible
for the remaining place/s, priority will be given to
applicants by ascending flat numerical order.
Waiting Lists
In addition to their right of appeal, unsuccessful
candidates will be offered the opportunity to be placed on a
waiting list. This waiting list will be maintained in order
of the oversubscription criteria set out above and not in
the order in which applications are received or added to the
list. Children are kept on the list for the duration of
their primary school career.
Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs
The admission of pupils with a statement of Special
Educational Needs is dealt with by a completely separate
procedure. This procedure is integral to the making and
maintaining statements by the pupils home Local Education
Authority. A detail of this separate procedure is set out in
the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.
Notes (these notes form part of the oversubscription
criteria).
“Looked after child” has the same meaning as in Section 22
of the Children Act 1989, and means any child in the care of
a local authority or provided with accommodation by them
(e.g. children with foster parents )
“Catholic” means a member of a Church in full communion with
the See of Rome. This includes the Eastern Catholic
Churches. This will normally be evidenced by a certification
of baptism in a Catholic church or a certificate of
reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
“Practising Catholic” means regular family attendance at
Sunday Mass which is confirmed by the Diocesan Priest’s
Reference (“family” normally includes the Catholic or
Catholics who have legal responsibility for the child).
To demonstrate an exceptional social, medical or pastoral
need of the child which can be most appropriately met at
this school, the governing body will require written
evidence from an appropriate professional, such as a social
worker, doctor or priest.
Appeals Procedure
Parents who are unsuccessful in securing a place for
their child have the right of appeal.
In the first instance they should write to the Chair of
Govern ors, within 21 days. If the matter cannot be
resolved, then parents will be advised of their right of
appeal under the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act.
The school follows the procedure laid down by the
Westminster Diocese in such circumstances.
Applications to Westminster Cathedral Catholic Primary
School, 2010-2011.
As from 2006 admission to all maintained primary schools in
Westminster are co-ordinated by the City of Westminster
Local Education Authority.
If you do not complete both the CAF and the SIF and return
them by the closing date, the governing body may be unable
to consider your application and it is very unlikely that
your child will get a place at Westminster Cathedral
Catholic Primary School.
The Westminster Common Application Form (CAF), naming
Westminster Cathedral Catholic Primary School as one
preference. On this form applicants will be able to apply
for up to six maintained primary schools within Westminster
in order of preference. This form must be completed
regardless of where the applicant lives and is the main
basis of application.
This form must be returned to:-
The School Admissions Team,
1st Floor
215 Lisson Grove
NW8 8LF
A Westminster Cathedral Catholic Primary School
supplementary form, which will enable the Governors to
gather information to assess commitment to the Roman
Catholic Church.
This form must be returned to :-
The Admissions Officer,
Westminster Cathedral Catholic Primary School,
Bessborough Place,
Pimlico,
London, SW1 3SE.
The child’s birth and baptism certificate together with
proof of residence (a Council Tax Bill, a Rental Agreement,
utility bill or proof of home ownership) must be submitted
with this form.
The closing date for applications is 1st March, 2010.
Both the Westminster Common Application Form and the
school’s supplementary form must received by that date.
Offer of places
Parents will be notified of the result of their application
on 10th May 2010
Parents will be required to sign a copy of a statement to
indicate positive support for the aims and ethos of the
school.
Entry into the Reception Class.
There are two admission points into the Reception Class.
Children who become five years of age between 1st September
and 28th /29th February start school in September.
Children who have their fifth birthday between 1st March and
31st August start school in January.
When your child first begins school, we try to make the
transition from home/nursery to school as smooth as
possible. During the term preceding your child’s admission
we will invite you and your child to visit the school. Your
child will be able to spend some time in his/her classroom
with the class teacher and the other children starting
school at the same time.
It will also provide parents with the opportunity to meet
and talk to the headteacher, members of staff, school
chaplain and some members of the school’s governing body.
Our policy is to start children gradually in the Reception
class. Admission days and times are staggered to allow the
children to become socially integrated and to meet their
teacher. On the first couple of days, your child will stay
for the morning only.
We will endeavour to contact your child’s nursery or
playgroup before entry to the school, so we can prepare
effectively for your child’s transfer. This is particularly
important if your child has special needs (whether
statemented or otherwise) or suffers from an y physical
disability. Our SENCO and classteacher will then make every
effort to visit your child in its current setting.
“Casual” admissions. (i.e. for admissions at times other
than normal admission to the reception class).
Older children may be admitted at any time provided there is
room in the appropriate class.
Where there are more applicants than vacancies, the
oversubscription criteria applies.
Where a year group is over subscribed, the school maintains
a waiting list in rank order. This is updated as children
are removed or added to the list.
Click
here to download a copy of the Pre Admission
form*.
Click
here to download the Supplementary form for
Admission*. Click below
to download reference forms:*
Part A:
your self-assessment
Part B:
Priest’s reference
These are PDF documents and will open in
a separate window. Please close the window to return to this
page. In order to read them you will need the Acrobat
Reader program. If it is not already on your computer,
please click
here to download it free.. |
