Admissions

ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCIENCE COLLEGE

ADMISSION POLICY 2017/18

 

St Gregory’s Catholic Science College was founded by the Catholic Church to provide education for children of Catholic families.  At a Catholic school, 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 published admission number (PAN) for the school is 176 children. The Governing Body has sole responsibility for admissions to this school and intends to admit 176 children to Year 7 in September 2016.  Priority will always be given to Catholic applicants.

Over-subscription Criteria:

When the number of applicants exceeds the admission number, offers of places are made using the following criteria in order of priority:

1. Catholic “looked after” children and Catholic children who have been adopted or made subject to child arrangements orders, or special guardianship orders.


2. Catholic child with a Certificate of Catholic Practice form from a Priest will be required.  Within this criterion the following order of preference will be applied.
   • a. The presence of a sibling in the school at the time of admission
   • b. The proximity of the child’s home to the school.
3. Other baptised Catholic children.


4. Other “looked after” children and children who have been adopted, or made subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders.


5. Other children who will have a sibling at the school at the time of admission


6. Catechumens and baptised children of Eastern/Orthodox Churches where the application is supported by their priest.


7. Pupils from committed Christian families in order of preference:
   a) Christians attending Christian Churches affiliated to ‘Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.”
   b) Other Christian denominations. 


8. Pupils from other faith backgrounds whose parents wish them to have a Catholic education.


9. Any other children.

Siblings (which include siblings in the sixth form) will need to already be on roll at the time of application and expected to still be in attendance on the date of admission.  Siblings are defined as including the legal half / step brothers or sisters living in the same household as Father or Mother.  A child who is legally adopted and living in the same household would be considered as a sibling.

In considering applications from twins, triplets or children from multiple births it will be the policy of the school not to separate them even if this means temporarily exceeding the published admission number to ensure that policy is achieved.

Exceptional Need

The governors will give top priority in any category to children whose exceptional medical, social or pastoral needs justify a place at the school. To demonstrate an exceptional social or medical need, which can only be met at this school, the Governing Body will require compelling written evidence at the time of application, from an appropriate professional e.g. doctor, priest or social worker.

Tie Break

In the event of there being insufficient places to admit all candidates in any of the categories detailed above, priority will be given to candidates living nearest to the school, measured in a straight line from the child’s house. The school will adopt the Local Authority method of measuring distance between the school gate and the front door of the home address using a computerised geographical system to calculate the distance in a straight line from the main school gate to the front door of the home address.  In the case of a number of addresses in a block with the same geographical reference, priority will be given to those nearest to the main entrance of the block. In the previous 4 years the tie-break has been invoked at criterion [3].

Multiple Births

The Governing Body does not give priority under its admission criteria for twins, triplets or other multiple applications from one family for the same year group. If there are insufficient places available and one twin/sibling is offered the last place, the Governing Body will agree to exceed the published admission number and admit the additional child/children.

Current Admissions Information

Last year (2014/15) the school was heavily oversubscribed, we received 629 applications for 176 places. There were no applicants in category 1. In category (2a) 39 siblings were offered a place, along with 129 in category (2b) in accordance with the distance criteria set out in our tie-breaker. The governing body was unable to offer places to the remaining children in category 2 or to any applicants beyond category 2 (with the exception of 8 statemented pupils).   The final offer made on distance (category 2b) was 2035.97 metres from the school.

Application Procedure

All applicants must complete a Common Application Form (CAF) which is available from and returnable to the local authority in which the family is resident. In addition, applicants should complete St Gregory’s Catholic Science College Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which is supplied in the application pack. The CAF and the SIF are also obtainable from your local authority and are available on line.  The CAF must be completed and submitted to the local authority by 31^st October 2016.  The Supplementary Information Form (SIF) is available from the school or the local authority and should be completed and 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 may be unable to consider your application fully and it is very unlikely that your child will get a place at the school.  Late applications will be considered after the initial allocation process has been completed.

Applications for criterion 1 must be accompanied by written proof of the child’s status from the appropriate authority.  Those wishing to be considered under criterion 2 or 3 should also provide the School with a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate. If the certificate is not available, applicants should indicate in writing the reasons for this being the case. Those applying under criterion 2 should obtain a Certificate of Catholic Practice form from the school or parish and hand it to their parish priest when completed. The Certificate of Catholic Practice form is also available on the Diocesan website at www.rcdow.org.uk/schools/parents/admissions at the top right hand corner of the page.

The local authority will write to you on behalf of the governing body with the outcome of your application on 1^st March 2017 and the information will also be available on line. You should indicate your acceptance of the place as soon as possible. Information concerning the Appeals Procedure will be sent out to those who are unsuccessful in obtaining a place. The school maintains a waiting list, ranked according to the published criteria, and places will be offered as and when vacancies occur.  The waiting list will remain open for twelve months following the normal date of admission. If you wish your child’s name to stay on the waiting list you must apply to the school in writing before the twelve month period expires.

Pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC)

The admission of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) is dealt with by a completely separate procedure. Details of this separate procedure are set out in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. If your child has an EHC plan you must contact your local authority SEN officer. Children with an EHC Plan naming this school will be admitted.

Change of details

If any of the details on your form change between the date of application and the receipt of the letter of offer or refusal, you must inform the School immediately.  If misleading information is given or allowed to remain on the form, governors reserve the right to withdraw the place, even if the child has already started at the School.

Fair Access Protocol

The school is committed to taking its fair share of children who are vulnerable and/or hard to place, as set out in locally agreed protocols. Accordingly, outside the normal admissions round the governing body is empowered to give absolute priority to a child where admission is requested under any local protocol that has been agreed by both the Diocese and the governing body for the current school year. The governing body has this power even when admitting the child would mean exceeding the published admission number.

In Year Admission

Applications for In-Year admissions are made directly to the school and dealt with by the Governing Body. You will also need to complete the schools Supplementary Information Form which you can download from our website, pick up from the council or the school.  If you are a Brent resident you will also need to contact Brent Council’s School Admissions Service on 020 8937 3110 or visit www.brent.gov.uk/admissions to complete their CAF as well. The child’s residence at the time of application will be considered as their main home address.

 If there is a place available and no waiting list your child will be offered a place although you should be aware that there are waiting lists for most year groups. In the event of a place being available applications will be considered by the Governing Body in line with our published admission arrangements and will take account of those already on the waiting list. The waiting list is at all times maintained in criteria order and not in order of the date of application.  

If it is not possible to offer your child a place the letter notifying you of the decision will give you information about the reasons for refusal and your right of appeal. Unsuccessful applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

Children Educated Outside Their Chronological Age Group

Any application for a child to be educated out of his/her age group will be considered by governors on an individual basis and will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Parents should write to the Chair of Governors at the time of application, giving reasons and providing compelling professional evidence.

Sixth Form

Current pupils do not need to make an application as it is presumed that they will require a 6^th Form place should they meet the academic entry qualifications. The governors propose to admit a minimum of 12 external applicants annually to its sixth form should they have gained the required academic entry qualifications. The courses available and the minimum academic requirements are published annually by the school. The school welcomes applications to the Sixth Form from boys and girls from other institutions. Applications must be made on the Sixth Form Application Form, available from the school, and an offer of a Sixth Form place is conditional on the school being able to provide a course suited to the applicant’s age, ability, aptitude and educational needs.

Applicants will be required as a general rule to have achieved at least GCSE grade B in any subject (or associated subject) which they intend to study in the Sixth Form, but conditional places may be offered in particular subjects with higher requirements. Preference will always be given to Catholic applicants.

In the event of oversubscription the criteria and priorities listed in this Policy will apply.

Sixth-Form admissions appeals will be heard within forty school days of the appeal being lodged.

Waiting Lists

In addition to the right of appeal, unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity to be placed on a waiting list.  Lists will be maintained throughout the school year.  A child’s position on the waiting list does not depend upon the time they have been on the list but will be determined by how they meet the oversubscription criteria.

This means that a child’s position on the list can go down as well as up, depending upon the child’s circumstances and those of other applicants.  The waiting list will be closed each year and will not roll over.  Parents wishing to stay on the waiting list will be required to submit a request to the school.

Appeals

Parents have the right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel against a decision not to admit a child.  Parents wishing to exercise their right of appeal should write to the Chair of Governors at the school within 20 school days of receipt of the letter informing them that a place is not available. They will then be sent an Appeal Form to complete setting down the reasons for their appeal. Parents will be given the date when the Independent Appeal Panel will meet and hear their appeal and they will have the right to attend. Parents may be represented if they so choose.

Appeals relating to admission at secondary transfer for on-time applications (i.e. those relating to decisions sent on the national offer date) will be heard within 40 school days. Timetable for appeals will be published on our website in February of each year.

Parents are however reminded that appealing for a place does not guarantee entry to the school.

 

Interpretation of terms used in the Admissions Policy and Oversubscription Criteria

‘Looked after child’ has the same meaning as in S.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 at the time of making an application to the school).

‘Adopted’. For the purposes of this policy an adopted child is any child who has been formally adopted from care and whose parent/guardian can give proof of legal adoption.

‘Eastern/Orthodox Churches’ includes Orthodox Churches, and is evidenced by a Certificate of Baptism or Reception from the authorities of that Church.

‘Child Arrangements Order’. A child arrangement order is an order under the terms of the Children Act 1989 s.8 settling the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom the child is to live. Children ‘looked after’ immediately prior to the granting of the order qualify under this category

‘Special Guardianship Order’. A special guardianship order is an order under the terms of the Children Act 1989 s.14A appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian(s). Children ‘looked after’ immediately prior to the granting of the order qualify under this category.

‘Candidate’	The child on whose behalf an application is being made.
‘Applicant(s)’	The parents and/or legal guardians submitting an application for a place on behalf of a child. Or a young person of 16 years or over submitting their own application.
‘Practising Catholic’	A Catholic child from a practising Catholic family where weekly practice is verified by a Certificate of Catholic Practice from a Catholic priest in the standard format laid down by the Diocese.
‘Catholic’	A member of a Church in full communion with the See of Rome, including Eastern Catholic Churches. This will normally be evidenced by a certificate of baptism in a Catholic Church.  For the purposes of this Policy it also includes a “looked after” child who is in the process of adoption by a “Catholic family”.
‘Catechumen’	A member of the catechumenate of a Catholic Church. This will normally be evidenced by a Certificate of Reception into the order of catechumens.
‘Christian’	A member of one of the Churches that belongs to “Churches Together in Britain and Ireland”.
‘Sibling’	A brother or sister to include step brothers and sisters, half brothers and sisters or adopted brothers and sisters, who live at the same home as the child.
‘Family’	Those who live at the residential address of the parent/legal guardians who are submitting an application for a place on behalf of a child. Where the admission arrangements refer to “practising Catholic families”, it is sufficient for just one parent to attend.
‘Residential Address’	Residence is defined as where the child lives for more than 50% of the school week.

 

PROTOCOL ON ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES – 2017/18

1. The Admissions Authority is the Governing Body of St Gregory’s Catholic Science College.  All applicants, whether Harrow or Brent residents, or elsewhere, must complete and return a Common Application Form, which they acquire from their Primary School or their home LA.

2. The Common Application Form must be returned to their home LA so that they can co-ordinate admissions both inside and outside Brent.  In addition parents should complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which is available from Brent Local Authority or from St Gregory’s Catholic Science College and must be returned to the school.  Both the Common Application Form and SIF must be returned by 31^st October 2016; late application will jeopardise your chance of obtaining a place.

   If parents do not return the Supplementary Information Form and Certificate of Catholic Practice Form (only practising Catholics need to submit a Certificate of Catholic Practice Form) the governors may be unable to consider your application fully and it is unlikely that your child will be offered a place at the school.

3. The Diocesan Standard Priest’s Reference form, providing proof of practice of the Catholic faith, is obtained from St Gregory’s and is also available on the Diocese of Westminster website at www.rcdow.org.uk/education and should be returned directly to the school.  The Priest’s Reference Form contains two parts: Parents complete Part A and send it to their priest. The Priest will then complete part B and send that to the school. Priests will retain Part A for their own records.  (For applicants from other faith backgrounds, forms will be available on request to provide proof from their appropriate faith leader.)

4. The date for informing parents on their application will be 1^st March 2017.  This is done by the LA on behalf of the school but the reply slips must be returned to the LA.

5. In the letter of offer parents will be given details of the right to appeal.  Appeals will be heard by an independent appeals panel convened by the Governing Body.

6. A child’s residential address is where the child lives for 50% or more of the school week.

7. Late applications for secondary transfer (after the cut-off date which is on the application form) will only be considered after the 1st March 2017.

ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCIENCE COLLEGE

ADMISSION POLICY 2018/19

 

St Gregory’s Catholic Science College was founded by the Catholic Church to provide education for children of Catholic families.  At a Catholic school, Catholic doctrine and practice permeate every aspect of the school’s activity. It is essential that the Catholic character of the school’s education be 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 published admission number (PAN) for the school year 2018-19 will be 192 children. The Governing Body has sole responsibility for admissions to this school and intends to admit 192 children to Year 7 in September 2018.  Priority will always be given to Catholic applicants.

Over-subscription Criteria:

When the number of applicants exceeds the admission number, offers of places are made using the following criteria in order of priority:

1. Catholic “looked after” children and Catholic children who have been adopted or made subject to child arrangements orders, or special guardianship orders.


2. Catholic children with a Certificate of Catholic Practice. Within this criterion the following order of preference will be applied.
   • a. The presence of a sibling in the school at the time of admission
   • b. The proximity of the child’s home to the school.
3. Other baptised Catholic children.


4. Other “looked after” children and children who have been adopted, or made subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders.


5. Other children who will have a sibling at the school at the time of admission


6. Catechumens and baptised children of Eastern/Orthodox Churches where the application is supported by either a certificate of baptism or a certificate of reception into the catechumenate of the Catholic Church.


7. Pupils from committed Christian families in order of preference:
   a) Christians attending Christian Churches affiliated to ‘Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.”
   b) Other Christian denominations. 


8. Pupils from other faith backgrounds.


9. Any other children.

Siblings (which include siblings in the sixth form) will need to already be on roll at the time of application and expected to still be in attendance on the date of admission.  Siblings are defined as including the legal half / step brothers or sisters living in the same household as Father or Mother.  A child who is legally adopted and living in the same household would be considered as a sibling.

Exceptional Need

The governors will give top priority in any category to children whose exceptional medical, social or pastoral needs justify a place at the school. To demonstrate an exceptional social or medical need, which can only be met at this school, the Governing Body will require compelling written evidence at the time of application, from an appropriate professional e.g. doctor, priest or social worker.

Tie Break

In the event of there being insufficient places to admit all candidates in any of the categories detailed above, priority will be given to candidates living nearest to the school, measured in a straight line from the child’s house. The school will adopt the Local Authority method of measuring distance between the school gate and the front door of the home address using a computerised geographical system to calculate the distance in a straight line from the main school gate to the front door of the home address.  In the case of a number of addresses in a block with the same geographical reference, priority will be given to those nearest to the main entrance of the block. In the previous 4 years the tie-break has been invoked at criterion [3].

Multiple Births

The Governing Body does not give priority under its admission criteria for twins, triplets or other multiple applications from one family for the same year group. If there are insufficient places available and one twin/sibling is offered the last place, the Governing Body will agree to exceed the published admission number and admit the additional child/children.

Current Admissions Information

Last year (2016/17) the school was heavily oversubscribed, we received 725 applications for 176 places. There were no applicants in category 1. In category (2a) 44 siblings were offered a place, along with 129 in category (2b) in accordance with the distance criteria set out in our tie-breaker. The governing body was unable to offer places to the remaining children in category 2 or to any applicants beyond category 2 (with the exception of 3 statemented pupils).   The final offer made on distance (category 2b) was 5605.44 metres from the school.

Application Procedure

All applicants must complete a Common Application Form (CAF) which is available from and returnable to the local authority in which the family is resident. In addition, applicants should complete St Gregory’s Catholic Science College Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which is supplied in the application pack. The CAF and the SIF are also obtainable from your local authority and are available on line.  The CAF must be completed and submitted to the local authority by 31^st October 2017.  The Supplementary Information Form (SIF) is available from the school or the local authority and should be completed and 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 may be unable to consider your application fully and it is very unlikely that your child will get a place at the school.  Late applications will be considered after the initial allocation process has been completed.

Applications for criterion 1 must be accompanied by written proof of the child’s status from the appropriate authority.  Those wishing to be considered under criterion 2 or 3 should also provide the School with a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate. If the certificate is not available, applicants should indicate in writing the reasons for this being the case. Those applying under criterion 2 should obtain a Certificate of Catholic Practice form from the priest at the parish where the family normally worships.  The Certificate of Catholic Practice form is also available on the Diocesan website www.rcdow.org.uk/schools/parents (follow schools, parents) at the top right hand corner of the page.

The local authority will write to you on behalf of the governing body with the outcome of your application on 1^st March 2018 and the information will also be available on line. You should indicate your acceptance of the place as soon as possible. Information concerning the Appeals Procedure will be sent out to those who are unsuccessful in obtaining a place. The school maintains a waiting list, ranked according to the published criteria, and places will be offered as and when vacancies occur.  The waiting list will remain open for twelve months following the normal date of admission. If you wish your child’s name to stay on the waiting list you must apply to the school in writing before the twelve month period expires.

Pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC)

The admission of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) is dealt with by a completely separate procedure. Details of this separate procedure are set out in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. If your child has an EHC plan you must contact your local authority SEN officer. Children with an EHC Plan naming this school will be admitted.

Change of details

If any of the details on your form change between the date of application and the receipt of the letter of offer or refusal, you must inform the School immediately.  If misleading information is given or allowed to remain on the form, governors reserve the right to withdraw the place, even if the child has already started at the School.

Fair Access Protocol

The school is committed to taking its fair share of children who are vulnerable and/or hard to place, as set out in locally agreed protocols. Accordingly, outside the normal admissions round the governing body is empowered to give absolute priority to a child where admission is requested under any local protocol that has been agreed by both the Diocese and the governing body for the current school year. The governing body has this power even when admitting the child would mean exceeding the published admission number.

In Year Admission

Applications for In-Year admissions are made directly to the school and dealt with by the Governing Body. You will also need to complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form which you can download from our website, pick up from the council or the school.  If you are a Brent resident you will also need to contact Brent Council’s School Admissions Service on 020 8937 3110 or visit www.brent.gov.uk/admissions to complete their CAF as well. The child’s residence at the time of application will be considered as their main home address.

If there is a place available and no waiting list your child will be offered a place although you should be aware that there are waiting lists for most year groups. In the event of a place being available applications will be considered by the Governing Body in line with our published admission arrangements and will take account of those already on the waiting list. The waiting list is at all times maintained in criteria order and not in order of the date of application. 

If it is not possible to offer your child a place the letter notifying you of the decision will give you information about the reasons for refusal and your right of appeal. Unsuccessful applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

Children Educated Outside Their Chronological Age Group

Any application for a child to be educated out of his/her age group will be considered by governors on an individual basis and will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Parents should write to the Chair of Governors at the time of application, giving reasons and providing compelling professional evidence.

Sixth Form

Current pupils do not need to make an application as it is presumed that they will require a 6^th Form place should they meet the academic entry qualifications. The governors propose to admit a minimum of 12 external applicants annually to its sixth form should they have gained the required academic entry qualifications. The courses available and the minimum academic requirements are published annually by the school. The school welcomes applications to the Sixth Form from boys and girls from other institutions. Applications must be made on the Sixth Form Application Form, available from the school, and an offer of a Sixth Form place is conditional on the school being able to provide a course suited to the applicant.

Applicants will be required as a general rule to have achieved at least GCSE grade B in any subject (or associated subject) which they intend to study in the Sixth Form, but conditional places may be offered in particular subjects with higher requirements. Preference will always be given to Catholic applicants.

In the event of oversubscription the criteria and priorities listed in this Policy will apply.

Sixth-Form admissions appeals will be heard within forty school days of the appeal being lodged.

Waiting Lists

In addition to the right of appeal, unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity to be placed on a waiting list.  Lists will be maintained throughout the school year.  A child’s position on the waiting list does not depend upon the time they have been on the list but will be determined by how they meet the oversubscription criteria.

This means that a child’s position on the list can go down as well as up, depending upon the child’s circumstances and those of other applicants.  The waiting list will be closed each year and will not roll over.  Parents wishing to stay on the waiting list will be required to submit a request to the school.

Appeals

Parents have the right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel against a decision not to admit a child.  Parents wishing to exercise their right of appeal should write to the Chair of Governors at the school by 20^th April 2018. They will then be sent an Appeal Form to complete setting down the reasons for their appeal. Parents will be given the date when the Independent Appeal Panel will meet and hear their appeal and they will have the right to attend. Parents may be represented if they so choose.

Appeals relating to admission at secondary transfer for on-time applications (i.e. those relating to decisions sent on the national offer date) will be heard within 40 school days. Timetable for appeals will be published on our website in February of each year.

Parents are however reminded that appealing for a place does not guarantee entry to the school.

 

Interpretation of terms used in the Admissions Policy and Oversubscription Criteria

‘Looked after child’ has the same meaning as in S.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 at the time of making an application to the school).

‘Adopted’. For the purposes of this policy an adopted child is any child who has been formally adopted from care and whose parent/guardian can give proof of legal adoption.

‘Eastern/Orthodox Churches’ includes Orthodox Churches, and is evidenced by a Certificate of Baptism or Reception from the authorities of that Church.

‘Child Arrangements Order’. A child arrangement order is an order under the terms of the Children Act 1989 s.8 settling the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom the child is to live. Children ‘looked after’ immediately prior to the granting of the order qualify under this category

‘Special Guardianship Order’. A special guardianship order is an order under the terms of the Children Act 1989 s.14A appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian(s). Children ‘looked after’ immediately prior to the granting of the order qualify under this category.

‘Candidate’	The child on whose behalf an application is being made.
‘Applicant(s)’	The parents and/or legal guardians submitting an application for a place on behalf of a child. Or a young person of 16 years or over submitting their own application.
‘Certificate of Catholic Practice’	A certificate issued by the family’s parish priest (or the priest in charge of the church where the family attends Mass) in the form laid down by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. It will be issued if the priest is satisfied that at least one Catholic parent or carer (along with the child, if he or she is over seven years old) have (except when it was impossible to do so) attended Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation for at least five years (or, in the case of a child, since the age of seven, if shorter). It will also be issued when the practice has been continuous since being received into the Church if that occurred less than five years ago. It is expected that most Certificates will be issued on the basis of attendance. A Certificate may also be issued by the priest when attendance is interrupted by exceptional circumstances which excuse from the obligation to attend on that occasion or occasions. Further details of these circumstances can be found in the guidance issued to priests http://rcdow.org.uk/education/governors/admissions/
‘Catholic’	A member of a Church in full communion with the See of Rome, including Eastern Catholic Churches. This will normally be evidenced by a certificate of baptism in a Catholic Church.  For the purposes of this Policy it also includes a “looked after” child who is in the process of adoption by a “Catholic family”.
‘Catechumen’	A member of the catechumenate of a Catholic Church. This will normally be evidenced by a Certificate of Reception into the order of catechumens.
‘Christian’	Children who belong to other churches and ecclesial communities which, acknowledge God’s revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures, and, in obedience to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit commit themselves: to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is his body; and to fulfil their mission to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service in the world to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. An ecclesial community which on principle has no credal statements in its tradition, is included if it manifests faith in Christ as witnessed to in the Scriptures and is committed to working in the spirit of the above. All members of Churches Together in England and CYTÛN are deemed to be included in the above definition, as are all other churches and ecclesial communities that are in membership of any local Churches Together Group (by whatever title) on the above basis.
‘Children of other  faiths’	Children who are members of a religious community that does not fall within the definition of ‘other Christian denominations’ at criterion 8 above and which falls within the definition of a religion for the purposes of charity law. The Charities Act 2011 defines religion to include: A religion which involves belief in more than one God, and A religion which does not involve belief in a God. Case law has identified certain characteristics which describe the meaning of religion for the purposes of charity law, which are characterised by a belief in a supreme being and an expression of belief in that supreme being through worship.
‘Sibling’	A brother or sister to include step brothers and sisters, half brothers and sisters or adopted brothers and sisters, who live at the same home as the child.
‘Family’	Those who live at the residential address of the parent/legal guardians who are submitting an application for a place on behalf of a child.
‘Residential Address’	Residence is defined as where the child lives for more than 50% of the school week.

 

PROTOCOL ON ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES – 2018/19

1. The Admissions Authority is the Governing Body of St Gregory’s Catholic Science College.  All applicants, whether Harrow or Brent residents, or elsewhere, must complete and return a Common Application Form, which they acquire from their Primary School or their home LA.

2. The Common Application Form must be returned to their home LA so that they can co-ordinate admissions both inside and outside Brent.  In addition parents should complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which is available from Brent Local Authority or from St Gregory’s Catholic Science College and must be returned to the school.  Both the Common Application Form and SIF must be returned by 31^st October 2017; late application will jeopardise your chance of obtaining a place.

   If parents do not return the Supplementary Information Form and Certificate of Catholic Practice Form the governors may be unable to consider your application fully and it is unlikely that your child will be offered a place at the school.

3. The Certificate of Catholic Practice , providing proof of practice of the Catholic faith, is obtained from the priest at the parish where the family normally worships and is also available on the Diocese of Westminster website at www.rcdow.org.uk (follow schools, for parents) The signed Certificate should be returned directly to the school. 

4. The date for informing parents on the outcome of their application will be 1^st March 2018.  This is done by the LA on behalf of the school but the reply slips must be returned to the LA.

5. In the letter of offer parents will be given details of the right to appeal.  Appeals will be heard by an independent appeals panel convened by the Governing Body.

6. A child’s residential address is where the child lives for 50% or more of the school week.

7. Late applications for secondary transfer (after the cut-off date which is on the application form) will only be considered after the 1^st March 2018.

 

ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCIENCE COLLEGE

ADMISSION POLICY 2019/20

 

St Gregory’s Catholic Science College was founded by the Catholic Church to provide education for children of Catholic families.  At a Catholic school, Catholic doctrine and practice permeate every aspect of the school’s activity. It is essential that the Catholic character of the school’s education be 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 published admission number (PAN) for the school year 2019-20 will be 192 children. The Governing Body has sole responsibility for admissions to this school and intends to admit 192 children to Year 7 in September 2019.  Priority will always be given to Catholic applicants.

Over-subscription Criteria:

When the number of applicants exceeds the admission number, offers of places are made using the following criteria in order of priority:

1. Baptised Catholic “looked after” children and Catholic children who have been adopted or made subject to child arrangements orders, or special guardianship orders.


2. Baptised Catholic children with a Certificate of Catholic Practice. Within this criterion the following order of preference will be applied.
   • a. The presence of a sibling in the school at the time of admission
   • b. The proximity of the child’s home to the school.
3. Other baptised Catholic children.


4. Other “looked after” children and children who have been adopted, or made subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders.


5. Other children who will have a sibling at the school at the time of admission


6. Catechumens and baptised children of Eastern/Orthodox Churches where the application is supported by either a certificate of baptism or a certificate of reception into the catechumenate of the Catholic Church.


7. Pupils from committed Christian families in order of preference:
   a) Christians attending Christian Churches affiliated to ‘Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.”
   b) Other Christian denominations. 


8. Pupils from other faith backgrounds.


9. Any other children.

Siblings (which include siblings in the sixth form) will need to already be on roll at the time of application and expected to still be in attendance on the date of admission.  Siblings are defined as including the legal half / step brothers or sisters living in the same household as Father or Mother.  A child who is legally adopted and living in the same household would be considered as a sibling.

Exceptional Need

The governors will give top priority in any category to children whose exceptional medical, social or pastoral needs justify a place at the school. To demonstrate an exceptional social or medical need, which can only be met at this school, the Governing Body will require compelling written evidence at the time of application, from an appropriate professional e.g. doctor, priest or social worker.

Tie Break

In the event of there being insufficient places to admit all candidates in any of the categories detailed above, priority will be given to candidates living nearest to the school, measured in a straight line from the child’s house. The school will adopt the Local Authority method of measuring distance between the school gate and the front door of the home address using a computerised geographical system to calculate the distance in a straight line from the main school gate to the front door of the home address.  In the case of a number of addresses in a block with the same geographical reference, priority will be given to those nearest to the main entrance of the block. In the previous 2 years the tie-break has been invoked at criterion [2b].

Multiple Births

The Governing Body does not give priority under its admission criteria for twins, triplets or other multiple applications from one family for the same year group. If there are insufficient places available and one twin/sibling is offered the last place, the Governing Body will agree to exceed the published admission number and admit the additional child/children.

Current Admissions Information

Last year (2017/18) the school was heavily oversubscribed, we received 751 applications for 192 places. There were one applicants in category 1. In category (2a) 56 siblings were offered a place, along with 131 in category (2b) in accordance with the distance criteria set out in our tie-breaker. The governing body was unable to offer places to the remaining children in category 2 or to any applicants beyond category 2 (with the exception of 4 statemented pupils).   The final offer made on distance (category 2b) was 5807.45 metres from the school.

Application Procedure

All applicants must complete a eadmissions Form (CAF) which is available from and returnable to the local authority in which the family is resident. In addition, applicants should complete St Gregory’s Catholic Science College Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which is supplied in the application pack. The  SIF is also obtainable from your local authority and is available on line.  The eadmissions form  must be completed and submitted to the local authority by 31^st October 2018.  The Supplementary Information Form (SIF) is available from the school or the local authority and should be completed and returned to the school by the closing date.

If you do not complete both the eadmissions form and the SIF and return them by the closing date, the governing body may be unable to consider your application fully and it is very unlikely that your child will get a place at the school.  Late applications will be considered after the initial allocation process has been completed.

Applications for criterion 1 must be accompanied by written proof of the child’s status from the appropriate authority.  Those wishing to be considered under criterion 2 or 3 should also provide the School with a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate. If the certificate is not available, applicants should indicate in writing the reasons for this being the case. Those applying under criterion 2 should obtain a Certificate of Catholic Practice  from the priest at the parish where the family normally worships.  The Certificate of Catholic Practice is also available on the Diocesan website www.rcdow.org.uk/schools/parents (follow schools, parents) at the top right hand corner of the page.

The local authority will write to you on behalf of the governing body with the outcome of your application on 1^st March 2019 and the information will also be available on line. You should indicate your acceptance of the place as soon as possible. Information concerning the Appeals Procedure will be sent out to those who are unsuccessful in obtaining a place. The school maintains a waiting list, ranked according to the published criteria, and places will be offered as and when vacancies occur.  The waiting list will remain open for twelve months following the normal date of admission. If you wish your child’s name to stay on the waiting list you must apply to the school in writing before the twelve month period expires.

Pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC)

The admission of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) is dealt with by a completely separate procedure. Details of this separate procedure are set out in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. If your child has an EHC plan you must contact your local authority SEN officer. Children with an EHC Plan naming this school will be admitted.

Change of details

If any of the details on your form change between the date of application and the receipt of the letter of offer or refusal, you must inform the School immediately.  If misleading information is given or allowed to remain on the form, governors reserve the right to withdraw the place, even if the child has already started at the School.

Fair Access Protocol

The school is committed to taking its fair share of children who are vulnerable and/or hard to place, as set out in locally agreed protocols. Accordingly, outside the normal admissions round the governing body is empowered to give absolute priority to a child where admission is requested under any local protocol that has been agreed by both the Diocese and the governing body for the current school year. The governing body has this power even when admitting the child would mean exceeding the published admission number.

In Year Admission

Applications for In-Year admissions are made directly to the school and dealt with by the Governing Body. You will also need to complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form which you can download from our website, pick up from the council or the school.  If you are a Brent resident you will also need to contact Brent Council’s School Admissions Service on 020 8937 3110 or visit www.brent.gov.uk/admissions to complete their CAF as well. The child’s residence at the time of application will be considered as their main home address.

If there is a place available and no waiting list your child will be offered a place although you should be aware that there are waiting lists for most year groups. In the event of a place being available applications will be considered by the Governing Body in line with our published admission arrangements and will take account of those already on the waiting list. The waiting list is at all times maintained in criteria order and not in order of the date of application.  

If it is not possible to offer your child a place the letter notifying you of the decision will give you information about the reasons for refusal and your right of appeal. Unsuccessful applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

Children Educated Outside Their Chronological Age Group

Any application for a child to be educated out of his/her age group will be considered by governors on an individual basis and will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Parents should write to the Chair of Governors at the time of application, giving reasons and providing compelling professional evidence.

Sixth Form

Current pupils do not need to make an application as it is presumed that they will require a 6^th Form place should they meet the academic entry qualifications. The governors propose to admit a minimum of 12 external applicants annually to its sixth form should they have gained the required academic entry qualifications. The courses available and the minimum academic requirements are published annually by the school. The school welcomes applications to the Sixth Form from boys and girls from other institutions. Applications must be made on the Sixth Form Application Form, available from the school, and an offer of a Sixth Form place is conditional on the school being able to provide a course suited to the applicant.

Applicants will be required as a general rule to have achieved at least GCSE grade B in any subject (or associated subject) which they intend to study in the Sixth Form, but conditional places may be offered in particular subjects with higher requirements. Preference will always be given to Catholic applicants.

In the event of oversubscription the criteria and priorities listed in this Policy will apply.

Sixth-Form admissions appeals will be heard within forty school days of the appeal being lodged.

Waiting Lists

In addition to the right of appeal, unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity to be placed on a waiting list.  Lists will be maintained throughout the school year.  A child’s position on the waiting list does not depend upon the time they have been on the list but will be determined by how they meet the oversubscription criteria.

This means that a child’s position on the list can go down as well as up, depending upon the child’s circumstances and those of other applicants.  The waiting list will be closed each year and will not roll over.  Parents wishing to stay on the waiting list will be required to submit a request to the school.

Appeals

Parents have the right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel against a decision not to admit a child.  Parents wishing to exercise their right of appeal should write to the Chair of Governors at the school by 19^th April 2019. They will then be sent an Appeal Form to complete setting down the reasons for their appeal. Parents will be given the date when the Independent Appeal Panel will meet and hear their appeal and they will have the right to attend. Parents may be represented if they so choose.

Appeals relating to admission at secondary transfer for on-time applications (i.e. those relating to decisions sent on the national offer date) will be heard within 40 school days. Timetable for appeals will be published on our website in February of each year.

Parents are however reminded that appealing for a place does not guarantee entry to the school.

 

Interpretation of terms used in the Admissions Policy and Oversubscription Criteria

‘Looked after child’ has the same meaning as in S.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 at the time of making an application to the school).

‘Adopted’. For the purposes of this policy an adopted child is any child who has been formally adopted from care and whose parent/guardian can give proof of legal adoption.

‘Eastern/Orthodox Churches’ includes Orthodox Churches, and is evidenced by a Certificate of Baptism or Reception from the authorities of that Church.

‘Child Arrangements Order’. A child arrangement order is an order under the terms of the Children Act 1989 s.8 settling the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom the child is to live. Children ‘looked after’ immediately prior to the granting of the order qualify under this category

‘Special Guardianship Order’. A special guardianship order is an order under the terms of the Children Act 1989 s.14A appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian(s). Children ‘looked after’ immediately prior to the granting of the order qualify under this category.

‘Candidate’	The child on whose behalf an application is being made.
‘Applicant(s)’	The parents and/or legal guardians submitting an application for a place on behalf of a child. Or a young person of 16 years or over submitting their own application.
‘Certificate of Catholic Practice’	A certificate issued by the family’s parish priest (or the priest in charge of the church where the family attends Mass) in the form laid down by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. It will be issued if the priest is satisfied that at least one Catholic parent or carer (along with the child, if he or she is over seven years old) have (except when it was impossible to do so) attended Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation for at least five years (or, in the case of a child, since the age of seven, if shorter). It will also be issued when the practice has been continuous since being received into the Church if that occurred less than five years ago. It is expected that most Certificates will be issued on the basis of attendance. A Certificate may also be issued by the priest when attendance is interrupted by exceptional circumstances which excuse from the obligation to attend on that occasion or occasions. Further details of these circumstances can be found in the guidance issued to priests http://rcdow.org.uk/education/governors/admissions/
‘Catholic’	A member of a Church in full communion with the See of Rome, including Eastern Catholic Churches. This will normally be evidenced by a certificate of baptism in a Catholic Church.  For the purposes of this Policy it also includes a “looked after” child who is in the process of adoption by a “Catholic family”.
‘Catechumen’	A member of the catechumenate of a Catholic Church. This will normally be evidenced by a Certificate of Reception into the order of catechumens.
‘Christian’	Children who belong to other churches and ecclesial communities which, acknowledge God’s revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures, and, in obedience to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit commit themselves: to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is his body; and to fulfil their mission to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service in the world to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. An ecclesial community which on principle has no credal statements in its tradition, is included if it manifests faith in Christ as witnessed to in the Scriptures and is committed to working in the spirit of the above. All members of Churches Together in England and CYTÛN are deemed to be included in the above definition, as are all other churches and ecclesial communities that are in membership of any local Churches Together Group (by whatever title) on the above basis.
‘Children of other  faiths’	Children who are members of a religious community that does not fall within the definition of ‘other Christian denominations’ at criterion 8 above and which falls within the definition of a religion for the purposes of charity law. The Charities Act 2011 defines religion to include: A religion which involves belief in more than one God, and A religion which does not involve belief in a God. Case law has identified certain characteristics which describe the meaning of religion for the purposes of charity law, which are characterised by a belief in a supreme being and an expression of belief in that supreme being through worship.
‘Sibling’	A brother or sister to include step brothers and sisters, half brothers and sisters or adopted brothers and sisters, who live at the same home as the child.
‘Family’	Those who live at the residential address of the parent/legal guardians who are submitting an application for a place on behalf of a child.
‘Residential Address’	Residence is defined as where the child lives for more than 50% of the school week.

 

PROTOCOL ON ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES – 2019/20

1. The Admissions Authority is the Governing Body of St Gregory’s Catholic Science College.  All applicants, whether Harrow or Brent residents, or elsewhere, must complete an eadmissions Form which they will find on their home LA website.

2. The eadmissions Form must be completed so that their home LA can co-ordinate admissions both inside and outside Brent.  In addition parents should complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which is available from Brent Local Authority or from St Gregory’s Catholic Science College and must be returned to the school.  Both the eadmissions Form and SIF must be returned by 31^st October 2018; late application will jeopardise your chance of obtaining a place.

   If parents do not return the Supplementary Information Form and Certificate of Catholic Practice Form the governors may be unable to consider your application fully and it is unlikely that your child will be offered a place at the school.

3. The Certificate of Catholic Practice , providing proof of practice of the Catholic faith, is obtained from the priest at the parish where the family normally worships and is also available on the Diocese of Westminster website at www.rcdow.org.uk (follow schools, for parents) The signed Certificate should be returned directly to the school. 

4. The date for informing parents on the outcome of their application will be 1^st March 2019.  This is done by the LA on behalf of the school but the reply slips must be returned to the LA.

5. In the letter of offer parents will be given details of the right to appeal.  Appeals will be heard by an independent appeals panel convened by the Governing Body.

6. A child’s residential address is where the child lives for 50% or more of the school week.

7. Late applications for secondary transfer (after the cut-off date which is on the application form) will only be considered after the 1^st March 2019.