The Loreto Grammar School, Omagh, is a Catholic Grammar School for girls.  This school wishes to accept girls who are most academically suitable for the type of education offered by the school, and whose parents/guardians are in agreement with the Philosophy and Aims of the school.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

The Board of Governors has determined that the following Admissions Criteria will be applied in the order set down below if the number of applicants is greater than the admissions number.

Applicants claiming that medical or other problems affected their child’s performance in the Transfer Procedure Tests or are claiming that their child should be treated under the Special Provisions set out in Sections 5 and 6 of the Board’s Booklet “Secondary Education and Changing Schools at Eleven:  2008 Edition” will have their cases considered before the application of any of the Admissions Criteria.  The Board of Governors, on the basis of all the documented evidence supplied with the original transfer forms, will decide the grade to be used in the application of the Admissions Criteria to such applicants.

1. The Board of Governors will consider applicants in the following order of grade;     A, B1, B2, C1, C2, D.

2. If there are more applicants with a particular grade than places remaining then pupils with that grade will be selected according to the following criteria applied in the order set down below:-

2.1     applicants of whom sisters are pupils in the school or have been selected for admission to the school in the coming school year.

2.2     applicants who are the first girl in the family to transfer to secondary education.

2.3     applicants who are daughters of the permanent (including part-time) teaching, administrative, technical or ancillary staff of the school or of staff who are to take up such an appointment.

2.4     applicants who live closest to the school.  The distance will be measured “as the crow flies”.

If there are more applicants satisfying any one of the above criteria 2.1 to 2.4 than there are places available, then the remaining criteria will become sub-criteria and applied successively in the order set out until the final selection is completed.

The Board of Governors has delegated to the Principal, a Selection Committee, consisting of three members of the Board of Governors and a Vice-Principal, the task of applying the criteria as indicated above.  The decisions of this sub-committee are subject to the final ratification of the Board.

It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to ensure that any information relating to the above criteria, or indeed information regarding the existence of any other relevant factor(s) is given on the applicant’s Transfer Report Form.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Grammar schools must admit pupils strictly in the order of the Transfer Grade which they obtain, subject only to consideration of medical or other problems which may have affected performance in the Transfer Test(s) and which are supported by documentary evidence of a medical or other appropriate nature.  These ‘medical or other problems’ are commonly referred to as “Special circumstances”.

DETAILS OF MEDICAL OR OTHER PROBLEMS

Where it is claimed that a pupil’s performance in the Transfer Tests has been affected by a medical or other problem, independent evidence of its existence must be provided to the school.  Where the problem is a medical one of short term duration which affected the pupil only at the time of the Transfer Tests the school will require the production of evidence that the pupil was examined by a medical practitioner in relation to the illness. 

Where the problem is of a non medical nature the parents should set out in the Transfer Form precise details of the problem and append any appropriate evidence to corroborate its existence.

EDUCATIONAL EVIDENCE

Sufficient objective comparative documentary evidence must be provided by the parents and the Primary School and accompany the Transfer Form to enable the School to reach a decision.

The following information must be provided:-

1. The number of pupils in her P7 class and the number taking the tests

2. All the pupil’s school test results in English, Mathematics, Science and Technology (ie internal school tests and standardised tests) from the beginning of the Key Stage 2 period (ie P5) compared to the results for the same tests of all the other members of her P7 class and the transfer grades of the other members of her P7 class.  In the case of small schools, or schools where very few pupils take the Transfer Tests, it will be appropriate to include the same comparative information in relation to pupils who have taken the Transfer Tests in the previous year(s).  A sample form (SC1) for this purpose is set out on Pages 21 and 22.  Only the pupils claiming Special Circumstances should be identified.  All other pupils in the comparative picture should be anonymous.

The primary School Principal’s comments on the pupil’s academic achievements in comparison with the other members of her P7 class who received the same or a higher grade in the Transfer Tests are also required.

It is emphasised that the onus is on parents/guardians to ensure that the above information is provided by the primary school.  Failure to provide such information may result in the school being unable to consider the application for Special Circumstances.

For children who have recently taken up residence in Northern Ireland, the Board of Governors will expect to receive reports from the school(s) attended and will also seek an assessment from the Western Education and Library Board.  On the basis of all of the information available the Board of Governors will determine a grade for the child which will be the grade used in the application of the Admission Criteria.

VERIFICATION OF ALL INFORMATION

All of the information provided on the transfer form or on documents attached to this form or on the SC1 form must be verified before an application can be considered by the Board of Governors. To enable the Board of Governors to verify this information the following documents must be provided by all applicants with the Transfer Form.

• The child’s Birth Certificate (only the “long” version showing parental details is acceptable)

AND

• A letter from HM Revenue and Customs awarding Child Benefit to the child or another letter relating to this benefit which contains the child’s name, any sisters awarded this benefit and the parent/guardians current address

OR

• The child’s current Medical Card showing the child’s current address

If criterion 2.2 is relevant to the application (applicants who are the first girl in the family to transfer to secondary education) the following documentation must also be provided

• A letter from the local Parish Priest/Minister of Religion or General Practitioner confirming the child is the first girl in the family to transfer.

This letter should be on parish or medical practice headed paper.

The onus is on parents/guardians, before signing the Transfer Form, to ensure that the Transfer Form is correctly completed, special circumstances (if claimed) are properly documented and signed by the Primary school Principal, and all required verification documents are attached to the Transfer Form. Failure to provide such information will result in this school being unable to consider the application.

Original documents are required and not facsimiles or photocopies.

The provision of false or incorrect information will result in the school being unable to offer a place or the withdrawal of a place.