Ballinamore Post-Primary Schools

                       

Enrolment/Admission Policy  

 

 

School Profile

The Ballinamore Post Primary Schools are co-educational and consist of Fatima & Felim’s Secondary School and The Ballinamore Vocational School.  Each school has a Board of Management and its own buildings and staff.  A scheme of Common Enrolment is in existence. This results in a sharing of facilities and close staff cooperation.  Both schools share students.  

The Boards of Management support the principles of equality of access to and participation in school; parental choice in relation to enrolment and respect for diversity of traditions and beliefs in society. 

The school depends on grants and teacher allocation provided by the Department of Education and Science.  The school occasionally fundraises.   

The school operates within the regulations laid down, from time to time, by the Department of Education and Science.

 

The school follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time to time. 

Mission Statement 

Our Mission is the provision of a broad, relevant curriculum for our students, through which they can develop their full potential.  We aim to prepare our students to participate as good Christians and as good citizens in society.

 

This mission statement encompasses the traditions, values and practices of the Vocational School and Catholic School Traditions. 

 

School Details

Name:              Ballinamore Post-Primary Schools

                        Fatima & Felim’s Secondary School

                        Ballinamore Vocational School

 

Address:            Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim

 

Details: Fatima & Felim’s Secondary School                Telephone/Fax:071-9644049

Ballinamore Vocational School               Telephone: 071-9644136

                        Meanscoil Fatima                           Telephone: 071-9644070                                                                   

                       

 

Secondary School Principal:            Fr. Francis Duffy

Vocational School Principal:            Mr. Brendan Burns 

 

Secondary School Deputy Principal:            Mr. Patrick McDermott

Vocational School Deputy Principal:            Mr. Diarmuid McCaffrey

 

Guidance Counsellor:            Mrs. Rita McNamara

 

Learning Support Teacher:            Mrs. Mary Dolan

 

Number of Teachers:            26 

Opening Times: 9.00-3.50

 

The school will open thirty minutes prior to official opening and will close ten minutes after official closing time.  Supervision is provided between these times in the school and grounds only. 

Travel Between Schools

Junior Students have to travel 150 Yards along a footpath to the Vocational School for practical subjects.  Senior students who are studying practical subjects will be brought by bus to the Vocational School.  There is supervision of students’ departure but there is no supervision of this travel through the town or along the footpath. Students are allowed to go to the town unsupervised at lunchtime. No students are supervised when travelling to or from the pitch at St. Felims or Sports Hall near St. Felim’s College. 

 

Extra Curricular Activities

The Ballinamore Post-Primary Schools provide for a range of extra curricular activities, these include: Gaelic Football at various levels, girls’ football, basketball and athletics.  A Public Speaking team usually enters local competitions. 

Parents Association

The school has an active Parents’ Association.  Its aim is to promote the educational development of the students and to assist with various school activities.

The association usually meets on the first Tuesday of each month during the school year. 

Students Council

The Students Council consists of students elected from each year in the school.  The coordinator of the council is a member of the staff.  The council represents the views of students and promotes the interests of the school.  

School Functions and Meetings

Parent Teacher Meetings are held once a year for each year group.  These meeting are brought to the attention of parents/guardians by letter.  Parents/guardians are strongly urged to attend. 

 

Other meetings are held during the year, usually held in the evening.  They include: Meeting for parents of First Year students (mid-September), various talks on alcohol and drug awareness, graduation mass and function. 

Courses and Subjects Offered

The Ballinamore Post-Primary School follows the curricular programmes set down by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time to time in accordance with the Education Act 1998 (Sections 9 and 30).

 

Junior Certificate                                                      Leaving Certificate

 

Irish                                                                              Irish

English                                                                          English

Mathematics                                                                 Mathematics

Religious Education                                                        Religious Education

History                                                                         History

Geography                                                                   Geography

Woodwork                                                                  Construction Studies

Metalwork                                                                   Engineering

Home Economics                                                           Home Economics

Technical Graphics                                                       Technical Drawing

French                                                                          French

Business Studies                                                             Business

Science                                                                        Chemistry

Typewriting                                                                  Accounting

SPHE                                                                           Economics

CSPE                                                                           Agricultural Science

                                                                                   Biology

 

 

The Principal allocates students to classes, subject to sufficient demand and resources.  The Board of Management reserves the right to determine on an annual basis the range and level of subjects. 

At senior level students may follow the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.  Subject to demand and resources the school may offer this programme. 

 

Statement of Strategy

This school encourages students to make the best use of the educational opportunities afforded to them.  It also encourages regular attendance at school.  The following strategies are used to promote education and attendance. 

bulletA high standard of teaching involving class work, homework and examinations.
bulletThe use of a Student Journal to record progress.
bulletReports sent home twice a year for each student.
bulletAwards for best examination results in the Junior Certificate.
bulletStudent of the Year awards for junior classes and for Fourth and Fifth Years.

Enrolment Policy

Decisions made in relation to enrolment are made by the Board of Management in accordance with school policy.

Except in exceptional circumstances children will be enrolled on application.

In all cases the regulations of the Department of Education and Science will be followed.  

Students who are eligible for admission must: 

·        be aged 12 on the 1st January of their first year in post-primary school.

·        have completed Sixth class in Primary School

·        accept the ethos and policies of the school and the school Code of Discipline.

·        be willing to take an assessment test at the start of the first term in September. 

 

Enrolment of Children with Special Educational Needs

Enrolment of Children with Special Educational Needs

While recognising parents’ rights to have a school of their choice for their children, the school’s ability to accept students with particular needs is dependent on the resources, suitable to the needs of the individual student, being supplied by the Department of Education and Science.  

The Board needs to be aware of any special needs as soon as possible. 

The following information is required: 

Has the student had access to any of the following: 

1.      Special needs assistant or classroom assistant.

2.      Special class.

3.      Help, for specific needs, from a resource teacher.

4.      Assistance with behavioural problems

5.      Psychological assessment.  The report to be provided.

6.      Any additional resources to help with special needs.

7.      Any resource in relation to travel or mobility. 

·        The Board may request a copy of the child’s relevant medical/psychological report and may require a professional assessment.  The purpose is to assist the school in establishing educational and training needs of the child relevant to his/her disability or special needs and to profile the support services required.

·        The Board assesses how needs can be met.

·        If further resources are required the Department of Education & Science will be requested to provide the resources before enrolment e.g. special needs assistant, specialised equipment or furniture, transport etc.

·        The School authorities will meet the parents to discuss the child’s needs and the school’s capacity to meet these needs. 

Please Note:  It may take some time for the Department of Education and Science to process the applications.  Parents are advised to inform the school as early as possible and discuss the situation well in advance of making application. 

As soon as is practicable, but not later than twenty one days, after a parent has provided the relevant information, the Board of Management shall make a decision in respect of the application concerned and inform the parents in writing.  Education Welfare Act (Section 19, (3) ). 

Enrolment resulting from transfer from another Post Primary School

Students may transfer in to the school from another post primary school subject to the following:

·        That space is available in the school, in particular with specialist classes where the capacity is limited.

·        That the school is satisfied with the reasons for the transfer being in the best interest of the student.  The possible problems of moving into an established class and year group have to be considered.  The possible disruption of studies and the possibility that subjects may have to be taken on or given up by the student.

·        The school authorities should be provided with all relevant information from the former school.

·        That it is in the best interest of the school.

·        It is in agreement with the school’s Admission Policy

·        Consultation with the Education Welfare Officer. 

The Board of Management will decide on enrolment, in consultation with the student’s parents/guardians, former school and, if necessary, with the Education Welfare Office. 

Re-Enrolment resulting from a Repeat of Leaving Certificate Year 2

Students may repeat Leaving Certificate Year 2 in to the school subject to the following conditions being fulfilled:

·        That space is available in all classes

·        The Department of Education and Science’s regulations will have to be followed.

·        The school authorities will have to be satisfied that the repeat of the year in this school are in the best interests of the student and the school. 

·        Applicants will have to be aware that not all subjects combinations may suit repeat students. 

·        Repeat students who may not be timetabled for some subjects will be required to be in a supervised situation during all class periods.

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Appeals

The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse an application for admission in exceptional circumstances, Education Welfare Act, 2000, Section 24; (5), page 22.  Education Act 1998, Section 29, Page 27; Circular Letter M48/01. 

Should a student’s application for admission to the school be refused the parents/guardians have the right to appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science, (Education Act 1998, Section 29 (d).)  The parents/guardians are informed in writing of the Board’s decision.  The reasons why the student was not accepted will be stated.  The right to appeal should be restated and the application form provided.  Circular M48/01).  The appeal must be made within 42 calendar days from the date the decision of the Board of Management was notified to the parents/guardians concerned. (Circular, M48/01). 

An appeal may be made to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science, The Appeals Administration Unit, Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. 

An appeal should be made in writing on the Application form supplied.  The Appeals Application form should be completed in full and should state: 

1.                  The decision being appealed.

2.                  The grounds on which the decision is being appealed.

3.                  The date that the parents/guardians were informed of the decision.

4.                  All other relevant information. 

Having regard to the desirability of resolving grievances within the school where possible, the parties to an appeal under Section 29, i.e. the appellant and the school’s Board of Management, will be asked to consider the matter in the first instance at local level to see if an accommodation can be reached.  As a general rule, appeals will only be considered by an appeals committee under section 29 where the parties are unable to resolve the issue at local level.  (Circular M48/01).