School Admissions
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria punctual applications will be considered before late applications are considered. The application procedure opens on 9 January 2024 at 12 noon (GMT) and an application submitted by the closing date of 26 January 2024 at 12 noon (GMT) will be treated as a punctual application. An application received after 12 noon (GMT) on 26 January 2024 and up to 4 pm on 31 January 2024 will be treated as a late application, this is also the last date and time for processing a change of preference in exceptional circumstances. After 4 pm on 31 January 2024 no applications will be processed until after the close of procedure on 25 April 2024.
Priority will be given to children who will have attained compulsory school age at the time of their proposed admission, including those children whose parents deferred their admission to primary school in September 2023 as defined by the new School Age (NI) Act (both groups to be treated equally).
Priority will be given to children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the school before those who are not so resident.
Year 1 Intake
The following criteria listed below will be applied in numerical order after the statutory criteria (a) & (b) has been applied as agreed by the Board of Governors of St Colmcille’s Maintained Primary School, Downpatrick in selecting children for admission to Year 1 in September 2024.
(a) Children of compulsory school age (children born on or between 2 July 2019 and 1 July 2020).
*NB. In accordance with the new School Age (NI) Act ‘compulsory school age’ will also include those children who deferred commencing Primary 1 in September 2023 within the date parameters 1 April 2019 to 1 July 2019 (and also any child who was born before 1 April 2019 but who was due to be born on or after 1 April 2019 if born at term).
(b) Children who reside in the Parish of Downpatrick at the time of application.
1. Children with a brother/sister, half-brother/sister who has attended St Colmcille’s Primary School or who currently attends St Colmcille’s Primary School.
2. Children regarded by the Board of Governors, on the basis of supporting evidence by parents and statutory agencies, as having special circumstances.
3. All other children from outside the Parish of Downpatrick.
Admissions criteria for entry September 2024 were updated November 2023.
In the event of being over-subscribed, in any one of the above criteria, taken in order, the following sub criterion will be applied:
(a) the proximity of the home to the school as measured by the shortest walking distance by road using Google Maps Distance Tool.
DUTY TO VERIFY
The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary evidence as it may determine to support or verify information on any application form.
If the requested evidence is not provided to the Board of Governors by the deadline given, this will result in the withdrawal of an offer of a place. Similarly, if information is supplied which appears to be false or misleading in any material way, the offer of a place will be withdrawn.
WAITING LIST POLICY
This Policy is available from the school.
Applications for admission to Y1 after the beginning of the school year
Criteria as above.
Y2-Y7 Intake
Criteria as above.
Applications for Admission
| APPLICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS TO PRIMARY 1 | ||
Year | Total Applications | Total Admissions | |
2021/2022 | 51 | 51 | |
2022/2023 | 54 | 54 | |
2023/2024 | 48 | 48 | |
*** Prospective parents are welcome to make appointments to gain further information on all that St Colmcille’s has to offer throughout December 2023 and January 2024 by contacting the School Office.