Admissions Criteria 2008/09

Pope John Catholic Primary School is a Voluntary Aided School in the trusteeship of the Diocese of Westminster.  The school was founded by the Catholic Church to provide education for Catholic children from White City and East Acton. 

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 admission to this school and intends to admit 30 pupils to the Reception Class in 2009/2010.  There is one intake which is in September 2009.  The 5th birthday of these children must occur between 1st September 2009 and 31st August 2010

Priority will always be given to a child who is baptised Catholic and where the family are committed, practising Catholics.  Parents will be asked to submit a copy of the child’s birth certificate and certificate of Baptism, together with their application form and priest’s reference, which must be signed by their parish priest, or a priest who knows them.

Application Procedures and Timetable

All applications for admission to the Reception Class must be made on the school’s Supplementary Information Form (in order for the governors to assess how well you meet the faith requirements in our Admissions Policy.  This is an essential part of your application) AND on the the Common Application Form of the home LA.

The School’s Supplementary Information Forms and Common Application Forms for Hammersmith & Fulham LA will be available at the school office from late November 2008. 

The closing date for applications is Friday 9 January 2009.  Applications must be submitted by the end of the school day (3.00 pm) to Miss Towey  (Admin Officer), Pope John Catholic School, Commonwealth Avenue, London, W12 7QR.  

Changes to the law mean that all applications to Pope John Catholic School will be co-ordinated by Hammersmith and Fulham Education Department.  

If you would like more general information about primary school applications please contact the Education Department on 020 8753 3643.

Admissions and Oversubscription Criteria

When there are more applicants than places, then the places will be offered to children in the following order of priority: -

1. Catholic looked after children.
2. *Catholic Children who are resident in the Parishes of White City and East Acton.
3. *Catholic Children who are resident in another parish.
4. Other looked after children
5. *Catechumens and member of the Eastern Christian Church
6. Christians of other denominations whose parents wish them to have a Catholic education and whose application is supported by a religious leader.
7. Children of other faiths whose parents wish them to have a Catholic education and whose application is supported by a religious leader.
8. Any other applicant

“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 carers).

“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 certificate of baptism in a Catholic Church or a certificate of reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church. 
The attendance of a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission will increase the priority of an application within each category. In the context of these admission criteria, “sister or brother” means two or more children who have at least one parent in common and who reside in the same home as one another. Where a child has been legally adopted, she/he will be regarded as the sibling of any other children with the same legal guardian, all of whom reside in the same household.

The governing body will give first priority, within each category, to children who have a sibling in the school at the time of the admission NOT application.

Second priority will be given to children who have a social, medical or pastoral need and whose application is professionally supported, as well as being supported by their minister, and whose needs can be most appropriately met at the school.

If after sibling criteria and social and medical needs have been considered, the number of children meeting any one criterion exceeds the number of places available, the places will be allocated in order of proximity ** to the school.

* In these cases the application must be supported by a Baptismal Certificate and a priest’s written reference.

**  Proximity to the school will be determined in terms of the shortest distance and safest walking route using public right of way from the home to the school entrance in Commonwealth Avenue.

Please note that a place in the School’s Nursery Class does not give priority when seeking admission into the School’s Reception Class.

The governing body may increase the priority of an application within a category where evidence is provided at the time of application of a special educational or other need of the child which can be most appropriately met at this school.

Late applications

Any applications received by the school after the closing date of 9th January 2009 will be considered late and will be dealt with after all applications received by the school on time. The School is however willing to accept applications which have been received late for a good reason.

Appeals Procedure

Parents whose applications are unsuccessful will be given an opportunity to appeal the decision.  This must be expressed in accordance with the Governors’ Admission Criteria.  In the first instance the appeal must be addressed to the Chair of Governors, c/o Pope John RC Primary School, within fourteen days of the mailing date of the decision letter.

There is no right of appeal for Nursery places.

Waiting Lists

In addition to their right to appeal, unsuccessful applicants will be offered an opportunity to be placed on the waiting list.  This waiting list will be maintained in order of the over subscription criteria set out above and not in the order in which applications are received or added to the list.  The list will be maintained until the end of the academic year to which the application applies.

Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs

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