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School Admission Policy Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin
Name of School: Ballyfin NS.
Address: Knocknakearn, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
Roll Number: 15537E
Registered Charity Number: 20126001
Patron: Most Reverend Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin
1. Introduction
This Admission Policy complies with the requirements of the Education Act 1998, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and the Equal Status Act 2000. In drafting this policy, the board of management of the school has consulted with school staff, the school patron and with parents of children attending the school.
The policy was approved by the school patron on June 4th 2025. The policy is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hardcopy, on request, to any person who requests it.
The relevant dates and timelines for Ballyfin N.S. admission process are set out in the school’s annual admission notice which is published annually on the school’s website at least one week before the commencement of the admission process for the school year concerned.
This policy must be read in conjunction with the annual admission notice for the school year concerned.
The application form for admission is published on the school website and will be made available in hardcopy to any person who requests this option.
2. Characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school
Ballyfin N.S. is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos. The Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin is the Patron of this school.
‘Catholic schools are communities which are open, welcoming and inclusive. Therefore, Catholic schools may include children who adhere to other religions or other stances for living. While mindful of their duty to educate in the distinctive beliefs, values, and practices of the Catholic community, teachers will bear witness to an attitude of respect for and appreciation of all’.
‘The Catholic Preschool and Primary Religious Education Curriculum p 15’
Catholic Ethos in the context of a Catholic primary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:
School Ethos Statement:
Ballyfin N.S. aims to provide a happy, positive and secure learning environment where each child can grow and develop socially, physically, academically, spiritually and emotionally. It depends on the co-operation of pupils, parents, teachers, Board of Management, parish and the community.
Our mission is to provide for the academic, physical, emotional, social and spiritual education of our pupils. The varying needs of all the children, the talents, personalities and learning styles of both pupils and teachers will determine our delivery and approach.We endeavour to build on the children’s strengths and support them when they encounter difficulties.
We recognise that the parents are the primary educators of their children and we depend upon their support and co-operation, together with that of the Board of Management, the Department of Education and Skills and the wider community.
3. Admission Statement
Ballyfin N.S. will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:
As per section 61 (3) of the Education Act 1998, ‘civil status ground’, ‘disability ground’, ‘discriminate’, ‘family status ground’, ‘gender ground’, ‘ground of race’, ‘religion ground’, ‘sexual orientation ground’ and ‘Traveller community ground’ shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Equal Status Act 2000.
Ballyfin N.S. will cooperate with the National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 relating to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council.
Ballyfin N.S. school will comply with any direction served on the patron or the board, as the case may be, under section 37A and any direction served on the board under section 67(4B) of the Education Act.
All Denominational Schools
Ballyfin N.S. is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not Roman Catholic and it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
Schools with a special education class
Ballyfin NS is a school which has established a class, with the approval of the Minister for Education, which provides an education exclusively for students with a category or categories of special educational needs specified by the Minister and may refuse to admit to the class a student who does not have the category of needs specified.
4. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the School/Special Class
Ballyfin N.S. with the approval of the Minister for Education, has established a class to provide an education exclusively for children with a definite Autism diagnosis (A.S.D) in line with DSM IV/V or ICD10.
Eligibility criteria for enrolment in a special class for autism
To be considered eligible for enrolment in the special class, each child must have:
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria at the time of application will not be considered for the special class placement.
Oversubscription of the Special Class
When the eligible applications for the ASD class exceeds places available the following selection criteria will be applied:
5. Admission of Students
This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –
a) the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 below for further details)
b) a parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student
All children who wish to enrol in Junior Infants in Ballyfin NS must be at least 4 years old before September 1st on the year they wish to start school.
The Board of Management of Ballyfin NS reserve the right to limit the number of pupils in each class in the school.
All Denominational Schools
Ballyfin N.S. is a Catholic school and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of the Catholic religion where it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
School with a special education class
The special class attached to Ballyfin NS provides an education exclusively for students with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in line with DSM IV/V or ICD10. The school may refuse admission to this class, where the student concerned does not have the specified category of special educational needs provided for in this class.
6. Oversubscription
In the event that the school is oversubscribed, the school will, when deciding on applications for admission, apply the following selection criteria in the order listed below to those applications that are received within the timeline for receipt of applications as set out in the school’s annual admission notice:
Places will be allocated in the following order of priority:
2. Children resident at time of application within the geographical area of the Catholic parish of Ballyfin and provable by documentation. (The townlands of Ballyfin parish are available on request from the school office).
3. Children resident outside of the parish but who have a sibling attending, or whose sibling/s attended Ballyfin NS.
4. Children resident outside of the parish.
5. In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection following criteria categories above (e.g. the number of applicants exceeds the number of places and two or more children share a date of birth), the time of birth as stated on the birth certificate will be used to determine the older child, and the place allocated in order of age. If the children tied for the last place are twins, then both children will be admitted.
7. What will not be considered or taken into account
In accordance with section 62(7) (e) of the Education Act, the school will not consider or take into account any of the following in deciding on applications for admission or when placing a student on a waiting list for admission to the school.
-admission to a special class insofar as it is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not the student has the category of special educational needs concerned
8. Decisions on applications
All decisions on applications for admission to Ballyfin N.S. will be based on the following:
(Please see section 1 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and section 15 below in relation to applications for places in years other than the intake group.)
Selection criteria that are not included in our school admission policy will not be used to make a decision on an application for a place in our school.
9. Notifying applicants of decisions
Applicants will be informed in writing as to the decision of the school, within the timeline outlined in the annual admissions notice.
If a student is not offered a place in our school, the reasons why they were not offered a place will be communicated in writing to the applicant, including, where applicable, details of the student’s ranking against the selection criteria and details of the student’s place on the waiting list for the school year concerned.
Applicants will be informed of the right to seek a review/right of appeal of the school’s decision (see section 18 below for further details).
10. Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant
In accepting an offer of admission from Ballyfin N.S., parents/guardians must indicate--
(i) whether or not they have accepted an offer of admission for another school or schools. If they have accepted such an offer, they must also provide details of the offer or offers concerned and
(ii) whether or not they have applied for and awaiting confirmation of an offer of admission from another school or schools, and if so, they must provide details of the other school or schools concerned.
11. Circumstances in which offers may not be made or may be withdrawn
An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by Ballyfin N.S. where--
12. Sharing of Data with other schools
Applicants should be aware that section 66(6) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 allows for the sharing of certain information between schools in order to facilitate the efficient admission of students.
Section 66(6) allows a school to provide a patron or another board of management with a list of the students in relation to whom--
(i) an application for admission to the school has been received,
(ii) an offer of admission to the school has been made, or
(iii) an offer of admission to the school has been accepted.
The list may include any or all of the following:
(i) the date on which an application for admission was received by the school;
(ii) the date on which an offer of admission was made by the school;
(iii) the date on which an offer of admission was accepted by an applicant;
13.Waiting list in the event of oversubscription
In the event of there being more applications to the school year concerned than places available, a waiting list of students whose applications for admission to Ballyfin N.S. were unsuccessful due to the school being oversubscribed will be compiled and will remain valid for the school year in which admission is being sought.
Placement on the waiting list of Ballyfin N.S. is in the order of priority assigned to the students’ applications after the school has applied the selection criteria in accordance with this admission policy.
Applicants whose applications are received after the closing date, outlined in the Annual Admission Notice, will be placed at the end of the waiting list in order of the date of receipt of the application.
Offers of any subsequent places that become available for and during the school year in relation to which admission is being sought will be made to those students on the waiting list, in accordance with the order of priority in relation to which the students have been placed on the list.
14. Late Applications
All applications for admission received after the closing date as outlined in the annual admission notice will be considered and decided upon in accordance with our school’s admissions policy, the Education Admissions to School Act 2018 and any regulations made under that Act.
Late applicants will be notified of the decision in respect of their application no later than three weeks after the date on which the school received the application. Late applicants will be offered a place if there is place available. In the event that there is no place available, the name of the applicant will be added to the waiting list as set out in Section 13.
15.Procedures for admission of students to other years and during the school year
The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school to classes or years other than the school’s intake group are as follows:
Parents who wish to enrol their children in a class other than Junior Infants for the subsequent school year are requested to fill out the Applications Admissions form during the period specified for on the Admissions Notice.
In the case of oversubscription to a particular class, it will not be possible to offer a place to the child, but they will be placed on a waiting list in order of the criteria as listed as Section 6 above and as outlined in Section 13.
The above procedures also apply if parents wish to enrol their children as pupils after the commencement of the school year -the Application for Admission form will be provided to parents on request. In order to avoid disruption to the education of both the pupil enrolling and the pupils already in the class, transfers during the school year are not encouraged, and the admission may be postponed until the start of the next school year in cases where the pupil has a feasible school place.
In cases where a pupil is moving address, parents are encouraged where at all possible to remain in the existing school place until the end of term, as admissions to Ballyfin NS may be postponed until the beginning of term to avoid disruption to all pupils’ education.
16. Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees
The board of Ballyfin N.S. or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-
17. Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction
A written request should be made to the principal of the school. A meeting will then be arranged with the parent(s) to discuss how the request may be accommodated by the school.
18. Reviews/appeals
Review of decisions by the Board of Management
The parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may request the board to review a decision to refuse admission. Such requests must be made in accordance with Section 29C of the Education Act 1998.
The timeline within which such a review must be requested and the other requirements applicable to such reviews are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
The board will conduct such reviews in accordance with the requirements of the procedures determined under Section 29B and with section 29C of the Education Act 1998.
Note: Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Right of appeal
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1) (c) (i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1) (c) (ii) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due a reason other than the school being oversubscribed.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of Management)
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of Management)
Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 will be considered and determined by an independent appeals committee appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills.
The timeline within which such an appeal must be made and the other requirements applicable to such appeals are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
Concluding Comment:
This policy statement has been prepared following consultation between relevant parties. It will be reviewed as school circumstances or legislative changes dictate.
This Admission Policy was approved by the Patron; Bishop Denis Nulty on June 4th 2025.
This Admission Policy was ratified by the Board of Management of Ballyfin NS on June 17th 2025.
Fr Joseph Brophy, Chairperson Board of Management
Brigid Bennett, Principal/ Secretary to Board of Management
Name of School: Ballyfin NS.
Address: Knocknakearn, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
Roll Number: 15537E
Registered Charity Number: 20126001
Patron: Most Reverend Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin
1. Introduction
This Admission Policy complies with the requirements of the Education Act 1998, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and the Equal Status Act 2000. In drafting this policy, the board of management of the school has consulted with school staff, the school patron and with parents of children attending the school.
The policy was approved by the school patron on June 4th 2025. The policy is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hardcopy, on request, to any person who requests it.
The relevant dates and timelines for Ballyfin N.S. admission process are set out in the school’s annual admission notice which is published annually on the school’s website at least one week before the commencement of the admission process for the school year concerned.
This policy must be read in conjunction with the annual admission notice for the school year concerned.
The application form for admission is published on the school website and will be made available in hardcopy to any person who requests this option.
2. Characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school
Ballyfin N.S. is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos. The Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin is the Patron of this school.
‘Catholic schools are communities which are open, welcoming and inclusive. Therefore, Catholic schools may include children who adhere to other religions or other stances for living. While mindful of their duty to educate in the distinctive beliefs, values, and practices of the Catholic community, teachers will bear witness to an attitude of respect for and appreciation of all’.
‘The Catholic Preschool and Primary Religious Education Curriculum p 15’
Catholic Ethos in the context of a Catholic primary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:
- the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and
- a living relationship with God and with other people; and
- a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith,
- and which school provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.
School Ethos Statement:
Ballyfin N.S. aims to provide a happy, positive and secure learning environment where each child can grow and develop socially, physically, academically, spiritually and emotionally. It depends on the co-operation of pupils, parents, teachers, Board of Management, parish and the community.
Our mission is to provide for the academic, physical, emotional, social and spiritual education of our pupils. The varying needs of all the children, the talents, personalities and learning styles of both pupils and teachers will determine our delivery and approach.We endeavour to build on the children’s strengths and support them when they encounter difficulties.
We recognise that the parents are the primary educators of their children and we depend upon their support and co-operation, together with that of the Board of Management, the Department of Education and Skills and the wider community.
3. Admission Statement
Ballyfin N.S. will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:
- the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or
- the ground that the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned has special educational needs
As per section 61 (3) of the Education Act 1998, ‘civil status ground’, ‘disability ground’, ‘discriminate’, ‘family status ground’, ‘gender ground’, ‘ground of race’, ‘religion ground’, ‘sexual orientation ground’ and ‘Traveller community ground’ shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Equal Status Act 2000.
Ballyfin N.S. will cooperate with the National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 relating to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council.
Ballyfin N.S. school will comply with any direction served on the patron or the board, as the case may be, under section 37A and any direction served on the board under section 67(4B) of the Education Act.
All Denominational Schools
Ballyfin N.S. is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not Roman Catholic and it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
Schools with a special education class
Ballyfin NS is a school which has established a class, with the approval of the Minister for Education, which provides an education exclusively for students with a category or categories of special educational needs specified by the Minister and may refuse to admit to the class a student who does not have the category of needs specified.
4. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the School/Special Class
Ballyfin N.S. with the approval of the Minister for Education, has established a class to provide an education exclusively for children with a definite Autism diagnosis (A.S.D) in line with DSM IV/V or ICD10.
Eligibility criteria for enrolment in a special class for autism
To be considered eligible for enrolment in the special class, each child must have:
- A full current psychological, psychiatric or multi-disciplinary assessment report, which specifies a diagnosis of ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder’ meeting the DSM-V or ICD 10 criteria;
- A specific professional recommendation that a special class placement attached to a mainstream primary school is an appropriate placement in the applicant’s case;
- A demonstration of the understanding of complexity of the child’s overall level of needs evidenced in the professional reports;
- A letter from the NCSE confirming that the child is known to them and that the child has the required diagnosis and recommendation for a special class for autism;
- Children must be aged appropriately for a placement in Junior Infants to Sixth Class to qualify for admission;
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria at the time of application will not be considered for the special class placement.
Oversubscription of the Special Class
When the eligible applications for the ASD class exceeds places available the following selection criteria will be applied:
- Priority in the first place will be afforded to children currently enrolled in the school who meet the above listed criteria, priority to the oldest applying.
- The selection criteria as listed in section 6 below will then be followed.
5. Admission of Students
This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –
a) the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 below for further details)
b) a parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student
All children who wish to enrol in Junior Infants in Ballyfin NS must be at least 4 years old before September 1st on the year they wish to start school.
The Board of Management of Ballyfin NS reserve the right to limit the number of pupils in each class in the school.
All Denominational Schools
Ballyfin N.S. is a Catholic school and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of the Catholic religion where it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
School with a special education class
The special class attached to Ballyfin NS provides an education exclusively for students with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in line with DSM IV/V or ICD10. The school may refuse admission to this class, where the student concerned does not have the specified category of special educational needs provided for in this class.
6. Oversubscription
In the event that the school is oversubscribed, the school will, when deciding on applications for admission, apply the following selection criteria in the order listed below to those applications that are received within the timeline for receipt of applications as set out in the school’s annual admission notice:
Places will be allocated in the following order of priority:
- Children, resident within the geographical area of the Catholic parish of Ballyfin at the time of application (provable by documentation), who have a sibling attending, or whose sibling/s attended Ballyfin NS. (The townlands of Ballyfin parish are available on request from the school office).
- Priority given to children who have a sibling in the school in the September in which the new applicant commences in Ballyfin NS.
- Applicants who have a sibling who is/will be a past-pupil of Ballyfin NS.
- If the quota is over-subscribed places will be allocated according to age, accommodating the older children first until the quota is reached.
2. Children resident at time of application within the geographical area of the Catholic parish of Ballyfin and provable by documentation. (The townlands of Ballyfin parish are available on request from the school office).
- If the quota is oversubscribed, applicants who have at least one parent or grandparent who is a past-pupil of Ballyfin N.S. will be given priority, in order of age. The school will only apply this criteria to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in the school’s annual admission notice.
- After the application of the past-pupil criteria to children at point 2, (subject to the 25% threshold for parents/grandparents), places will be allocated according to age, accommodating the older children first until the quota is reached.
3. Children resident outside of the parish but who have a sibling attending, or whose sibling/s attended Ballyfin NS.
- Priority given to children who have a sibling in the school in the September in which the new applicant commences in Ballyfin NS.
- Applicants who have a sibling who is a past-pupil of Ballyfin NS.
- If the quota is oversubscribed, places will be allocated according to age, accommodating the older children first until the quota is reached
4. Children resident outside of the parish.
- If the quota is oversubscribed children who have at least one parent or grandparent who is a past pupil of Ballyfin N.S. will be given priority, in order of age. (The school will only apply the parent/grandparent past-pupil criteria to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in the school’s annual admission notice, so if this threshold is reached at point 3 above, age will be used to allocate the remaining places).
- After the application of the past-pupil criteria to children at point 4, the remaining places will allocated according to age, accommodating the older children first until the quota is reached.
5. In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection following criteria categories above (e.g. the number of applicants exceeds the number of places and two or more children share a date of birth), the time of birth as stated on the birth certificate will be used to determine the older child, and the place allocated in order of age. If the children tied for the last place are twins, then both children will be admitted.
7. What will not be considered or taken into account
In accordance with section 62(7) (e) of the Education Act, the school will not consider or take into account any of the following in deciding on applications for admission or when placing a student on a waiting list for admission to the school.
- a student’s prior attendance at a pre-school or pre-school service, including naoinraí:
- the payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described);
- a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude;
-admission to a special class insofar as it is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not the student has the category of special educational needs concerned
- the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;
- a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission;
- a student’s connection to the school by virtue of a member of his or her family attending or having previously attended the school; other than, in the case of the school wishing to include a selection criteria based on (1 and 3) siblings of a student attending or having attended the school and/or (2 or 4) parents or grandparents of a student having attended the school. (These exceptions are outlined in the criteria for oversubscription in Section 6/Order of Priority 1,2, 3 and 4. In relation to (2 and 4), parents or grandparents having attended, the school will only apply this criteria to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in the school’s admission notice.)
- the date and time on which an application for admission was received by the school, this is subject to the application being received at any time during the period specified for receiving applications set out in the annual admission notice of the school for the school year concerned.
8. Decisions on applications
All decisions on applications for admission to Ballyfin N.S. will be based on the following:
- Our school’s admission policy
- The school’s annual admission notice
- The information provided by the applicant in the school’s official application form received during the period specified in our annual admission notice for receiving applications
(Please see section 1 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and section 15 below in relation to applications for places in years other than the intake group.)
Selection criteria that are not included in our school admission policy will not be used to make a decision on an application for a place in our school.
9. Notifying applicants of decisions
Applicants will be informed in writing as to the decision of the school, within the timeline outlined in the annual admissions notice.
If a student is not offered a place in our school, the reasons why they were not offered a place will be communicated in writing to the applicant, including, where applicable, details of the student’s ranking against the selection criteria and details of the student’s place on the waiting list for the school year concerned.
Applicants will be informed of the right to seek a review/right of appeal of the school’s decision (see section 18 below for further details).
10. Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant
In accepting an offer of admission from Ballyfin N.S., parents/guardians must indicate--
(i) whether or not they have accepted an offer of admission for another school or schools. If they have accepted such an offer, they must also provide details of the offer or offers concerned and
(ii) whether or not they have applied for and awaiting confirmation of an offer of admission from another school or schools, and if so, they must provide details of the other school or schools concerned.
11. Circumstances in which offers may not be made or may be withdrawn
An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by Ballyfin N.S. where--
- it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading.
- an applicant fails to confirm acceptance of an offer of admission on or before the date set out in the annual admission notice of the school.
- the applicant fails to attend the school on the agreed enrolment date, unless a reasonable explanation is provided and another enrolment date agreed.
- the parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student; or
- an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out in section 10 above.
12. Sharing of Data with other schools
Applicants should be aware that section 66(6) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 allows for the sharing of certain information between schools in order to facilitate the efficient admission of students.
Section 66(6) allows a school to provide a patron or another board of management with a list of the students in relation to whom--
(i) an application for admission to the school has been received,
(ii) an offer of admission to the school has been made, or
(iii) an offer of admission to the school has been accepted.
The list may include any or all of the following:
(i) the date on which an application for admission was received by the school;
(ii) the date on which an offer of admission was made by the school;
(iii) the date on which an offer of admission was accepted by an applicant;
- a student’s personal details including his or her name, address, date of birth and personal public service number (within the meaning of section 262 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005).
13.Waiting list in the event of oversubscription
In the event of there being more applications to the school year concerned than places available, a waiting list of students whose applications for admission to Ballyfin N.S. were unsuccessful due to the school being oversubscribed will be compiled and will remain valid for the school year in which admission is being sought.
Placement on the waiting list of Ballyfin N.S. is in the order of priority assigned to the students’ applications after the school has applied the selection criteria in accordance with this admission policy.
Applicants whose applications are received after the closing date, outlined in the Annual Admission Notice, will be placed at the end of the waiting list in order of the date of receipt of the application.
Offers of any subsequent places that become available for and during the school year in relation to which admission is being sought will be made to those students on the waiting list, in accordance with the order of priority in relation to which the students have been placed on the list.
14. Late Applications
All applications for admission received after the closing date as outlined in the annual admission notice will be considered and decided upon in accordance with our school’s admissions policy, the Education Admissions to School Act 2018 and any regulations made under that Act.
Late applicants will be notified of the decision in respect of their application no later than three weeks after the date on which the school received the application. Late applicants will be offered a place if there is place available. In the event that there is no place available, the name of the applicant will be added to the waiting list as set out in Section 13.
15.Procedures for admission of students to other years and during the school year
The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school to classes or years other than the school’s intake group are as follows:
Parents who wish to enrol their children in a class other than Junior Infants for the subsequent school year are requested to fill out the Applications Admissions form during the period specified for on the Admissions Notice.
In the case of oversubscription to a particular class, it will not be possible to offer a place to the child, but they will be placed on a waiting list in order of the criteria as listed as Section 6 above and as outlined in Section 13.
The above procedures also apply if parents wish to enrol their children as pupils after the commencement of the school year -the Application for Admission form will be provided to parents on request. In order to avoid disruption to the education of both the pupil enrolling and the pupils already in the class, transfers during the school year are not encouraged, and the admission may be postponed until the start of the next school year in cases where the pupil has a feasible school place.
In cases where a pupil is moving address, parents are encouraged where at all possible to remain in the existing school place until the end of term, as admissions to Ballyfin NS may be postponed until the beginning of term to avoid disruption to all pupils’ education.
16. Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees
The board of Ballyfin N.S. or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-
- an application for admission of a student to the school, or
- the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.
17. Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction
A written request should be made to the principal of the school. A meeting will then be arranged with the parent(s) to discuss how the request may be accommodated by the school.
18. Reviews/appeals
Review of decisions by the Board of Management
The parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may request the board to review a decision to refuse admission. Such requests must be made in accordance with Section 29C of the Education Act 1998.
The timeline within which such a review must be requested and the other requirements applicable to such reviews are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
The board will conduct such reviews in accordance with the requirements of the procedures determined under Section 29B and with section 29C of the Education Act 1998.
Note: Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Right of appeal
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1) (c) (i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1) (c) (ii) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due a reason other than the school being oversubscribed.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of Management)
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of Management)
Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 will be considered and determined by an independent appeals committee appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills.
The timeline within which such an appeal must be made and the other requirements applicable to such appeals are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
Concluding Comment:
This policy statement has been prepared following consultation between relevant parties. It will be reviewed as school circumstances or legislative changes dictate.
This Admission Policy was approved by the Patron; Bishop Denis Nulty on June 4th 2025.
This Admission Policy was ratified by the Board of Management of Ballyfin NS on June 17th 2025.
Fr Joseph Brophy, Chairperson Board of Management
Brigid Bennett, Principal/ Secretary to Board of Management
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