John Scottus National School

SCOIL NÁISIÚNTA JOHN SCOTTUS 

         
47/49 Northumberland Road, Dublin 4, D04 R128
Tel: (01) 6609309
Email: primary@johnscottus.ie     Web:  www.johnscottusns.ie

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Admissions Policy

Approved: June 2025

Review: June 2027  

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.

This policy was originally approved by the school patron on 6th April 2023. It has since been reviewed and formally adopted by the Board of Management in June 2025, to ensure alignment with current legislation and Department of Education guidance. The next scheduled review will occur in June 2027. It 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 John Scottus National School (JSNS) 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’s website and will be made available in hardcopy on request to any person who requests it.

2. Characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school

JSNS is based on the idea of unity, that the world is a single unified interdependent connected entity, expressing itself in an infinite variety of ways. There are four strands to our characteristic spirit:

Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness and coming to rest between activities – pausing – nourishes the body, mind and heart and develops valuable skills of full attention.

Attention: To be successful at anything requires the power of attention. We teach children to develop this essential skill. Fostering the joy of learning and reaching high academic standards through engaging teaching.

Learning good habits: selflessness, thoughtfulness and truthfulness.

Unity: We encourage everyone in our community to see themselves in others and to take care of each other.

Enquiry: We nurture self-discovery and curiosity and encourage the Socratic method of discussion to train the mind and open the heart. Weekly philosophy practice explores the concepts of truth, courage, justice, love and a sense of ourselves.

Resilience: We teach children to learn how to be happy in all circumstances and how to live meaningfully and successfully in the world.

Our five school rules reflect and expand on our characteristic spirit:

Take care of everyone (including yourself)

        Give attention and participate fully

        Follow instructions immediately

        Speak truthfully and beautifully

        Take care of everything

3. Admission Statement

JSNS will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:

(a)  the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(b)  the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(c)  the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(d)  the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(e)  the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(f)   the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(g)  the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

(h)  the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or

(i) 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.

JSNS is a school which is establishing two classes, with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, which provides an education exclusively for students with a category or categories of additional 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.

JSNS 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.

JSNS 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.

4. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the school/special class

Note for schools: The act does not require schools and special classes providing for a category or categories of special educational needs to change their current status. The current arrangements in relation to the category or categories of special educational needs provided by schools will continue as in previous years unless otherwise directed by the NCSE or the Department.

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

c) Where a student is less than 4 years of age on the 1st September of the school year concerned.

d) The special classes in JSNS provide an education exclusively for students with Autism and the school may refuse admission to these classes, where the student concerned does not have the specified category of additional 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:

1. Junior Infants

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 for Junior Infants.

Priority Category 1:

Applicant students who are siblings of children enrolled in the school at the same time who reach 4 years of age on or before 01 September in the year of entry.

Priority Category 2:

Applicant students who are a child of a member of school staff who reach 4 years of age on or before 01 September in the year of entry.

Priority Category 3:

The parent or grandparent of the student concerned having previously attended the school, provided the maximum number of places filled pursuant to this criterion does not exceed 25% of the available places as set out in the school’s annual admission notice for the school year concerned who reach 4 years of age on or before 01 September in the year of entry.

Priority Category 4:

Applicant students who support the unique ethos of John Scottus National School and

will have turned 4 years of age by 31st December of the year prior to the school year concerned.

Priority Category 5:

Applicant students who support the unique ethos of John Scottus National School and will have turned 4 years of age by 31st March of the year prior to the school year concerned.

Priority Category 6:

Applicant students who support the unique ethos of John Scottus National School and will have turned 4 years of age by 30th  June of the year prior to the school year concerned.

In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above (the number of applicants exceeds the number of remaining places), places will be offered or added to a waiting list by the earlier date of birth of the student.

2. Class for Children with Autism

In line with Circular 0039/2025, issued by the Department of Education and Skills , John Scottus National School has updated its admissions procedures for special classes to reflect current national policy. The following criteria apply specifically to applications for the special class for children with Autism (ASD).

To be eligible for admission to the special class, an applicant must meet all of the following:

• Have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in line with DSM-IV, DSM-5, or ICD diagnostic criteria, regardless of cognitive ability;
• Have a written recommendation from the NCSE for placement in a special class in a mainstream school;
• Have a letter from the NCSE confirming that the child is known to them and meets the required diagnostic and placement criteria;
• Be aged 4 or older on or before 1st September of the school year concerned.

If the class for children with Autism is oversubscribed, the school will apply the following selection criteria to eligible applicants. These will be applied in the order listed below to applications received within the timeline as set out in the school’s annual admission notice for the class for children with Autism.

Priority Category 1:

Applicant students who are aged 4 or 5 on or before 1st September of the school year concerned.

Priority Category 2:

Applicant students who are aged 6 or 7 on or before 1st September of the school year concerned.

Priority Category 3:

Applicant students who are aged 8 to 12 on or before 1st September of the school year concerned.

In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above (the number of applicants exceeds the number of remaining places), places will be offered or added to a waiting list by the later date of birth of the student. Where two or more applicants share the same date of birth, places will be allocated by Lottery (draw conducted by an independent person appointed by the Board).

3. Other year groups – Senior Infants to 6th Class

If the school is oversubscribed, the school will, when deciding on applications for admission, apply the following selection criteria in the order listed below. It will be applied to those applications that are received within the timeline for receipt of applications as set out in the school’s Annual Admission Notice for other year groups. Students must be moving to the next year group if the application is for September or to the same year if applying to move during the school year.

Age Eligibility for Class Placement

In order to ensure appropriate placement within class levels, an applicant student must have turned 4 years of age on or before 1st September of the year they would have entered Junior Infants, had they started school at the usual age.

Priority Category 1:

Applicant students who are siblings of children enrolled in the school at the same time.

Priority Category 2:

Applicant students who are a child of a member of school staff.

Priority Category 3:

The parent or grandparent of the student concerned having previously attended the school, provided the maximum number of places filed pursuant to this criterion does not exceed 25% of the available places as set out in the school’s annual admission notice for the school year concerned

Priority Category 4:

Support for the unique ethos of John Scottus National School  

Priority Category 5:

All other applicant students

In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above (the number of applicants exceeds the number of remaining places), places will be offered or added to a waiting list by way of a lottery of completed applications. Multiple births such as twins, triplets, etc. will be entered in the Lottery (draw conducted by an independent person appointed by the Board).as one entry and will be offered a place/placed on the waiting list in sequence of alphabetical order of their first name.

Waiting List

In the event that any class (including Junior Infants, other mainstream year groups, or special classes) is oversubscribed, a waiting list will be created for the academic year in question only.

• The waiting list will be ordered strictly in accordance with the school’s published selection criteria and tie-breaker rules for that class.
• If a place becomes available during the school year, it will be offered to the next eligible applicant on the waiting list.
• Late applications will be added to the end of the waiting list, in the order in which they are received, and cannot be prioritised over those who applied during the official admissions window.
• At the end of the school year, the waiting list will expire. If a parent/guardian wishes their child to be considered for admission in a future year, a new application must be submitted during the admissions process for that year.
  

This procedure applies equally to mainstream and special classes, and ensures that all applicants are treated fairly, transparently, and in compliance with the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.

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) a student’s prior attendance at a pre-school or pre-school service, including naíonraí,

(b) the payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the school;

(c) a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude; other than in relation to:

admission to a special class insofar as it is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not the student has the category of additional educational needs concerned

(d) the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;

(e) a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission;

(f) 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, (1) siblings of a student attending or having attended the school and/or (2) parents or grandparents  of a student having attended the school.

In relation to (2) parents and grandparents having attended, a school may only apply this criteria to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in the school’s annual admission notice.

(g)   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.

This is also subject to the school making offers based on existing waiting lists (up until 31st January 2025 only).

8. Decisions on applications

All decisions on applications for admission to JSNS will be based on the following:

·           Our school’s admission policy

·           The school’s annual admission notice (where applicable)

·           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 15 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and section 16  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 via email 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 JSNS, you must indicate -

(i) whether or not you have accepted an offer of admission for another school or schools. If you have accepted such an offer, you must also provide details of the offer or offers concerned and

(ii) whether or not you have applied for and awaiting confirmation of an offer of admission from another school or schools, and if so, you 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 JSNS where —

(i)            it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading.

(ii)           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.

(iii)          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

(iv)         an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out in section 10 above.

(v)   the child in question is under four years of age at the start of the school year in Junior Infants

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.

(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;

(iv) 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 JSNS 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 JSNS 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.

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.

At the end of the school year, the waiting list will expire. If a parent/guardian wishes their child to be considered for admission in a future year, a new application must be submitted during the admissions process for that year.

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.

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: see section 6C above

The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school, after the commencement of the school year in which admission is sought, are as follows: see section 6C above

16. Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees

The board of JSNS or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-

(a)  an application for admission of a student to the school, or

(b)  the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.

17.  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 within one week 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 within one week 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 within one 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.