Menscoil na mBrithre Crosta, Cill Chainnigh

Christian Brothers Secondary School, Kilkenny.

Phone: :056
7721402
056056
7763652
Phone
056
7721402 Fax:
Fax:
7763652

email:
office@cbskilkenny.ie
E-mail:
cbskk@indigo.ie

ADMISSION POLICY 2016 - 2017

School Name:

Christian Brothers Secondary School, Kilkenny

School Address:

Jamess Street, Kilkenny

School Details:

CBS Kilkenny is a Voluntary Roman Catholic Secondary

School under the Trusteeship and the Patronage of the
Edmund Rice Schools Trust. The School is grant aided by
the Department of Education & Skills and is a single sex
(boys) school.

School Management:

The Board of Management of CBS Kilkenny is a statutory

Board appointed pursuant to the provisions of the Education
Act 1998.

Mission Statement
Inspired by its founder, CBS Kilkenny aims to provide Catholic education in the Edmund
Rice tradition. The school endeavours to be a caring Christian Community which
promotes to the best of its ability the personal, spiritual, physical and intellectual
development of its students.

Ethos
As an Edmund Rice School, CBS Kilkenny seeks to promote the five key elements of an
Edmund Rice School as espoused by the ERST Charter:

Nurturing faith, Christian spirituality and Gospel-based values

Promoting partnership in the school community
Excelling in teaching and learning
Creating a caring school community
Inspiring transformational leadership.

CBS Kilkenny, Admission Policy 2016 - 2017

Admission Rationale
The Board of Management of CBS Kilkenny while formulating this Admissions Policy
have shown due regard to the provisions of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, the
Educational Welfare act and Equal Status Act 2000-2008, the important role played by
the Trustees of our school in its daily life, the religious and educational philosophy of the
Edmund Rice Schools Trust and the resources and financial support available to the
school from the Department of Education and Skills.

Having due regard to the above, the Board through its Admissions Policy supports
the principles of:
Equality of access and participation in the school
Parental choice, in relation to enrolments while at the same time having due
regard to and protecting the characteristic spirit of the school.
Inclusiveness, particularly in relation to the enrolment of students with special
needs and disadvantage, subject to adequate and proper resources being available
to the school.

School Resources
Implementation of the School Plan and the policy must have due regard to the resources
and funding of the school. This funding is dependent on Department of Education &
Skills grants, teacher allocation and voluntary contributions by parents.
School Curriculum
The Curriculum offered by CBS Kilkenny is governed by regulations as stipulated by the
Department of Education & Skills which may be amended in accordance with Sections 9
& 30 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. The school follows the Curricular
Programmes of the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate and also offers the
Transition Year Programme and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme. School
policy must have due regard to the resources and funding available. The Board of
Management reserves the right in consultation with the Trustees to alter services offered
by the school in line with available resources. The full list of subjects available can be
obtained from the School Office.
School Structure
The school is governed by a Board of Management on behalf of the Trustees which
endeavours at all times to carry out its duties in accordance with Section 15.1 of the
Education Welfare) Act 2000.

CBS Kilkenny, Admission Policy 2016 - 2017

Structure of the Board of Management
The Board of Management of CBS Kilkenny has a term of three years. It is composed of:
4 Nominees of the Trustees - one of whom will act as Chairperson
2 Nominees of the Parents
2 Nominees of the Teaching Staff
The Principal acts as Secretary to the Board.
The names of the Board of Management members are available from the School Office
and are subject to on-going change. The Membership of the Board of Management is
reviewed every three years.

In-School Management
Principal
Deputy Principal
Assistant Principals
Special Duties Teachers
Year Heads
Class Tutors
Guidance Counsellor
Programme Co-Ordinators
Learning Support Teacher
Subject Teachers
Names of the above personnel are available from the School Office and are subject to ongoing change.
Parents Council
The school has a Parents Council constituted as per the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. It
is elected at the Parents Council A.G.M. for a one-year term of office. Names of the
Officers are available from the School office and are subject to on-going change.
Students Council
The CBS Students Council is constituted as per the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 and is
elected on an annual basis. Details of Officers are available at the school office and are
subject to on-going change.

Ancillary Staff
The school recognises and values the important role played by the school ancillary staff.
School Secretaries
Maintenance
Librarian

CBS Kilkenny, Admission Policy 2016 - 2017

Special Educational Needs Staff
A teacher is allocated for specific learning support. Extra tuition is provided subject to
Department of Education & Skills provisions and available school resources.

Extracurricular activities
The school provides a wide selection of extracurricular activities. The school, when
organising such activities will pay due regard to the needs of all students and the tradition
of the school, within the constraints of personnel, resources and finance available to the
school. A current list of extra-curricular activities is available from the School office.

Opening Hours
School starts at 8.45 am and finishes at 3.40 pm. Morning break is of 10 minutes
duration. Lunch time is approximately 40 minutes.

Communication with Parents/Guardians

The Student Diary is used for parent-school communications on an on-going basis. Other
contacts are welcomed by appointment with the school office.

Parent-Teacher Meetings
Times and dates will be decided upon and communicated to parents/guardians during the
academic year. Parents/Guardians are urged to attend these meeting to facilitate strong
home-school links. In the event of inability to attend, contacts are welcome by
appointment at the school office.

Voluntary Contribution
The school endeavours at all times to provide a quality broad based education for all its
students. In order to continue this aim the Board deems it necessary to request a
Voluntary Contribution from all Parents/Guardians. This contribution is voluntary but is
vital in providing facilities such as Library support, Stationery, Photocopying and
Cleaning. The Board of Management acknowledges individual family circumstances may
vary and is willing to facilitate such circumstances. The Board of Management reserves
the right to vary the suggested contribution sum on a year by year basis.

CBS Kilkenny, Admission Policy 2016 - 2017

Application Procedures
The Department of Education & Skills states that secondary school students must be aged
12 on 1st January in the Calendar year following the students entry into 1st Year (Birth
Certificate must be provided on the day of the assessment exam).
Parents or Guardians in completing their application to the school must:
duly recognise and commit themselves accordingly on their own part (or on
behalf of their son) to the school ethos and mission in the event that their son is
admitted as a student to the school
duly recognise and accept this policy as the basis for treating their sons
application for admission to the school
duly accept and sign the schools Code of Behaviour
familiarise themselves with all policy documents which are available on the
school website.

Application procedure for enrolment in 1st Year

This policy is reviewed annually by the Board of Management.
116 places will be available for First Year for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Application can be made only on the official school Application Form which is
available from the school office.
The closing date for receipt of applications for first year places 2016-2017 is
3.00pm on Thursday, October 1st 2015.
Requests for places received before October 1st 2015 will be placed on a mailing
list and these families will be sent confirmations in September that their
Application Forms will become valid on October 1st 2015.
The school may hold an Open Night in September. Parents are invited to avail of
this opportunity to visit the school and speak to teachers and management.
All decisions on enrolment will be communicated in writing within 21 school
days of the deadline for applications (Section 19(3) Education Welfare Act).
In order to finalize the enrolment procedure applicants must sit an assessment test
after admission which will be set and corrected by the school itself. The objective
of the test is to assist the school in its task of endeavouring to meet the individual
needs of all its students.

Decision Making Process

All decisions to enrol students in CBS Kilkenny are made by the Board of Management
of the school in accordance with school policy, the Education Act 1998, the Education
Welfare Act 2000 and the Equal Status Act 2000-2008. The Board will have regard for

CBS Kilkenny, Admission Policy 2016 - 2017

any relevant Department of Education & Skills provisions in respect of class size, staffing
and any other relevant requirements concerning accommodation such as physical space
or the health and welfare of students. Parents/Guardians will be notified in writing of the
Boards decision within 21 days of the closing date for enrolment.
The following criteria will apply in cases where the number of applications received by
the closing date is greater than the number of place available.
I. Brothers of present students provided application is made by due date.
II. Brothers of past students provided application is made by due date.
III. Sons of serving staff members provided application is made by due date.
IV. Sons of past pupils provided application is made by due date.
V.
Where the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available the places
will be allocated by a lottery overseen by the Board of Management and
independently verified.
VI. With respect to applicants not awarded a place a waiting list will be created
following the closing date of receipt of acceptances. A place on this waiting list
must be sought by those who wish to have their sons name placed on
such a
list. A lottery to determine the order in which the waiting list is filled will take
place. This Lottery will be overseen by the Board of Management and
independently verified.

Enrolment of Boys with Special Education Needs

The Board of Management of CBS Kilkenny welcomes the application for enrolment of
children with special needs in so far as the Department of Education & Science provides
the necessary resources for the student. The Board of Management reserves the right to
examine Application Forms and to identify students with special needs. The Board of
Management may require a copy of the childs medical/psychological report/individual
educational report. The Board of Management will then apply to the Department of
Education & Skills to provide resources required to meet the needs of the child, prior to
enrolment.
It may be necessary for the Board of Management to defer enrolment of a child pending
the provision of appropriate resources. The Board of Management will direct that the
School Principal meets the Parents/Guardians of the child and fully consults with them to
discuss the childs needs and the schools capability to meet those needs. Should it not
prove possible to provide these necessary resources the Board of Management reserves
the right to refuse an Application for a place in the school.

CBS Kilkenny, Admission Policy 2016 - 2017

Enrolment into Transition Year Programme

It is the stated intention of the Board of Management of CBS Kilkenny that as many
students as possible experience the Transition Year Programme in the school. This
programme is designed to broaden the educational experience of the student and prepare
him further for the Leaving Certificate Programme. A copy of the Transition Year
Programme is available in the school office.
Procedure for Applying
All students wishing to follow the Transition Year Programme must complete an
Application form. Because of the finite nature of resources it may not be possible to
accept all students that apply into Transition Year. In such circumstances the following
limits and criteria will apply.
I
Class size, in general, will not exceed 24 students.
II
Students will have to have displayed a reasonable willingness, cooperative
spirit and capability to follow programmes that allow varying levels of
supervision.
III
Where demand exceeds space then a lottery will be held amongst the
applicants who qualify under II above.

Transfers from other schools

Applications will only be considered subject to:
The Schools admission policy
The School being satisfied with the reasons for the transfer. To this end
information will be required from the students former/present school concerning
attendance, behaviour record, educational progress, subject choices, term reports,
disabilities and special needs, reasons for transfer etc. as per Section 20 of the
Education (Welfare) Act 2000.
The Board of Management believing that the move will be in the best interests of
the student and will not have an adverse impact of the learning environment for
other students in the school.
There being available space in the relevant class or subject group.
Consultation if appropriate with the Education Welfare Officer.
In the event of a student having special educational needs an appropriate
psychological assessment must be provided to the school.

Where a former student seeks to enrol, the Board of Management reserves the right to
arbitrate subject to an appeal to the Educational Welfare Service (formerly the National
Educational Welfare Board).

CBS Kilkenny, Admission Policy 2016 - 2017

Right of the Board of Management to refuse Admission

The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse an application for admission from
a boy in exceptional circumstances. Such a circumstance could arise where:
The student has special needs such that, even with additional resources available
from the Department of Education and Skills, the school cannot meet such needs
and/or provide the student with an appropriate education.
In the opinion of the Board of Management, the student poses an unacceptable
risk to other students, to school staff or to school property.
The final decision with regard to all matters of Enrolment rests with the Board of
Management.

Right of Appeal
The Board of Management wishes to advise parents/guardians that in the event of a boy
being refused entry to CBS Kilkenny, an appeal may be made under Section 29 of the
Education Act 1998 to the Board of Management, and subsequently if necessary to the
Department of Education & Skills. This appeal must be made within 42 days of receipt of
the Board of Managements decision.
The objective of this policy is to ensure that each boy who applies for entry to our school
receives fair and equitable treatment as outlined in the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 and
Equal Status Act 2000-2008, The Education for Persons with Disabilities Act 2003, and
according to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust Charter.

Data Protection
The school is a Data Controller under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. Personal
data supplied on the enrolment form will be used for the purposes of student enrolment,
registration, administration, child welfare and to fulfil any other legal obligations. While
the information provided will generally be treated as confidential to the school, from time
to time it may be necessary for us to exchange personal data on a confidential basis with
other bodies including the Department of Education & Skills, the Department of Social
Protection, an Garda Siochana, the Health Service Executive and the Educational Welfare
Service (formerly the National Education Welfare Board). Contact details are also
routinely used to notify you of school events or activities.
We rely on parents/guardians to provide us with complete and accurate information and
to update us in relation to any change in the information provided. Should you wish to
update or access your sons personal data, you should write to the Principal.

CBS Kilkenny, Admission Policy 2016 - 2017

Policy
The Admissions Policy is available from the School Secretary at CBS Jamess Street,
Kilkenny.
The Admissions Policy is reviewed annually by the Board of Management and approved
for publication by the Trustees.

Approval
This policy has been approved by CBS Kilkenny Board of Management.

Signed:

_________________________________
Chairperson, Board of Management

Date: ____________