This policy applies to admissions in the academic year 2010-11.

 The school is a voluntary aided Catholic primary school operating under the Trustees of the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton.  The school was founded by and is part of the Catholic Church.  The school is conducted as a Catholic school in accordance with the canon law and teachings of the Catholic Church and in accordance with the Trust Deed of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.  Religious worship is in accordance with the rites, practices, discipline and liturgical norms of the Catholic Church.  At all times the school is to serve as a witness to the Catholic faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 Our policy as a Catholic school is to give priority to Baptised Catholic children in the Parish of St. Mary Star-of-the-Sea and to provide an excellent education within the Catholic ethos of the school.  They expect that parents applying for places for their children will accept and uphold the Catholic character and ethos of the school.  Nevertheless, the school fully respects the beliefs of parents and children from all denominations and faith backgrounds.  Children are taught respect and tolerance for others and there is provision in the religious education programme for the study of different faiths.

 The school exists to primarily serve the Catholic community in the parish of St Mary Star-of-the-Sea.

 PROCEDURES FOR ADMISSION

 The number of children who will be admitted in this admission round is 30.  The year group to which pupils of the required age will be admitted for the current year is Reception.  Children eligible for admission into Reception will be those born between 1^st September 2005 and 31^st August 2006 and will be either full or part time depending on the child’s date of birth.  Admission dates will be advised once places have been allocated.  The procedure for making applications is as follows:-

 All applications for places must be made on the application form produced by the LA in which the parent lives.  The application form can be obtained directly from that LA, which is responsible for coordinating the allocation of all places at maintained schools in its area and for offering individual places on behalf of the school governors.

 Catholic governing bodies are responsible for deciding the order of priority for admissions to their school.  Parents must complete a special form for each Catholic school where they are seeking a place.  These forms collect essential information to allow each school to put all applicants in order of priority for admission, using the school’s admissions policy.  The form for this school, the Governors Admission Enquiry Form, can be obtained from the school.  It must be returned directly to the school, fully completed, before the closing date for applications.  It should be noted that non-catholic siblings will not automatically get a place.

 We encourage parents to visit our school in order to find out more about how we work and the education that we offer.  Parents are welcome to arrange a visit by contacting the School Office or by taking note of the open days advertised in the local press. 

The school operates a waiting list for any places which may become available during the year.  When such places come up, all children on the waiting list are considered.  Places are not offered on a basis of length of time on the waiting list but according to the admissions criteria. 

 Parents who are unsuccessful in their application for a place for their child at the school are entitled to appeal against the decision.  If you wish to appeal, you should, in the first instance contact the Clerk to the Governors, via the school address.  For details of numbers allocated in the previous academic year in each category, please contact the Clerk to Governors, via the school address.

 CASUAL ADMISSIONS

 Casual admissions during the year are delegated to the Admissions Committee, who will apply the Admissions policy.  If a child is not allocated a place, as the class is full, the parents will be told of their right to appeal.