(Updated 04/09/06)
St. Aidan's C.B.S. is a Voluntary Catholic Secondary School for boys operating under the Trusteeship of the Irish Christian Brothers. As such it supports the Religious and Educational Philosophy of its Founder Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice.
Our mission is to give students, in an atmosphere of mutual care and respect, an appreciation of life as well as the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve their full potential with others in accordance with Christian values.
The school is managed by a Board of Management, is funded by the Department of Education and Science and operates within the guidelines set down from time to time by that Department. The school has a very active Parents' Association and a strong Students' Council.
St. Aidan's C.B.S. aims with the resources available, to provide the best possible environment in order to cater for the cultural, educational, moral, physical, religious, social, linguistic, and spiritual values and traditions of all students. We show special concern for the disadvantaged and we make every effort to ensure that the uniqueness and dignity of each person is respected, and responded to, especially through the pastoral care system in the school.
Working together as a school community, the Board of Management, parents, staff and students, aim to provide an environment which will allow each student to develop intellectually, physically, morally, socially and spiritually so as they will be able to fulfil their role in society.
Within the context of the Department of Education and Science regulations and programes, the rights of the Trustees/Board of Management as set out in the Education Act 1998 (Section 15 (1), (2)), and the funding and resources available, the school supports the following principles:
St. Aidan's C.B.S. Admissions Policy welcomes all students for whom the school can provide an adequate education. The school aims to provide an integrated and inclusive education.
Each year the Board of Management may have to decide in advance the number of first Year students for whom the school can provide an appropriate education, having regard to the facilities, personnel, plant and resources.
Allocation of places is based on:
The following procedure will be applied in the event of there being more applications than available places:
Places will be offered to those pupils listed in 1 and 2 above and to pupils from the first three feeder schools. Any remaining places will then be offered on a random selection basis to pupils from St. Patrick's B.N.S.
A waiting list will then be compiled. Random selection will be used in establishing this waiting list and if places become available they will be offered to pupils in the following order:
Exceptional cases will be decided at the discretion of the Board of Management
A student who is placed on a waiting list is not in any way gauranteed a place in the school.
Students with special needs
The school will use the resources, both financial and personnel, provided by the Department of Education and
Science to make reasonable provision and accommodation for students with disabilities or special needs in
order that these students are free to participate in the life of the school in so far as is reasonable and
practicable. While recognizing and fully supporting parent's rights to have a school of their choice for their
children, the school's ability to accept students with particular need is dependent on the supply of resources
suitable to the needs of the individual students being supplied by the Department of Education and Science.
The Board of Management needs to be aware of any special needs as early as possible, so that these needs can be assessed and addressed if possible.
In making provision for special needs students the following information is required.
Has the student had access to any of the following resources?
If an expert report is provided, it should include a workable strategy for addressing the needs, allowing for the resources available.
The Board of Management, having gathered all relevant information and professional documentation, assesses how the needs of special needs students can be met.
Final confirmation of a place may in exceptional cases be given when the Department of Education and Science/School confirm in writing that the necessary resources are in place.
N.B.: It may take some time for the Department of Education and Science to process such applications. Parents are strongly advised to inform the school as early as possible and discuss their situation well in advance of making application.
As soon as is practicable, but not later than 21 days, after a parent has provided, the relevant information, the Board of Management shall make a decision in respect of the application concerned and inform the parents in writing thereof. Education Welfare Act (Section 19, (3)).
The school will make every reasonable effort to facilitate a student seeking a transfer to our school. The Board of Management will decide on applications for admission to any other year than First Year by applying the following criteria:
The Board will decide whether or not a transfer:
All relevant information from the former school must be made available. A consultation with the Educational Welfare Officer may be necessary.
Where a student is considered for a place, the decision will be taken by the Board of Management, in consultation with the students' parents/guardians, his former school, the education welfare officer, whether such a place may be offered, immediately, or whether it would be better to wait until the beginning of the next academic year.
Application Forms
Applications are accepted during September as the pupil enters his final year in Primary School.
Application forms are sent to the four feeder primary schools early in September as the pupils enter sixth class.
Application Forms can also be had by calling to or telephoning the School Office.
Enrolment day is 30th September 2004.
Completed forms must be returned before 4 pm, 30th September 2004. Completed application forms received
after this date will be placed at the end of the waiting list and will be dealt with on a first come first
served basis.
In the case of students with special needs, the Board, having received the relevant information, will make a decision and inform the parents in writing of this decision.
Parents/guardians are requested to pay a voluntary fee of €85 each year to cover costs such as postage, telephone, stationery, insurance etc.
There will be an Assessment Test in February, which all incoming First Year students must sit. Generally, this test is used to assess achievement levels in order to best facilitate students according to their needs.
A meeting of parents of incoming students will be held in MAY. Attendance at this meeting by all parents/guardians is strongly encouraged.
The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse an application for admission in exceptional circumstances
"The Board of Management of a recognised school shall not refuse to admit as a student in such school a child, in respect of whom an application to be so admitted has been made, except where such refusal is in accordance with the policy of the recognised school concerned published under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998" (Education (Welfare) Act 2000. (Section 19 (1).))
Should a student's application for admission to the school be refused the parents/guardians have the right to appeal to the Board of Management in writing. The parents/guardians are informed in writing of the Board's decision and the reasons why the student was not accepted should be clearly stated. The parents/guardians then have the right to appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science, (Education Act 1998, Section 29(d).) The right to appeal should be restated and the application form provided. (Circular M48/01). The appeal must be made within 42 calendar days from the date the decision of the Board of Management was notified to the parents/guardians concerned. (Circular M48/01).
An appeal may be made to The Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science, The Appeals Administration Unit, Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. An appeal should be made in writing on the Application Form supplied. The Appeals Application Form should be completed in full and should state the following: 1. The decision being appealed. 2.The grounds on which the decision is being appealed. 3. The date that the parents/guardians were informed of the decision. 4. All other relevant information. Etc. (Circular M48/01).
N.B. The school must be informed in writing of the decision to appeal
(Education Act, Section 29)
Having regard to the desirability of resolving grievances within the school where possible, the parties to an appeal under Section 29, i.e. the appellant and the school's Board of Management, will be asked to consider the matter in the first instance at local level to see if an accommodation can be reached. As a general rule, appeals will only be considered by an appeals committee under Section 29 where the parties are unable to resolve the issue at local level. (Circular M48/01).
The Transition Year is a one-year programme which comes immediately after completion of the Junior Certificate. The Board of Management will decide the maximum number of students that can be accommodated on the Transition Year Programme. Places are allocated on the basis of an interview. No Student is automatically guaranteed a place on this programme. The cirteria that will apply in selecting students for Transition Year can be had by applying to the school secretary.