St. Patrick's Grammar School

Respective functions of the Board of Governors and Principal in relation to Admissions to the school

The Board of Governors, having agreed the criteria for admission, has delegated to the transfer subcommittee of the Board of Governors to decide which particular applicants shall be admitted to the school in accordance with the criteria and any appropriate statutory regulations issued by the Department of Education.

ADMISSION CRITERIA 2020

For Year 8 in 2020-2021 School Year

St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh is a Catholic Grammar School for boys. This school seeks to admit boys whose parents are in agreement with the philosophy and aims of the school, as outlined in the school publications.

In the event that the school is oversubscribed, the Board of Governors will apply the following admissions criteria in the order of priority set down below. If the school is oversubscribed within any criteria, the Board of Governors will apply subsequent criteria in the order listed.

1. Applicants who, at the date of application, normally reside in any of the following parishes: Armagh, Aghaloo, Clonfeacle, Craigavon, Eglish, Kilmore, Loughgall, Loughgilly, Lower Creggan, Portadown, Tandragee.
2. Applicants who attend any Maintained, Controlled or Integrated Primary School located within the boundaries of the parishes listed in criterion 1.
3. Applicants who have, or had, a brother enrolled in St Patrick’s Grammar School or St Brigid’s High School, or applicants who are the eldest boy in the family.
4. Applicants who will have moved into one of the parishes listed in criterion 1 by 1 September 2020, and are the eldest male child in the family.
5. Applicants who live closest to the school, measured using the mid-point of the postcode in the most direct route.
6. Applicants who are sons of permanent members of staff.
7. Applicants who are the son of a past pupil of St Patrick’s Grammar School or St Brigid’s High School.

In the event of oversubscription then applicants will be admitted by a criterion that prioritises applicants where the letters of their name (as entered on the Birth Certificate) places them on a rank established by any order of all of the letters of the alphabet. Applicants will be selected for admission on the basis of initial letter of surname (as entered on the Birth Certificate) in the order set out below. This order was determined by a randomised selection of the letters of the alphabet:

J X M V G K T L B W S N Z O A D R H F I Y E P C Q U

In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter, the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in alphabetical order. In the event of two identical surnames, the alphabetical order of the initials of the forenames will be used.

DUTY TO VERIFY

The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary evidence as it may determine to support or verify information on any Transfer Form. Parents/Guardians of applicants who are entitled to Free School Meals should ensure that they tick and sign at the appropriate box on the Transfer Form.

Parents/Guardians should note that they may be asked to produce original documents verifying information pertinent to the school’s admission criteria, including documents to verify the applicant’s age and address. Parents/Guardians should likewise note that the provision of false, incorrect or inaccurate information or failure to provide information within the deadlines set by the school can result in the withdrawal of a place or can render the school unable to offer a place.

CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION TO YEARS 9 TO 12

PREAMBLE

The Board of Governors draws up the admission criteria and delegates to the Principal and to a Selection Committee the responsibility of applying the criteria.

Acceptance of an applicant into years 9 to 12 will depend on the efficient use of the school’s resources and the availability of a suitable curriculum that meets their needs. Students will be admitted to the school only within the following numerical limitations.

(i) The enrolment as agreed with the Department of Education.

(ii) The numerical maximum for each year group.

(iii) The maximum class size.

The following criteria will then be taken into account for applicants:

(i) Applicants’ special circumstances.

(ii) Residence within the school catchment parishes.

(iii) Brother/half-brother of present or past pupils.

(iv) The sons of past-pupils of the Foundation and of St Patrick’s Grammar School and of St Brigid’s High School.

In selecting children for admission, children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the school will be selected before any child not so resident.

Boys fulfilling the requirements will also have to provide evidence of satisfactory conduct, attendance and punctuality in their previous school.

NOTES:

 It is a parental responsibility to provide the required documentation for application and to aid any decision making.

 All information must be accurate and is subject to verification.

ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR LOWER SIXTH

1. Students who have completed their Year 12 studies in St Patrick’s Grammar School will be considered then applications from students who have studied Year 12 in another school.
2. Students whose parents are in agreement with the philosophy and aims of the school.
3. Availability of places in the School’s Enrolment Number.
4. Availability of places in the selected subjects. Preference will be given to students with higher grades.
5. Applicants must have a satisfactory GCSE profile, with the required grades for undertaking the selected subjects. Normally students will be expected to have a minimum of five passes at Grades A – C, including English and Mathematics.
6. Applicants that do not achieve the minimum requirements in 5 may apply for entry onto the Post 16 Transition Pathway.
7. Students fulfilling the academic requirements will also have to provide evidence of good conduct, attendance, punctuality and contribution to the extracurricular life of their school.
8. All applicants for Sixth Form places will be requested to attend for interview.