We will start accepting applications for admission to Scoil Mhuire Loughegar for September 2024 immediately after Christmas holidays on Monday, 8th January 2024 until Friday 16th February 2024. Please feel free to read our Admission’s Policy for further information.
You will be able to apply online or request a printed copy of the school’s enrolment form to apply for a place.
The Admission Policy of Scoil Mhuire Loughegar can be viewed below or downloaded at www.loughegarns.ie. If you require a printed copy of the policy, please contact the school.
If you have any further questions, please email the school at lochanghair@gmail.com or phone the school (044) 93 72986 when we re-open after the current closure.
Click here to Apply Online for Enrolment to Scoil Mhuire Loughegar
Admission Notice
PART 1 – Admissions to the 2024/2025 school year
Application and Decision Dates for admission to 2024/2025
The following are the dates applicable for admission to Junior Infants
| The school will commence accepting applications for admission on 8th January 2024 | |
| The school shall cease accepting applications for admission on 16th February 2024 | |
| The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application is 23rd February 2024 | |
| The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is 8th March 2024 * |
*Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer being withdrawn
Note: the school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s admission policy
| The number of places being made available in junior infants is 25 |
Admission Policy of Scoil Mhuire Loughegar
| School Address: Loughegar, Mullingar, Co, Westmeath N91 TD95 Roll Number: 18812p School Patron: Bishop Tom Deenihan |
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.
The policy was approved by the school patron on 5th October 2020. 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 Scoil Mhuire Loughegar 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
Scoil Mhuire Loughegar is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos under the patronage of the Bishop of Meath, The Most Rev. Tom Deenihan.
“Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic primary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:
- the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, a living relationship with God and with other people; and
- including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and
- a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and
- the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith;
and which school provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.
In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of Scoil Mhuire Loughegar shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.
Mission Statement
The mission statement of Scoil Mhuire Loughegar promotes the holistic development of the child including academic, physical, moral, emotional, spiritual, aesthetic, cultural, social and personal development and thereby enabling the child to see himself /herself as a unique individual who presents himself/herself as an active and responsible citizen in society. The school motto is “Mol an Óige”
To achieve this, our school aims to provide the best possible environment to cater for the cultural, educational, moral, physical, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions of all its students. The focus of the school philosophy is the education of the whole child to reach their full potential. We show special concern for the disadvantaged, respecting the dignity and uniqueness of each person. Working together as a school community, the Board of Management, Principal, staff, parents/guardians and pupils will strive to provide an environment, which will allow all students to develop to their maximum potential and fulfil their role in society.
Furthermore, the school recognises the central role of the family as the primary educator of the child.
3. Admission Statement
Scoil Mhuire Loughegar will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:
- the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
- the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or
- 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.
Scoil Mhuire Loughegar will cooperate with the NCSE in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 in relation 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.
Scoil Mhuire Loughegar will comply with any direction served on the board or the patron under section 37A and 67(4)(b).
| Scoil Mhuire Loughegar is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not Catholic and it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school. |
4. Admission of Students
This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where:-
- the school is oversubscribed (please see section 5 below for further details)
- 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
| Scoil Mhuire Loughegar is a Catholic school and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of the Catholic faith where it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school. Note for Parents: the inclusion of the above wording was mandated by the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. |
5. 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:
| All Classes 1. Brothers and sisters of children in the school. 2. All other children who live within the Taghmon/Turin Parish boundary. 3. Children of staff members in the school living outside the Taghmon/Turin Parish boundary. All remaining applicants based on age. Preference will be given to the oldest children first |
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), the following arrangements will apply:
| The last remaining place will be awarded to the eldest, as per the TIME of birth recorded on their birth certificate. In the event that twins are tied for the last remaining available school place, both will be admitted by way of exception. |
6. 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; 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 siblings of a student attending or having attended the school 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). |
7. Decisions on Applications
All decisions on applications for admission to Scoil Mhuire Loughegar 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 13 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and section 14 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.
8. Notifying Applicants of Decisions
Applicants will be informed in writing 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 17 below for further details).
9. Acceptance of an Offer of a Place by an Applicant
In accepting an offer of admission from Scoil Mhuire Loughegar, 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.
10. 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 Scoil Mhuire Loughegar where:-
- it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading.
- 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.
- 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
- an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out in section 9 above.
11. 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. (namely lists of junior infant applicants where there is a concern that the same applicant is holding school places in a number of neighbouring schools).
12. 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 Scoil Mhuire Loughegar 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 Scoil Mhuire Loughegar 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.
13. 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.
14. 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: Procedures of admission must comply with sections 8, 9 & 10 of this policy Each class(room) will be deemed full if there are 27 or more pupils enrolled and no further applicants may be admitted to that class (or classroom). |
| 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: Procedures of admission must comply with sections 8, 9 & 10 of this policy Each class(room) will be deemed full if there are 27 or more pupils enrolled and no further applicants may be admitted to that class (or classroom). |
15. Declaration in Relation to the Non-Charging of Fees
This rule applies to all schools.
The board of Scoil Mhuire Loughegar or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-
- an application for admission of a student to the school, or
- the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.
16. Arrangements Regarding Students Not Attending Religious Instruction
| Our school is of a Catholic ethos and, in keeping with that ethos, children of all or no other faith are welcome to apply to this school. We respect the decision of parents to withdraw their child/children from taking part in the religious education curriculum, religious ceremonies, school Masses etc. The following are the school’s arrangements for students, where the parent(s)/guardian(s) have requested that the student attend the school without attending religious instruction (etc.) in the school. These arrangements will not result in a reduction in the school day of such students: A written request must be made to the Principal of the school. A meeting will then be arranged with the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student to discuss how the request may be accommodated by the school. |
17. Reviews/Appeals
Review of Decisions by the Board of Management
The parent of 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 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 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 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 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.
Review Procedure
This policy will be reviewed annually by the full staff and Board of Management. Final dates for applications will be reviewed annually and will be posted on the school website.
Ratification
This Admissions Policy was adopted by the Board of Management on 28th November 2022
