Infant Registration

Enrolment of children entering school for the first-time takes place in January of the year of entry. Details are given in the local press several weeks in advance and in St. Bernard’s Church and the associated Nurseries. Letters are sent from the Headteacher to parents who have other children already at the school, giving the time and date of enrolment. Appointments to enrol can be arranged through the school.

Birth and Baptismal certificates should be produced and children must accompany parents at the time of enrolment.

Parents who wish their child to attend this school but live outwith the area, must first enrol the child in the school within their own catchment area, stating their preferred school. Relevant paperwork will be passed on by that school.

Parents of new pupils will be invited to a series of meetings in the school before the start of the new session for an outline of the Language and Mathematics programmes and teaching methods. Pupils are also invited to meet their teacher and become familiar with their classroom.

Placing Requests

You have a right to make a placing request for your child to be educated in a school other than the local school. In December each year, the authority will advertise its arrangements for placing requests. There are sound educational reasons for trying to ensure that the transfer or admission of children to a school takes place at the start of a school session. Other than those who are moving home to a new area, parents are advised to time any placing requests so that they take effect from the beginning of the new school session. Every effort will be made to try to meet the parental wishes, but you should note that it is not always possible to grant every placing request to a particular school.

Placing requests to Primary school does not necessarily ensure that your child will have a direct entry into the associated secondary. Advice on this must be sought from the Primary school head teacher. All placing request details and procedures are available from the school or council website.

Parents and Young People have a right under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2009 to make a placing request for their child or young person to attend a Nursery (including partnership nursery), special school, special class managed by the home authority. In the event of a successful placing request the authority are not required to provide transport.

The Act also enables parents and young people to make a placing request to attend a school/establishment belonging to another authority.

Enrolment of children during the School Year

Parents seeking a place for their child in this school are asked to contact the head teacher in order that a visit can be arranged at a mutually convenient time.