Admission Policy of Réalt na Mara Boys’ National School

 

 

School Address: Donacarney, Mornington, Co. Meath, A92 WC52

 

Roll number:18762D

 

School Patron: Rev. Thomas 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 30th September 2025. 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 Réalt na Mara BNS 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

 

Réalt na Mara BNS  is a Catholic boys primary school with a Catholic ethos under the patronage of Bishop 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

 

1. The full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and

(b) A living relationship with God and with other people; and

(c) A philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and

(d) The formation of the pupil 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 Réalt na Mara BNS 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

We are a Catholic school which strives to provide a well ordered, happy, safe, inclusive and nurturing learning environment where the intellectual, spiritual, physical moral and cultural needs of our pupils are wholly developed. 

Relationships and a strong sense of community are at the heart of all we do, fostering connection, belonging, and mutual respect. 

While we provide Religious Education for pupils in accordance with the traditions, practices and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, we very much welcome and value children from all other religious traditions and none. We strive to encourage each child and to enable him to develop to his full and unique potential, enabling each child to unselfishly use his gifts for the common good and to work towards a more caring and just society.

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  3. Admission Statement 

 

Réalt na Mara BNS will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:

 

1. the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

2. the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

3. the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

4. the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

5. the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

6. the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

7. the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,

8. the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or 

9. 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, ‘gender ground’, ‘civil status ground’, ‘family status ground’, ‘sexual orientation ground’, ‘religion ground’, ‘disability ground’, ‘ discriminate’, ‘ground of race’ and ‘Traveller community ground’ shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Equal Status Act 2000.

 

Réalt na Mara BNS is an all-boys school and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit a girl applying for admission to this school. 

Réalt na Mara BNS 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. 

Réalt na Mara BNS is a school which has established two classes, with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, which provides an education exclusively for students with a category or categories of special educational needs specified by the Minister and may refuse to admit to the class a student who does not have the category of needs specified.

Réalt na Mara BNS will cooperate with the National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 relating 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. 

Réalt na Mara BNS will comply with any direction served on the patron or the board, as the case may be, under section 37A and any direction served on the board under section 67(4B) of the Education Act. 

 

  4. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the school/special class

 

Réalt na Mara BNS with the approval of the Minister for Education, has established two special classes to provide an education exclusively for students with autism.

Children and young people are eligible for enrolment in a special class for autism when the following is provided in support of such an application: Professional report(s) outlining:  

 

• Diagnosis of Autism: DSM IV/V or ICD 10/11 (psychologist, psychiatrist, multi-disciplinary report) AND  

• A demonstration of the understanding of complexity of the child’s overall level of need/s evidenced in the professional reports AND  

• Given the severity or complexity of the child’s support needs, a clear professional recommendation as to what educational placement type would be most appropriate to best meet the child’s needs, along with the rationale for same AND  

• A sanction letter from the NCSE confirming that the child is known to them and that the child has the required diagnosis and recommendation for a special class for autism.

 

If an Autism Class is oversubscribed the following selection criteria will apply:

 

• Pupils currently attending mainstream in Réalt na Mara BNS or who have siblings already in the school 

• Pupils who ordinarily reside in the parish of Mornington and Donacarney.

• Pupils who ordinarily reside in the parish of Bettystown and Laytown.

• Pupils who reside outside the parish.

• Subject to appropriate provision being made for pupils as defined in (1) (2) and (3), pupils who ordinarily reside outside, but contiguous to those areas, will be offered places subject to availability.

• In all cases, places are subject to availability. If all available places in the class are filled, then the applicants will go on a waiting list. The waiting list is valid for one academic year. Parents/Guardians must reapply the following year in line with the school’s admissions policy.

• If a place is secured in another autism class/school please inform the school that you no longer wish to remain on the waiting list.

• Priority will be given to the oldest child in each category.

 

  5. Admission of Students

 

This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –

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a) the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 below for further details)

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b) 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

 

A school that admits students of one gender only

Réalt na Mara BNS provides education exclusively for boys and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of the gender provided for by this school.

 

School with special education classes

The special classes attached to Réalt na Mara BNS provides an education exclusively for students with [specify category or categories of special educational needs] and the school may refuse admission to this class, where the student concerned does not have the specified category of special educational needs provided for in this class.

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  6. 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: 

 

The BOM recognises the right of parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice. The Board of Management of Réalt na Mara BNS must also consider the rights of the existing school community and in particular the children already enrolled. Therefore the BOM reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each class bearing in mind the following criteria:

• The size and/available space in classrooms

• The timely provision of appropriate resources and personnel for each classroom by the Dept of Education.

• The educational needs and special needs of all children in the class.

• The Department of Education and Skills’ maximum class average directives

• The maximum number of children will be determined for each class and reviewed each year in line with the Department guidelines on pupil/teacher ratios and will be published in the annual Admission Notice.

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: 

 

• Brothers of boys currently enrolled in Réalt na Mara BNS

• Brothers Children who reside in the Parish of of girls currently enrolled in Réalt na Mara GNS

• Children who reside in the Parish of Mornington and Donacarney

• Children who reside in the parish of Bettystown/Laytown

• Pupils who reside outside the parish.

 

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:

Priority will be decided based on age with older children being offered places in the first instance.

If a situation arises where two or more applicants are tied for the last available school place and these applicants share the same date of birth, the last place available will be awarded to the oldest based on time of birth on the birth certificate. In the case of twins being tied for the last remaining place both would be admitted by way of exception

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:

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  7. 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:

 

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 student’s prior attendance at a preschool or preschool service including naionraí other than in relation to a student’s prior attendance at an early intervention class.

• The payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the school.

•  A student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude other than in relation to a special class insofar as it is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not the applicant has the category of special educational needs concerned.

• the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;

•  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 where siblings of the pupil are attending or had attended our school.

•  a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission; 

• a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude, 

• 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.

 

  8. Decisions on applications 

 

All decisions on applications for admission to Réalt na Mara BNS 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 14 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and section 15 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.

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  9. 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 18 below for further details).

 

  10. Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant

 

In accepting an offer of admission from Réalt na Mara BNS, 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.

 

  11. 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 Réalt na Mara where—

1. it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading.

2. 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.

3. 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

4. an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out in section 10 above.

 

  12. 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. Section 66(6) allows a board to provide a patron or another board of management with a list of the students in relation to whom—

 

(i) an application for admission to the school has been received,

(ii) an offer of admission to the school has been made, or

(iii) an offer of admission to the school has been accepted.

 

The list may include any or all of the following:

(i) the date on which an application for admission was received by the school;

(ii) the date on which an offer of admission was made by the school;

(iii) the date on which an offer of admission was accepted by an applicant;

(iv) a student’s personal details including his or her name, address, date of birth and personal public service number (within the meaning of section 262 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005).

 

 13. 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 [school name] 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 [school name] 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.

 

  14. Late Applications

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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.

 

  15.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: 

Boys can transfer to Réalt na Mara BNS at any time during the school year subject to space being available in the relevant class group and the following requirements being adhered to.

A fully completed Enrolment Application form must be submitted, in conjunction with relevant reports from the pupil’s previous school and professionals where relevant to the child’s educational needs. 

The Enrolment application must be signed by both parents, including acceptance of the school’s Code of Behaviour.

A written response will be forwarded in respect of all applications within three weeks of receipt of the application by the Principal.

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:

 

  16. Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees

 

This rule applies to all schools.

 

The board of Realt na Mara BNS or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-

1. an application for admission of a student to the school, or

2. the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.

 

  17. Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction 

 

The following are the school’s arrangements for students, where the parents the has requested that the student attend the school without attending religious instruction in the school.  These arrangements will not result in a reduction in the school day of such students:

A written request should be made to the Principal of the school. A meeting will then be arranged with the parent(s) of the pupil, to discuss how the request may be accommodated by the school.

 

  18. Reviews/appeals

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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.

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.    

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.