In relation to school enrolment, it is a matter for the parents to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupils should be admitted.
It is the responsibility of the school authorities to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Acts, 1998 - 2018. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.
However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available (an oversubscribed school) a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools have drafted new admission policies which are transparent and easily accessible, and have been approved by the school patron. These new policies apply to the intake group for the 2021/2022 school year and thereafter, and greatly assist parents, regardless of their background or circumstances to engage in the admission processes of individual schools.
These new school admission policies set out the school’s selection criteria in a transparent manner for parents. Schools and their patrons have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves.
