The Following information is based on the school Enrolment Policy - a copy of which can be obtained from the school office.

Application for admission as a First Year Student.

Parents or guardians who wish to have their child(ren) considered for admission to the school as a first year student must complete a Registration Form on or before the closing date for applications.

Application forms will be made available on the day school re-opens after the Christmas holidays when prospective students are in 5th class in primary school. The closing date for applications will coincide with the School Open Day. Details for enrolment for September 2008 and 2009 are in the highlighted boxes on this page.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered unless places remain unfilled following the offer of places to valid applicants. (Valid applicants are those whose applications are received on or before the closing date).Late applicants may request to be added to the waiting list for consideration in these circumstances.

Registration Forms may be obtained from the School Secretary.

Once the new school year has begun, applications from students will be considered only in exceptional circumstances. Application will be made in writing to the Principal, with appropriate references including (a) an academic progress report, (b) a behaviour report and (c) a reference from the principal of the former school.

Open Day
An Open Day will be held, and will be advertised in the local community.

Waiting List.
A waiting list of applicants will be established after the Open day (Closing Date for applications) based on the date and time of application received in the school. This waiting list will remain active until the 30th of September of the year of entry.

Offer of Places to students

In relation to the offer places to first year students:
Where the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available, places will be offered in accordance with these criteria in the following order of priority:
1st . Students who have completed their education in our Mercy Primary Schools of Balloonagh and Moyderwell and who have the expectation of continuing their education in the Mercy ethos.
2nd . Siblings of students of Mounthawk and siblings of students who completed their education in Mounthawk, Balloonagh and Moyderwell Secondary Schools.
3rd . All other applicants will be ranked, based on the date and time of receipt of their application by the school.

General procedures:
In offering a place to a student, the school must be satisfied that it is in a position to fulfil the educational needs of that student, subject to the support required from the Department of Education and Science in providing adequate human resources, skills and facilities.
Decisions on enrolment will be made by the Board of Management of the school through those to whom it delegates this task.
In accordance with the Education Welfare act, Section 19, the decision of the Board will be notified in writing to the parents not later than 21 days after the Open Day / Closing Date for Applications.

Acceptence of Students into the school.
All first year students accepted for enrolment will be notified of the Admissions Day.
In order to be validly enrolled as a student of the school, the student, accompanied by his/her parents/guardians must:
(a) attend the school in person on the date specified for admission and attend such meetings and assessments as may be provided
and
(b) in accordance with section 23 (4) of the Education Welfare act 2000, sign that they have read and understood the school behaviour code as issued to them and that said code is acceptable to them and that they shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with the code by the student.
and
(c) sign that they understand that the school is a Catholic Voluntary school which
subscribes to the Mercy ethos of education as contained in the 'Mercy
Philosophy of Education' booklet as issued to them and that they are willing to accept the right of the school to uphold its ethos through the display and wearing of emblems and by other means.
(d) All students must wear the school uniform, without modification, as prescribed.

 

Application to transfer from other Second level schools
Where a student wishes to transfer from another second level school, an application must be made in writing to the Principal.

The application should be accompanied by appropriate references to include (a) an academic progress report (b) a behaviour report and (c) a reference from the Principal of the previous school. The school reserves the right to consult with such school(s) in order to assess the application.

A decision on the application will be made in accordance with this policy and will be communicated to the parent/guardian within 21 days of the receipt of the written application. Special consideration will be given to students moving into the area who do not already have an educational place in the area.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 20 of the Education (welfare) Act 2000, where the Principal registers a student who is already registered in another recognised school, he/she is obliged to give written notification of the transfer to the Principal of the school in which the student was previously registered and the Principal of that other school must notify the Principal of any problems relating to school attendance that the student concerned had while attending the other school and such other matters relating to the student's educational progress as he or she considers appropriate.