St Therese of Lisieux Primary School

Admission to P1 is through the Education Authority online admission process.Over the last few years we have almost always been able to offer a place to all punctual applications for P1. We only apply our criteria if we are oversubscribed. Criteria and map are available on this website.

Applications for places from P2-P7 should be made by emailing the school. We operate a 'Waiting List' from 1st September to 31st August every year. After 1st September each year, parents who wish their child to be added to the 'Waiting List' or to remain on the 'Waiting List', should submit their request via email to the Principal. Should a vacancy arise during the school year, the published criteria for Year 1 admission to the school will apply equally to all year groups.

The Board of Governors has drawn up the school’s admissions criteria and has delegated to the principal its function and responsibility in relation to the application of the criteria and the admission of pupils to the school.

During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria punctual applications will be considered before late applications are considered. The application procedure opens on 7 January at 12 noon (GMT) and an application submitted by the closing date of 29 January at 12 noon (GMT) will be treated as a punctual application. An application received after 12 noon (GMT) on 29 January will be treated as a late application.

Priority will be given to children who will have attained compulsory school age at the time of their proposed admission, over those who will not have attained compulsory school age at the time of their proposed admission. In selecting children for admission, children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission will be selected for admission to the school before any child not so resident.

Admissions Criteria

The Board of Governors of St Therese of Lisieux Primary School has drawn up the following criteria to be applied in the event of the number of children applying for admission in Year 1 being greater than the admission number set by the Department of Education. Children of compulsory school age who are:

• Children living with their parents/guardians in Holy Family Parish who have siblings at the school. (Indicate name and year group)
• Children living with their parents/guardians in Holy Family Parish in the area bounded by – Cavehill Road, northwards from, and including Evelyn Gardens. The areas bordered by Glenburn Park and Sunningdale Park to Kilcoole Park, Upper Cavehill Road, North Circular Road, all even numbers, odd numbers from 61 upwards: Antrim Road, odd numbers to Parkmount Road. The area bordered by Parkmount Road (Parkmount Road is not included), Lansdowne Park, Lansdowne Road, Fortwilliam Park, York Road (northside) to, but not including lower Skegoniell Avenue. The Upper Skegoneill area from, but excluding, Glanleam Drive northwards, bordered by and including Glandore Gardens and Evelyn Gardens. (A map can be provided on request)
• Children whose parent(s)/guardians(s) are permanent members of the teaching or ancillary staff.
• Children from other areas in Holy Family Parish.
• Children from other areas who have sibling(s) in the school. (Indicate name and year group)
• Children from other areas

If at any stage, any of the above criteria is oversubscribed, decisions will be made on the proximity of parents’/guardians’ home address to school address, as measured by the shortest walking distance from the child’s home to the school as determined by Google Maps. When considering which children should be selected for admission, the Board of Governors will only take into account information which is detailed on the application or provided directly to the school. Parents/Guardians should therefore ensure that all information pertaining to their child and relevant to the school’s admissions criteria is stated on the application or provided directly to the first preference school. Examples of such information include whether the child has brothers/sisters attending the school.

All applications for admission to St Therese of Lisieux PS MUST be accompanied by a long birth certificate and proof of residence (eg Utility bill).

Duty to Verify

The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary evidence as it may determine to support or verify information on any application. If the requested evidence is not provided to the Board of Governors by the deadline given, this will result in the withdrawal of an offer of a place. Similarly, if information is supplied which appears to be false or misleading in any material way, the offer of a place will be withdrawn.

Waiting List Policy

Should a vacancy arise after the initial issue of places, 28 April, those children of parents who made application prior to the 29 January deadline, will be given priority before any new/late applications. Places are allocated using the P1 application criteria. Your child’s name will automatically be added to the list. The school’s Waiting List operates from 28 April until 31 August. The school will contact you in writing if your child gains a place in the school by this method before the 31 August. If you wish to be placed on the new waiting list from 1 September please contact the school.