TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (SCIENCE COLLEGE)

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA 2010/11

Trinity Catholic High School (Science and Sports College) is a voluntary aided,

mixed, 11 – 18 Catholic Comprehensive School, under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Brentwood. The primary aim and purpose of our school is to support practising

Catholic parents in the academic, spiritual and moral education of their children.

The Governing Body will therefore offer a priority in each category to children of

practising Catholic families, whose parents’ desire for their child a Catholic

education.

Definition of practising Catholic

The term practising Catholic, in accordance with the teaching of the Church, is

taken to denote a Baptised person who is in full communion with the Catholic

Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the Sunday Eucharist

(Saturday Vigil) as the foundation of all practice accordingly the Catechism states that on Sundays (Saturday Vigil) and other Holy Days of Obligation, the faithful are

bound to participate in Mass.

In accordance with the above teaching, a priest will confer the status of practising

Catholic, where a child has been baptised in accordance with the teachings of the

Church, and where compliance with the Sunday obligation is the established

practice of the child, and their family.

The above definition is given further validity in English education, by Mr Justice

Scott Baker who determined that practice for Catholics means Mass attendance

each Sunday (Saturday Vigil) in accordance with Canon 1247 of the Code of Canon Law 1983.

(A reference from the applicant’s Parish Priest will be required, which must be

returned to the School by either the Priest, or parents no later than October

2009. Further details regarding this reference can be obtained from the

Redbridge Transfer to Secondary School Booklet, the School’s Prospectus, or

by contacting the School directly).

The Governing Body, having carried out the required consultation, has set a planned

admission number of 240 for the academic school year commencing in September

2010.

Over-subscription criteria

In the event of over-subscription applications will be considered in the following

order of priority.

1. Looked after children from Catholic families. Children in public care

include:- children in children’s homes, foster care, unaccompanied minors,

and children in other emergency provision.

2. To children of practising Catholic families, whose parents desire first and

foremost a Catholic education, and whose permanent residence is within one

of the following Catholic Parish boundaries on the closing date of application.

Please note applications under this section of the criteria will be considered in the order of Parish priority listed below:-

(1) St. Thomas of Canterbury, Woodford Green

(2) Our Lady of Grace & St. Teresa, Chingford

(3) St. John Vianney, Clayhall

(4) St. Edmund & St. Thomas More, Loughton

(5) St. Thomas More & St. Edward, Waltham Abbey

(6) St. Anne Line, South Woodford

(7) The Assumption, Hainault

(8) Christ the King, (North of the North Circular A 406)

(9) Our Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead.

Please note that the Parish Boundaries are defined by the Diocese of

Brentwood. Information relating to these boundaries can be found on our

School’s website (www.trinity.redbridge.sch.uk), or by contacting the School

directly on 020 8504 8946, to request a copy of our Parish Boundary map

booklet. Previous experience would indicate a possibility of over-subscription

within the above catchment area (Please see School Prospectus for

further commentary and details).

Therefore in the event of an insufficient number of places being left available,

for the total number of applicants from practising Catholic families from a

particular Parish, the following tie-break arrangements will apply:-

(a) First priority will be given to sibling applicants from practising

Catholic families, who have brothers or sisters (siblings) already in

Years 7 – 10, and who will therefore continue to attend our School in

the following academic Year. These places will be offered in

accordance with geographical distance from the school, as measured by the shortest available walking route, via public roads, and

recognised footpaths. This will be measured via reference to a

geographical mapping system which measures distance from an

individual residence, to the front entrance to the school in

Mornington Road, Woodford Green, IG8 0TP. Please note that when

measurements involve flats in the same block, the distance will be to

the entrance of each individual flat.

(b) Any remaining places will then be offered to non-sibling applicants

from practising Catholic families, who are resident in the Parish

where over-subscription has occurred, in accordance with the same

distance tie-break arrangements.

3. In the event of under-subscription from applicants residing in Parishes listed

1 - 9 any remaining places will be offered in the following order of priority:-

(i) To sibling applicants from practising Catholic families who have

brothers or sisters (siblings) currently on roll at Trinity in Years 7 - 10

and who will therefore continue to attend Trinity in the following

academic year, in accordance with the geographical distance from the

school (as described in Section 2).

(ii) To applicants from practising Catholic families who reside outside of

the stated catchment area in accordance with geographical distance

from the school (as described in Section 2). (iii) To baptised Catholic applicants resident in one of the nine parishes

listed in our criteria in accordance with our sibling/distance tie-break

arrangements (described).

(iii) To baptised Catholic applicants residing outside of our stated

catchment area in accordance with our sibling/distance tie-break

arrangements (described).

4. At this point the Governing Body having fulfilled its obligation to the Catholic

community, will consider applications from parents whose children are not

practising Catholics or Baptised Catholics, but whose parents genuinely

desire their child to attend Trinity Catholic High School (Science and Sports College). The Governors will consider all such applications in the following

order of priority:-

(i) Looked after children in public care. Children in public care include:

children in children’s homes, foster care, unaccompanied minors, and

children in other emergency provision.

(ii) To applicants of other Christian traditions whose parents are in

sympathy with the aims and ethos of the School, and whose

application is supported by a Minister of Religion.

(iii) To applicants of other faiths whose parents are in sympathy with the

aims and ethos of the School and whose application is supported by a

religious leader.

(iv) To other applicants.

Please note that places will be offered under category 4 (ii), 4 (iii), and 4 (iv) in accordance with our sibling/distance tie-break arrangements described in category

2 (a)/2 (b)

Please find attached explanatory notes and definitions.

DEFINITION OF TERMS & RELATED ARRANGEMENTS

Please note:-

1. Definition of practising Catholic

The term practising Catholic, in accordance with the teaching of the Church,

is taken to denote a Baptised person who is in full communion with the

Catholic Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the

Sunday Eucharist (Saturday Vigil) as the foundation of all practice accordingly the Catechism states that on Sundays (Saturday Vigil) and other

Holy Days of Obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in Mass.

In accordance with the above teaching, a priest will confer the status of

practising Catholic, where a child has been baptised in accordance with the

teachings of the Church, and where compliance with the Sunday obligation

is the established practice of the child, and their family.

The above definition is given further validity in English education, by Mr

Justice Scott Baker who determined that practice for Catholics means Mass

attendance each Sunday (Saturday Vigil) in accordance with Canon 1247 of the Code of Canon Law 1983.

Baptised Catholic: this is defined as a person who has received the

sacrament of baptism, but is a non-practising member of the Catholic

Church.

(A reference from the applicant’s Parish Priest will be required, which

must be returned to the School by either the Priest, or parents no later

than October 2009. Further details regarding this reference can be

obtained from the Redbridge Transfer to Secondary School Booklet, the

School’s Prospectus, or by contacting the School directly).

Please note it is the responsibility of the applicant’s parents/guardians

to forward the above information if appropriate/desired. In cases where

no information is received, the application will be considered as a non-

faith application under the appropriate section of the criteria.

2. Statemented children. The Governors recognise that the law provides an entirely separate process for the admission of such

children, and they will work with the various agencies concerned in

the processing of such applications.

3. Definition of sibling. A brother or sister residing within the same family unit of a pupil who are both currently on roll at our School and who

will continue to attend our School in the following academic year. The term

sibling will also be inclusive of half-siblings, adopted siblings and

step-children.

4. Distance. Where distance is used as a tie-break. The measurement

in all cases will be measured by the shortest available walking route,

via public roads, and recognised footpaths, as measured via reference

to a geographical mapping system which measures distance from an

individual residence to the front entrance of the school, Mornington Road, Woodford Green, IG8 0TP. Please note that when measurements

involve flats in the same block, the distance will be to the entrance of each

individual flat.

5. Late applications. Applications received after the closing date will be

considered in accordance with the School’s Admissions Criteria, but after those that were submitted by the closing date of application.

6. Waiting List. Parents who express a desire to be placed on the

waiting list will be placed in order of priority in accordance with the

published criteria. This will be maintained until the Autumn half-

term after the start of Year 7. After this time, parents still wishing for

their children to be considered will be asked to reaffirm their interest and a waiting list will then be drawn up in accordance with the

admissions criteria. Please note that “In – Year Fair Access Protocol”

admissions will take precedence over those on the waiting list as

required.

7. Definition of ordinary residence.

• The residence at which a child lives with its birth parents,

legal guardian or foster parent. That address will be

considered to be the child’s normal, permanent place of

residence. • Where a child has parents who are separated, the parents

may nominate only one address for the application process. If

one parent has parental responsibility (as evidenced by

documentation) that parent’s address must be used.

If both parents have parental responsibility (as evidenced by documentation) the Governing Body will normally accept a

parent’s address used by the child’s primary school.

• If the child lives full or part time, with neither parent. The

Governing Body will accept this as the application address

only if the arrangement can be confirmed as such. If such a formal arrangement has been agreed there should be some

evidence that the relatives care for the child/ren on a full time

basis, practical examples of factual proof will include:- who

holds the child’s allowance book, and collects it, where the

child is registered with the G.P., where the child spends weekends. If a child is merely looked after by a relative

during the week, this would not alter their ordinary residence

which is assumed to be with their parents and it is this

address that will be used for admission purposes.

• Parish Boundary Guide. A booklet showing Parish Boundaries is available to all applicants on request (telephone

020 8504 8946).

8. It should be noted that all offers are made on condition that the

information received by the Governing Body is entirely accurate, if at

any stage this is proved to be otherwise, otherwise the offer of a place may be withdrawn.

9. Appeals against Admission decisions. The School’s Standard and

Framework Act 1998 allows parents to appeal against any decision

made by or on behalf of the Governing Body of Trinity Catholic High School concerning admissions.

The Governing Body will implement the decisions of Independent

Appeals Panels. Please note that repeat appeals in the same

academic year, will not be considered unless there have been

significant and material changes in circumstances relevant to the application. Places will continue to be filled from the waiting list,

whether or not parents have appealed, in accordance with the

Admissions Criteria.

0 n I i ne ad nissio ns Q avail oble

Diocesa nGuidance

Priest'sNotes

Reference Formfor Parents

Canon Palmer

llford Ursuline

Trin

t0t

IntroductionResponsibility for the admission of pupils to Catholic maintained schools rests with the governing body of each school.The governing body determines and publishes an admissions policy each year, which is included in the schoolprospectus. Where there are more applications than places available, the policy must state how the places are to beallocated. Parents should read the admissions policy carefully. lt will vary from school to school, and from year to year.

For Canon Palmer Catholic School and Trinity Catholic High School, the bishops expect these Catholic schools to givefirst priority to Catholic applicants. Catholic schools exist to assist parents in handing on the Catholic faith to theirchildren. So where there are insufficient places in an area for all Catholics, governing bodies may decide to givepriority to children from practising Catholic families, please note the definition of practising Catholic as it appears inthe Admissions Criteria of each School. Where schools do so, they should use, as evidence of practice, the priest'sreference supplied with these notes (Part B).Please note, however, that a supportive reference fr*om a priest is no guarantee of a place in any particnhr sdrool.

This reference form is intended to give all priests a framework in which they can let schools know whether an applicantfor a place at a Catholic school is from a practising Catholic family.

Where a school is over-subscribed with Catholic applicants; all of whom have provided evidence of Catholic practice,the governing body will apply other criteria such as proximity to the school, or whether there is an older sister orbrother attending the school at the same time. These factors are likely to be crucial in deciding how places are to beallocated. Theseboints will be explained in detail in the school prospectus.

How it wor|s ,1. Fill in the two pages marked PartA:YourSelf-Assessmentfollowing carefully the notes below (you also fill in thefirst part of the page marked Part B: Pdesfs Reference). You may need to fill in more than one Part B if you are makingapplication to more than one Catholic school.

2. Give both Part A and Part B of the form to the appropriate priest (see below). Part B will be completed by thepriest and returned to you forlou to give direct to the school. The priest will fill in extra copies of Part B if necessary.He will keep Part A for reference but itwill not be supplied to the dtool.

3. Get your Parish Priest to countersign the form if necessary (see below), then return the form to the Sdrool. lt isyour responsibility to make sure each school which requires one receivefa Part B.

Which Priest should comptete the form?The reference should be given by the appropriate priest, who is normally either:

O your own Parish Priest (i.e. the Parish Priest of the Parish in which you live); or

O the Parish Priest of the Parish where you worship regularly {if different).

lf you worship at a church which does not have a Parish Priest, then the priest who is the equivalent of a Parish Priest isthe appropriate priest (e.9. Administrator, Ethnic Chaplain etc.).lf yourPadsh Pdestisnotgivingthereference,lemustsigntheformaswell. lf the priest giving the reference is rrot one of the priests described above, an explanation will be required.

How to fill in the formsPart A: Your Sclf-Asserrnent requires you to consider your responsibilities. lt will k used by the priest when he completes Part B. All the questionsare {esigned to help the priest give you the most accurate reference posible in the circumstances. 5o it is important that you give him as much relevantinformation as you can. Please answer all the questions as fully as possible, filling in the forms cleady in capital letten and in black ink.

Continued overleaf-..

NameofFatherandMother. Ihroughoutthisformwehaveusedtheterms'MothedTathedand'Parent'toincludeallpersonswholEallyhaveparental responsibility for the child. Please enter the details ofeach person who has parental responsibility, and ifany ofthem is not the child's mother 0rfather, please state charly for each the relationship with the child.Ihere may be more than two people with parental responsibility. lf so please give detailson a separate sheet.

Address of Father and Mother. Please give tln addres of the family homelfthe parents do not live together, give both parents'addresses.

Padsh of Residence. This is the Parish in which each parent normally lives. Please give the geographical name of the parish (e.9. Clayhall).lf the parents do not live together, give both parishes of residence (if different).

4 Are you a Gtholi(? You are a (atholic if you have been baptised into the (atholic (hurch (or have been received into it after being baptised inanother Christian church).

5Which church do you normally attend? Some people regulady aftend a church otherthan their Parish (hurch.

lfyou often attend more than one church, please give as much detail as you can here.Always give both the title of the church (e.9. 5t Joseph's) and the geographical parish (e.9. ftigwell).

6How often do you normally wonhip at ilass? Please circle which statement you feel best describes your attendance as a family: weekly,fortnightly or monthly. lfyoudonotthinkany0fthesestatementsaccuratelydescribesyourattendance,pleasecircle other anddescribeyourpracticeiny0ur own w0r0s.

7For how long has this been your practice? Please indicate how long you have been practising at the level described in the pevious question.Please give the answer in years 0r months. lf this is a relatively $ort time, you may wish to give the priest further information about your practice beforethen to asist his assessment.

8lf you do not go to Mass regularly, it will be helpful for the priest to know why. lt is therefore helpful if you give reasons in the space provided.Please also give any other details which you think may help the priest decide whether you are a practising Catholic family or whether there are exceptionalpastoral circumstances.

9n0 Please give the childt name and date of birth.

11Childt ilormal Address. State the addres where the child lives. lf only one address is given at question 2, you may simply refer to question 2.lf the child lives a more than one address, please give both and give full details of the arrangements.

12 Baptism. Fillinthedateandplaceofbaptism.lfthechildwasnotbaptisedintheCatholicfturch,youmustalsogivethedateandplaceofreceptioninto full communion with the Catholic [hurch.

13 First Holy Communion. lf appropriate, fill in the date and place of the child's First Holy Communion (if received). For primary school children thisquestion is unlikely to be relevant and can be ignored.

14Saq"ment of Reconciliation. lf appropriate, fill in the months 0r year and the place of child's preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation(sometimes called First (onfession). For primary school children this question is unlikely to be relevant and can be ignored.

15 Please let the priest know if you or your child pafticipate h or contribute to parish and other church activitiet or have done so in the past(whether in hh parish 0r other parishes). Ihis will help the priest build up his piaurc of you and your family's practice.

16a

It may help the pdest t0 understand if there are any particular reasons why you wish your child t0 attend a Catholic school.

Your DeclarationUnless there is a good reason, each parent should sign and date the form.This is to affirm that the contents of the form are true, and that you undetstand and accept that:

O information you have given will remain confldential to the priest and will not be shared with the schoo{, and

O the information will not be used in any way except for purposes connected with your pastoral care withinthe Catholic Church.

l{arning: Making a fake statement in order to gain entry to a school is both immoral and illegal, as it might depdve another child of aplace which h rightfully his or hers. Making a false statement is a good reason for a sdroolto withdnw any place which has beenoffered and could leave you without a school place.

Part B: PriestS Referenre identifies your child and allows the priest to confirm whether you are a practising Catholic family. This judgment will bebased on your Mass attendance.

Childt Name and your Names. You need to give the child's name and your names again.Ihis is because the school will only see this part of the form.

Childt Address. As before, if the child lives at more than one address, please give both and give full details of the anangements.

0 nli n e od n issi ons Q availoble

Part A: Your self-Assessment ((onfidentiatto rhe priest)* Important - Read the guidance notes berore filting in this form *

Information about your Family

2009

Father of Child Mother of Child

1 ilame:a

2

Address:(give both oddresaif differmt)

Telephone:

3 Padsh ofResidenre:

( give both p orish a if d if f erem)

4 Are you a Gtholic? Yes / No Yes / No

5 Atwhidr drurdr do younormallywonhip?

6 Howoften do you normallywonhip at llass?

weekly/foft n ig htly/month lylother: weekly/fortn i g htly/month lylother:

7 For how long hasthis beenyour pnctice? years / months years / months

8

I

lf*.dgg*l_hit t!!.ttregularfy, or you. have only recendy started to do so, ptease gire any reasonsDercw. rrcase aBo give any other detaih whidr you think may be relevant or usefrri.

Information about your Child 2009

9 Childt Name:

10 Childt Date of Birth:

11 Childt l{ormal Address:

(itdiffmmfronQ.z)

12 My/0ur drild was baptised:

13 (if opproUiote) My/0ur dild rereived Fint Holy Communion:

0n at

(date) (place)

14 (if oppnpnote) My/0ur child was prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (First Confession)

(date) (place)

15 lf you or your drild participatein or cofrtsibute to pdsh activities, please indicate below:

t6 Why do you wish your drild to attend a Catholic sdrool?

Parents'DedarationlAll/e dectare that the information given on this form is true. lAllle understand and accept that theinformation given on this sheet remains confidentialand willnot be shared with the school, or usedin any way except for purposes connected with my/our pastoral care within the Catholic Church.

Signature of Mothet Date-

$gnature of Father Date-

0nline odnissions Q aYailobleDiocese of Brentwood

Part B: Priest3 Reference (to be returned to the school)fo be conpleted by the PtenUGuardian

Mornington Road, Woodford Green, Essex lG8 (lTP

17 Childt Fint ilame Childt Surname

18 Name of Parent(s) Date ofBirth

19 PupilS Home Addresslmattr

rematetr

Post Code:

20 Telephone llir:

fo be on pleff Dy tfie Pdest glving the rcfaence

21 The Parentsarc known to me Yes ilo

22 The Child is known to me Yes ilo

2l Ihe Child is a member of a practising Gtholic family Yes llo

24 I support this appliotion Yes No

Please note: the term Practising Gdrolic, in accordance with the teadring of the fturch, is taken to denote a Eaptised person who is in fullcommunion with the Gtholic Church. Catechism of the Gtholic fturch describes the Sunday tucharist (Saturday Vigil) as the foundation of allpractice. Acrodingly the Gtedism states that on Sundays (Saturday Vigil) and other Holy Days of Obligation, the faithfrrl are bound to participatein Mass.

In accordance with the above teaching, a pdest will confer the status of practising Gtholic, where a child has been baptised in accordance withthe teachings of the fturch, and where compliance with the Sunday obligation is ttre established practice of the drild, and their family.

lhe above definition is given further validity in English education by Mr Justke Scott Baker who determined that practice for Catholia means Massattendance eath Sunday (SaturdayVigil), in accordance with Gnon 1247 of the Code of Gnonl-aw 1983.

DeclarationI have read and understood the Guidon ce llotesfor Pofish Prirr;B on Adnission to CafioticSdtools and I confirm that, on the basis d8cribedin that guidance, the above staternen$ about the child named above and h'rs or lrer family are true, to ttre bat of my knowledge and hlief.

Signed

*Photocopted Seals moy not be occepted by the xhnbParish Seal*

(to be applied over Priat's signature)

Padsh Pdestt Countersi gnature (only where the Pafish Prist is Nfif giving the reference)lconfirm thatthe child israidentinmy parish.

Date Pdest's Name 5igned

(to be applied over Priest3 signature)Parish Seal

Ihb omplctrd ftm should be sent to the Sdrool at the above address by! 0ctober 20Q, by either younelf, or pur Padsh Priest (it isrdvlcllfte[flr4&rddrcssed envelope to the School if you wish to ifeive confirmation of receiot). You will'also need to ananqe fenvelope tothe Schoolif you wish to confimation of rceipt). You will also need to anange for

be sent to the Sdool: the dildt Certifiote of Baptism, prcoft of nsidence

Borough

ent to the Sdool: the dildt Certifiote of Baptism, prcoft of nsidence induding your (unenttcmncy.grcemenUfiility bill. You must ako name this Sdrool on your appliation to pur

0nline odnisiom Q oyailable

Supplementary Application Fom for other Faith Applicants (Non-Catholia)Admission for Septemb!r 2009

0nce you have filled out the form, send it direct to the school.

Details of Child: Male tr

Daytime Iel. N0.........................................:....-.....M0bi1e...

To be conplaed bythe Beligious Leoder givingthe reference.llB: We reserve the dght to contact yow Religious leader for daffi<ation of any points on this form.

Ihe parents are known to me Ihe child is a member of a practising family

Ihe child is known to me

Declaration by the Religious leader giving the reference

I confirm that the above statements about the child named above and his/her family are true t0 the best of my knowledg and klief.(Pleose oftoch o lefterhead with your full contod detaik)

Name of Religious (entre attended by applicant.....

This completed form should be sent to the School at the above address b[ October 2ffif, by either yourself, or your Religious Leader(include a self-addressed envelope if you wish to receive confirmation of re?ipt).You will aslo need to anange for copies of the following documents to be sent to the School: plooft of residence including your orrentCouncilTax Bill, and one of the following: utility/tenancy agleement. You must atso name this S<hool on your appticationto your Borough(whether online or paper form).