If you would like your child to attend our school, please see full details of our admission arrangements below.

St Columban’s PS was created through the amalgamation of Moneydarragh Primary School, St Joseph’s Primary School, Ballymartin and St Mary’s Primary School, Glasdrumman, opened in September 2018.

The new school was created to serve as the Parish Primary School for Lower Mourne.

Parents who wish to enrol their children for September 2025 should do so using the online portal application on or before the Friday 24^th January 2025 at 12 noon (GMT).

RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND PRINCIPAL IN RELATION TO ADMISSIONS

The Board of Governors draws up the admissions criteria and delegates to an Admissions Sub-Committee, which includes the Principal, the responsibility for applying these criteria.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria punctual applications will be considered before late applications are considered.   The application procedure opens on 10 January 2025 at 12noon (GMT) and an application submitted by the closing date of 24 January 2025 at 12noon (GMT) will be treated as a punctual application.  An application received after 12noon (GMT) on 24 January 2025 and up to 4 pm on 29 January 2025 will be treated as a late application, this is also the last date and time for processing a change of preference in exceptional circumstances.  After 4 pm on 29 January 2025 no applications will be processed until after the close of procedure on 9 April 2025.

COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE

Any child who reaches their 4th Birthday on or before 1st July 2025 is of Compulsory School Age. Under the School Age (NI) Act which became law in Northern Ireland in April 2022, ‘compulsory school age’ also includes those children who deferred commencing Primary 1 in September 2024 as defined by the new School Age (NI) Act (both groups to be treated equally).

Priority will be given to children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the school before those who are not so resident.

In the event of oversubscription to Year One or to facilitate admission to Years 2 – 7, the Board of Governors will apply the following criteria to children of compulsory school age.

1. Children of compulsory school age who reside in the parish of Lower Mourne.

1. Children who have brothers or sisters (half-brothers/sisters) in attendance at the school during the 2024/25 school year.

1. Children having special circumstances (medical, social). Supporting documentation must be provided by parents and/or statutory agencies.

1. Children from other parishes/areas.

In the event of being over-subscribed in any of the above categories, the following sub- criteria will be applied: Children will be admitted on the basis of the initial letter of their surname as written on their birth certificate in the order set out below:

R  Z  V  P  F  Mc  Mac  U  H  L  S  M  C  E  K  Q  J  I  D  B  A  X  Y  W  T  G  O  N

In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter, as outlined above, the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in strict alphabetical order.

In the event of two identical surnames, the alphabetical order of the initials of the forenames will be used.

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

Waiting List policy is available in school upon request

ADMISSION TO P2-P7

         Pupils from P2-P7 will be admitted so long as the school’s enrolment number is not exceeded, provided such

         admissions are not being prejudicial to the efficient use of resources.

Entrants who have previously attended another school:-

                (i)            an interview will be arranged with the principal.

                (ii)           parents will be welcome to view the school premises.

(iii)          a meeting can be arranged with the prospective teacher/s of the child or children.