Admission Policy
St. Edmund Campion is a non-selective Catholic School, whose principal aim is to assist the parents of Catholic families in the education and upbringing of their children.

The Catholic character of the school must always be preserved. Therefore, no admission will be made, which in the opinion of the Governors of the school, will endanger or weaken the Catholic character of the school. The Governors will admit only those children whose parents wish them to take full advantage of a Catholic secondary education by attendance at Assemblies, Religious Education lessons and Mass or other liturgical celebrations within the school.

Admissions Criteria
The Admissions Criteria of the Governors of St. Edmund Campion Catholic School are as follows:

The admissions process is part of the Birmingham LA co-ordinated scheme.

The Schools Admission number for the school year beginning in September 2008 is 186.

The governors will give priority to applications in accordance with the criteria listed provided that the Governors are made aware of applications before decisions on admissions are made.

1. Baptised Catholic children who are in the care of the local authority (looked after children) or provided with accommodation by them (e.g. children with foster parents) – Section 22 of the
Children Act 1989.
2. Baptised Catholic children who currently attend a Catholic feeder school.
3. Baptised Catholic children who currently attend a Catholic school.
4. Baptised Catholic children who currently attend a non-Catholic school.
5. Non-Catholic children who are in the care of the local authority (looked after children) or provided with accommodation by them (e.g. children with foster parents) – Section 22 of the Children Act 1989.
6. Non-Catholic children who currently attend a Catholic feeder school.
7. Non-Catholic children who currently attend a Catholic school.
8. Non-Catholic children who currently attend a non-Catholic school.

Note 1
The designated feeder schools for St. Edmund Campion School are:
  Abbey     
  St. Cuthbert’s 
  Corpus Christi   
  St. Gerard’s    
  St. Joseph’s    
  St. Margaret Mary’s   
  Ss. Mary & John’s   
  Ss. Peter & Paul’s   
  St. Wilfrid’s    

Note 2
In all categories priority will be given to those who have a brother or sister attending St. Edmund Campion Catholic School at the time of admission.
For admission purposes the definition of a brother or sister is:
• A brother or sister sharing the same parents.
• Half-brother or half-sister, where two children share one common parent.
• Step-brother or step-sister, where two children are related by a parent’s marriage.
• Adopted or fostered children.

Note 3
Children with a statement of special educational need that names the school must be admitted. This will reduce the number of places available to applicants.

Note 4
If there is over-subscription within a category the Governors will give priority to children living closest to the school by the shortest straight line distance measured from the front door of the School to the home address, as advised by the Local Authority.
For admission purposes the term ‘home address’ will be regarded as the address of the designated carer of the child or the home where the child is normally resident.

Note 5
Evidence of Catholic Baptism or Reception into the Church will be required. Those who face difficulties in producing written evidence of baptism should contact their Parish Priest.

Appeals
Parents who wish to appeal against the decision of the Governors to refuse their child a place in the school may apply in writing to the Chairman of Governors.

Repeat Applications
Unless there are significant and material changes in the circumstances of a parent’s application for their child or the school, the governors will not consider a repeat application in the same academic year.

Late Applications
Applications received after the closing date will only be considered alongside those received by the closing date under the following circumstances:
• The family were unable to complete an application form before the closing date because they moved into the school’s parish area after the issue of applications forms.
OR
• The family were unable to comply with the admissions timetable because of exceptional circumstances which prevented the application arriving on time – the circumstances must be given in writing and attached to the Application form.
Applications received after the notification date will be added to the school’s waiting list in admission criteria order.

Waiting Lists
Waiting lists for admission will remain open until the end of September and will then be discarded.