Student Enrolment and Attendance

Last updated: Wed, Aug 10th, 2016 10:57:27 am

Enrolment

The Education Act of 1998 Section 15(2)(d) requires the Board of Management to publish the policy of the school concerning the admission to and participation by students in the school. This policy is subject to conditions laid down in the Education (Welfare) Act of 2000 and to guidelines published by the Department of Education and Skills. It is open to the parents of a student who has been refused enrolment to appeal such decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills under Section 29 of the Education Act of 1998.

The admissions policy must take account of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 which sets out the rights of students with special educational needs and the duty of schools to provide for those rights. Care must be taken also to ensure that the admissions policy conforms to equality legislation and does not discriminate unfairly against any student or category of student.

The Department of Education and Skills has published an "EDUCATION (ADMISSION TO SCHOOLS) BILL 2015" The overall objective of the Bill is to provide a new framework for school enrolment that is designed to ensure that every child is treated fairly and that the way in which schools decide on  applications for admission is structured, fair and transparent. The approach taken aims to strike the right balance between school autonomy and fairness in the education system.

When this Bill is enacted into legislation schools will be obliged to ensure that their Admission Policies fully conform to its terms and procedures.

Enrolment of First Year Students

In accordance with DES Circular 56/2011 primary schools are obliged to prepare an "Education Passport" for students who will enter 1st year in the following school year containing materials developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

Accordingly, following enrolment of new 1st year pupils, Post Primary School Principals should initiate the Education Passport transfer process as outlined on the NCCA website at http://www.ncca.ie/transfer.

Attendance

The Education Welfare Act, 2000 obliges Boards of Management:

  • To establish and to maintain a register of all the students attending the school

  • To maintain a record of the attendance or non-attendance on each school day and

  • To report to the TUSLA on student attendance in certain circumstances.

TUSLA has published Guidelines for Reporting Student Absences and Expulsions to assist and advise schools on their responsibilities in these matters.

Under the Act the school is particularly obliged to report to TUSLA if:

  • A student has reached 20 days absence cumulatively during the course of a year

  • A Principal is concerned about a pupil's attendance

  • The Board of Management decides to expel a student

  • A student has been suspended for 6 days or more cumulatively during the year

  • A student's name is to be removed from the school register for whatever reason

The Education Welfare Act (Section 22) obliges the Board of Management to adopt a statement of strategies or policy "for the purposes of fostering an appreciation of learning among students attending that school and encouraging regular attendance at school on the part of such students".

The following forms can be accessed on the 'tusla' web-site:

  • School Absence Report Form

  • Category of Absence Form (Continuation Sheet)

  • Reporting Online Guide

  • Guidelines for Reporting Student Absences and Expulsions

  • Notice of Intention to Expel Form

  • Annual Attendance Report Form

    Repeat of a School Year

    The standard maximum period of second-level education for all students is six years. However, authority is delegated to Boards of Management to permit a student to repeat a year in any one of the following circumstances:

  • If there has been prolonged absence through illness - either eight weeks continuously, or intermittent absences over a period of at least sixteen weeks, and for an average of two and a half days per week during that period, in the previous school year. If the reason is related to health, that reason must be certified by a doctor

  • If there is medical certification that a serious illness or injury, although not requiring eight week's absence, has been so traumatic as to affect adversely the student's academic performance

  • If there has been serious family trauma (death of a parent, separation, violence, etc.) which, in the opinion of school management, has had a seriously damaging effect on the student's academic performance

  • If the academic record of the student is very poor and s/he requires regular remedial teaching and there is sufficient evidence to establish that (i) the student's academic record is very poor, (ii) that the student is in need of regular remedial teaching and (iii) that the pupil can benefit from the extra year

    If, because of change of domicile or for other reasons, a student transfers to another school and, as a result, must change subjects

    For full details of all the requirements relating to the repeat of a year, Boards and Principals are advised to consult DES Circular Letter 02/95.

    Removal of a Student from the Register

    A student's name may only be removed from the register where:

  • The school has received confirmation that the student is registered in another school

  • The student has been registered with TUSLA and is in receipt of an education in a place other than a recognised school

  • The student has been expelled and all appeal procedures have been exhausted

    The school's attendance policy should outline procedures to be followed if and when such circumstances arise.

    The removal of any student from the roll should be confirmed in writing to the parents/guardians of the student.

    The re-enrolment of a student who has been removed from the roll is a decision for the Principal and the Board of Management to be taken in accordance with the school's published admissions policy. In considering such a decision Boards of Management must have due regard to the provisions of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 and of the appeal procedures provided for in Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998.