Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School

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 7 January at 12noon (GMT) and an application submitted by the closing date of 30 January at 12 noon (GMT) will be treated as a punctual application. An application received after 12noon (GMT) on 30 January will be treated as a late application.

The following criteria will be applied in the order set down 1 to 3. Please note that underage pupils will not be considered for admission to the school.

• Children of compulsory school age who reside in the parish of St Gerard, Belfast at the time of application. Please write the name of your parish on the application form.
• Children whose parent, legal guardian and/or grandparent will be an employee in Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in the current school year
• Children of compulsory school age from other areas.

In the event of over-subscription, in any one of the criteria taken in order, the following sub-criteria will be applied in the order set down

• Children who will have a brother, sister, half-brother and/or half-sister enrolled in our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in the school current year. (Indicate name and year group)
• Children whose brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister are prior pupils of the school. (Indicate name and dates of attendance)
• Children who are the eldest child in their family.
• Other children.

If over-subscribed in any one of the sub-criteria, taken in order, then children will be selected on the basis of the initial letter of the surname as identified on the birth certificate presented at registration. The order is set out below and was predetermined by a randomised selection of the alphabet. 

In the event of surnames beginning with the same letter, the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in alphabetical order using the above randomised selection. In the event of two or more identical surnames the alphabetical randomised order of the initial of the forename, as identified on the birth certificate presented at registration, will be used. In the event of the forename beginning with the same letter, the subsequent letters of the forename will be used in alphabetical order using the above randomised selection.

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 form and documentation provided to the school in support of the application. Parents should therefore ensure that all information pertaining to their child and relevant to the school’s admissions criteria is stated on the application form and any supporting documentation for the application is sent directly to the school. Examples of such information include whether the child resides in the parish of St. Gerard, Belfast and a verifying letter stating that the child is the eldest in the family.

In the event of over subscription, the Governors will consider only properly completed application forms which have been lodged with the school on or before the closing date as indicated on the official application form.