St John the Baptist College Admissions Criteria 2024 - 2025

St John the Baptist’s College 4 Moy Road Portadown BT62 1QQ Telephone:  028 3833 4725 Fax:  028 3835 0730 Email:  info@sjbc.portadown.ni.sch.uk Website: www.stjohnthebaptistcollege.co.uk Principal:  Mrs N Murray BA (Hons) PGCE, PQH (NI), M.Ed. Chairperson of Board of Governors:  Mrs Tanya Martin

Maintained Secondary                    Age Range:                           11-16                       Admissions Number:             100                     Enrolment Number:              500

Open Day will be held on Saturday 18th January 2025 from 9.30am until 1.00pm. Relevant transition materials the Transition Portal on our school website; - https://www.stjohnthebaptistcollege.co.uk/transition-368/home-401/ Details of additional transition support events will be released via our Facebook and Twitter Pages which we would encourage prospective pupils/parents to follow.

 

 

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

The Board of Governors of St John the Baptist’s College has determined the criteria to be applied, in the event of the number of pupils applying for places in Year 8 in September being greater than the admission number, in the order set down below.  It will be the responsibility of the Governors to apply admission criteria.

 

ADMISSION CRITERIA TO YEAR 8

(Either in September 2025 or during the course of the 2025/2026 school year)

 

In selecting children for admission, children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the school will be selected before any child not so resident.  Within each criteria priority will be given to those pupils regarded by the Board of Governors, on the basis of supporting evidence provided by parents and/or statutory agencies, as having Special Circumstances e.g., medical, social or security factors.

The Board of Governors will only take into account information which is detailed on or attached to the Transfer Application.  Parents should therefore ensure that all information pertaining to their child and relevant to the school’s admission criteria is stated on the Transfer Application or attached to it.

 

The provision of false or incorrect information or the failure to provide verifying documents according to the required deadline may result in either the withdrawal of a place or the inability of the school to offer a place.

St John the Baptist’s College provides courses appropriate to the full ability range of pupils between the ages of 11 to 16. To enable the school to fulfil its unique role in providing for pupils of the highest academic potential as well as those of lower abilities, it is necessary to maintain a proper balance in its intake. In all cases it is essential that parents are in agreement with the aims and objectives of the school. The lodging of an application is interpreted by the Board of Governors as an indication that the parents and the child concerned accept, and are in agreement with, the ethos, philosophy, aims, policies and regulations of the school, including any code of conduct, requirements relating to dress and personal appearance, or Behaviour for Learning policy of the school. Information in relation to these may be obtained from the school.

 

In the event that there are more applicants than places available the Board of Governors will apply the following criteria to determine which children will be selected for admission.  In the event of over-subscription in the case of the first or subsequent criteria the next criterion will be applied in order.

1. Pupils whose permanent place of residence is within any of the contributory parishes listed below (preference will be given in the following order).

Portadown (Drumcree), Loughgall, Kilmore, Ballymore & Mullabrack (Tandragee), 

Clonfeackle (Moy), Moyraverty, Seagoe, Gilford (Tullylish),

Aghagallon (Diocese of Down and Connor)    

1. Pupils who attend a primary school in the above-named contributory parishes.

1. Pupils who, at the date of application, have a child of the family currently enrolled in the college, or who had a child of the family enrolled in the school in the last 7 years.

(The use of the word sibling is defined as children who, at the date of their application, have a child of the family currently enrolled at the school. The phrase ‘child of the family’ covers children fostered, adopted etc. and avoids having to define all the various permutations of sibling)

1. Pupils who, at the date of application, are the eldest child of the family to be eligible to apply for admission to the college. (If the eldest child of the family has a special educational need and is attending a special school, then the second child will be eligible. This criterion covers “only children” and will treat twins or multiples as joint eldest)

1. Pupils whose parent/guardian is an employee of the school or who has been appointed to take up a post in the school.

1. In the event of oversubscription within any of the above categories the following sub-criteria will be applied.

1. Pupils whose Transfer Application expresses St John the Baptist’s College as a first preference.
2. Pupils who Transfer Application expresses St John the Baptist’s College as a second/third/fourth preference, with admission being granted in that order, after the above criteria have been applied.
3. Pupils will be admitted by a criterion that prioritises applicants where the letters of their surname (as entered on a Birth Certificate) places them on a rank established by the order set out below.

 

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

 

This order was determined by randomised selection of the letters of the alphabet. In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter, the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in 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 applicant’s Transfer/Application Form.

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.

APPLICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS TO YEAR 8
Year	Admissions No	Total Applications All Preferences	Total Admissions
2022/23	100	107	105*
2023/24	100	115	111*
2024/25	100	130	130*

*Includes pupils with SEN / Temporary Variation

 

 

CRITERIA FOR TRANSFER BETWEEN SCHOOLS (Pupils in Years 9 and Upwards)

 

 

The lodging of an application is interpreted by the Board of Governors as an indication that the parents and the child concerned accept and are in agreement with the ethos, philosophy, aims, policies and regulations of the school including any code of conduct, requirements relating to dress and personal appearance, or discipline policy of the school. Information in relation to these may be obtained from the school.

Selection is the responsibility of the Board of Governors and the criteria for admission will apply.

Pupils will be considered for enrolment using the following criteria:

• The admission would not cause the school to exceed its enrolment number as determined by the Department of Education.
• The admission would not prejudice, in the opinion of the Board of Governors, efficient use of the school’s resources or compromise regulations in relation to health and safety requirements.
• The admission would not lead to an increase in class size beyond which is consistent with the school’s policy.
• Pupil’s previous school reports, attendance, behaviour, and work ethic will be considered- relevant documentation should be submitted.
• An interview between the parents/guardians of the child and the Principal/Vice-Principal or nominated member of the SLT must take place before a pupil is admitted.
• Following the consideration of information received and the interview, recommendations will be sent to the Board of Governors (or admissions sub-committee) for a final decision.
• Only in exceptional circumstances will a pupil be admitted to Year 12.

St John the Baptist’s College does not operate a waiting list for pupils who apply for a place to any year group and are unsuccessful. Each application is decided upon at time of receipt.