Policy on Admissions and Enrolment
Waterpark College was founded by the Christian Brothers in 1892 as the first classical school in Waterford. It later joined the free education scheme as a voluntary secondary school in 1968. The college is administered by a Board of Management which works closely with the Principal and the In-School Management Team. Waterpark is a voluntary Catholic Secondary School for boys operating under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. It supports the religious and educational philosophy of its founder, Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice.
Waterpark College promotes five essential elements as an Edmund Rice School.
- A community of Teaching and Learning
- A caring school community that addresses disadvantage and promotes social justice.
- A community gathered in Christian Faith.
- A Leadership community that inspires and transforms.
- A partnership approach.
Mission Statement:
Waterpark College seeks to promote Christian care and concern, enabling students to grow to maturity.
Motto: Virtus Sola Nobilitat
Ethos:
Our school endeavours to follow and enact the education and religious ethos of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust community of schools as outlined in schedule 2, religious and education philosophy of Christian Brothers.
Our specific mission is the responsible task of preparing young people to grow in wisdom, age and grace. It is for this purpose that Edmund Rice Schools exist.
Educational Philosophy and Aims
- Waterpark seeks to create an atmosphere of Christian care and concern in which the student can grow to maturity.
- Academic excellence combined with Positive Behaviour Management ensures that students grow up happily in a school that feels right for them.
- Proper formation as students develops adults of principle and the highest personal standards. A distinguished list of alumni bear testament to the unique/personal translation of this philosophy into a very practical reality.
- To provide opportunities for the student to experience God in worship and, true to the life of blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, in service of others.
- To be guided in our own work by the motto – Virtus Sola Nobilitat . True education makes men wiser, braver and holier, and fits them from time to eternity.
Guiding Principles
The Board of Management of Waterpark College while formulating this policy have shown due regard to the provision of the Education Act 1998, The Education Welfare Act 2000, the important role played by the patrons of our school in its daily life and the religious and educational philosophy of the Christian Brothers. Finally, both the financial and resource support available to the school via the Department of Education and Science and other varied sources.
Having due regard to the above the Board through its Admission Policy supports the principles of:
- Inclusiveness, particularly in relation to the enrolment of pupils with special needs and disadvantage, subject to adequate resources being available to the school.
- Equality of access and participation in the School
- Parental Choice, in relation to enrolment while at the same time having due regard to the characteristic spirit of the school.
- Demonstrate respect of diversity of traditions, values, languages and ways of life in society.
School Resources
Implementation of the school plan must have due regard to the resources and funding available to the school. This funding is dependant upon Department of Education and Science grants, Teacher Allocations, local fundraising and voluntary contributions by parents.
Curriculum:
The curriculum offered by Waterpark College is governed by regulations as stipulated by the D.E.S., which may be amended in accordance with sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act 1998.
School policy must have due regard to the resources and funding available. The B.O.M. reserves the right in consultation with the patrons to alter services offered by the school in line with available resources.
School Details:
Waterpark College is a voluntary Roman Catholic school, under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. Our school is aided by the Department of Education and is a single sex (boys) school. The school address is, 
Waterpark College, Park Road, Waterford.
Management:
The Board of Management of Waterpark College endeavours at all times to carry out its duties in accordance with section 15(1) of the Education Act.
Structure of Board : 4 Nominees of Patrons one of whom will act as Chairperson
2 Nominees of the Parents
2 Nominees of the Teaching Staff
The Principal acts as the Secretary to the Board.
Organisation:
Board of Management: C.F. Appendix 1.
Parents Council: - CF Appendix 2.
Students Council: - Appendix 3.
Curriculum : - CF Appendix 4.
School Details
School Name : Waterpark College.
Address : Park Road, Waterford.
Contact Details : Telephone : 051-874445
Fax : 051-874040
E-Mail : waterparkcollege@eircom
Principal : Thomas A. Beecher
Deputy Principal : Dominic Carberry
Chaplain : Part-Time
Guidance Counsellor: 1.
Learning-Support Teachers : 1.
Special Educational Resource Teacher: 1
Home School Liaison Teachers: 6 i.e. Year Tutors appointed to respective Year
Group.
Number of Teachers: 21
School Secretary : 1.
Number of Ancillary Staff: 3
Opening Times : 8.55a.m. – 3.39pm.
The building will be open to students from thirty minutes prior to official opening times and fifteen minutes after official closing time. Supervision is provided between these times only. The school authorities will make all reasonable efforts to inform parent/guardians of any minor adjustments in the opening/closing times which may occur on rare occasions.
Admission Policy 2008
1. Waterpark College is a Catholic School for boys and wishes to consider only:-
- Pupils whose parents/Guardians are in agreement with the aims and philosophy of the school as indicated by their choice of Waterpark College.
- Pupils whose primary school records show that they are willing to adapt to school discipline.
2. It is expected that an application to attend Waterpark College indicates an acceptance of all school regulations by both Parents/Guardians and pupils.
3. The Board of Management retains the right to restrict intake if it considers that the admission of some pupils would be detrimental to the interests of those pupils, or of pupils currently attending the school, or to prospective pupils.
4. All prospective pupils must meet current Department of Education & Science requirements.
Admission Procedures
The enrolment process for the incoming First Year classes to Waterpark College will follow the schedule listed hereunder.
Additional to the enrolment schedule, we are happy to meet parents by appointment to facilitate a smooth transition for our incoming first year students.
Enrolment Programme
- Primary School Visitations October -Year Prior
- Open Night for Parents November -Year Prior
- Entrance Assessment March- Admission Year
- Primary School Consultations April- Admission Year
- Parents Induction Briefing May -Admission Year
- First Year Induction August -Admission Year
Admission
The college admits students in accordance with the ethos of Edmund Rice schools, and in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Education and Science concerning age and previous schooling.
- Early application is advisable, and should be made on the college application form which outlines some of the key conditions relating to the acceptance of a student, reference should also be made to the code of conduct and Special Educational Needs policy of Waterpark College.
- Waterpark College is academically non-selective. Pupils are required to reach the age of 12 by the end of December in their first year at the college, and are also required to have completed a national school sixth standard or its equivalent.
- It is the policy of the college to offer places to children with disabilities and special education needs. In cases where it is the principal’s judgment that the school cannot meet the needs of the individual applicant, admission to the college will not take place until the necessary resources have been provided by the Department of Education & Science. In making this judgment, the principal will consider the health and safety of the students and staff, the design of the building, the staffing and other resources available to the college, and any other factor that may be considered relevant. Parents/Guardians are advised to consult the special educational needs policy of the College.
- Students may enter the college at levels other than first year, if places are available, and in accordance with the policy on admissions and enrolment.
- All applications must be submitted on the official college application form and in accordance with regulations and undertakings stated on that form, the admissions and other college policies.
- The code of conduct of Waterpark College contains our policy on behaviour management. This is published in the individual student diary and is available from the college on request.
- There will be an Entrance Assessment in March of Admission Year, which all incoming First Year students must sit. Failure to sit for this test will result in the forfeiture of a place in the school. This test is used to assess attainment levels in order to best cater for students according to their needs. It takes place after the enrolment process has been completed, and, consequently, has no bearing on a decision to enroll a student or not.
- Parents/Guardians are requested to pay a voluntary contribution of €80to cover the cost of stationery, printing and postage etc. Contact, in confidence, should be made with the Principal if special consideration is required in relation to this request.
- On completion of the enrolment process, a request will be made for all relevant information to be made available from the student’s previous school, including such matters as attendance record, behaviour issues, special-educational needs etc. This will assist the school in making appropriate education provision for each student.
- The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse an application for admission in exceptional circumstances.
Study and Homework
The acquisition of good study skills by students is a priority goal of educators. Waterpark has adopted several strategies for skills acquisition.
- Study seminars provided to certificate examination classes.
- Evening supervised study
- Peer mentoring of junior students by senior
- Saturday study club – final term for certificate examination students
- Examination scripts review and re-sits to aid learning
- Homework – First Year 1½hours, Junior Certificate 2½ hours, Leaving Certificate 3½ hours as required.
- All students possess a student diary and parents are obliged to consult this regularly for content and communications.
- All students posses a homework diary which also acts as a communications conduit between home and school.
- Homework policy and study facilities – Refer to Parents Handbook.
Pastoral Care Support Team
Throughout Waterpark, new students benefit from the assistance of professionals and senior students who work to minimise problems and ensure students are happy and provided with the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Everyone is known personally and necessary action is immediate and appropriate. A dedicated, talented and enthusiastic teaching staff deliver a quality education and pastoral care service tending to the needs of the whole person.
Extra-Curricular activities – Refer to Parents Handbook.
Admissions Procedure – All Students.
In the event of the College having more applications than places available, the following criteria will apply for the offer of places in order listed.
- Pupils who’s Parents/Guardians are members of the College staff.
- Pupils who have a brother currently attending the College
- Pupils who have Parents/Brothers as past pupils of the College.
- Pupils of Waterpark National School.
- Pupils off the list of feeder schools in the City of Waterford.
- The traditional feeder schools in the Waterford City and County, and South Kilkenny hinterlands.
- Whereupon applicants in any of the above category should exceed availability, an open lottery will be conducted.
All applicants are treated on a “First Come First Served” basis with due deference to the admissions criteria listed. Late applicants may receive consideration if places become available.
All applicants at First Year level must sit an entrance assessment in March of the year of proposed entry in order to receive formal enrolment consideration.
The objective of the assessment is to assist the College in the task of endeavoring to meet the individual needs of all of its pupils.
Decision Making:
Parents will be notified of the Boards decision within 21 days of the closing date for enrolment, or on receiving relevant information as prescribed by the Board of Management and the Minister for Education and Science, under the Education Welfare Act 2000. In the case of first year applicants the first Monday in December of the year prior to admission.
The Board reserves the right to exercise its discretion in application of the admission criteria and will at all times adhere to the guiding ethos of Blessed Edmund Rice in caring for the disadvantaged of society.
The Board reserves the right to refuse enrolment to any students in exceptional cases.
Such exceptional cases may include the following:
- The student has special educational needs that, even with additional resources available from the Department of Education and Science , the school cannot meet such needs and/ or provide the student with an appropriate education or.
- In the opinion of the Board of Management, the student poses an unacceptable risk to other students, to College staff, for College property.
Special Educational Needs
Parents/Guardians of prospective students with special educational needs should refer to the Special Educational Needs Policy of Waterpark College.
In welcoming applicants from students with special educational needs, Waterpark College will use the resources, both financial and personnel, provided by the Department of Education and Science, to make responsible provision and accommodation for all the school in so far as is reasonably practicable. While recognizing and fully supporting parents’ rights to have a school of their choice for their children, the schools’ ability to accept students with particular needs are dependent on the provision of resources, suitable to the needs of the individual student, being provided by the Department of Education and Science.
School management and parents will co-operate, from the earliest possible time, to establish the special educational needs of the student, the resources required to meet those needs and the submission of a well-researched request to the Department of Education and Science / Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) seeking the allocation of appropriate resources. Parents are encouraged to contact the College well in advance of the admissions process should they feel that their son/daughter has special-education needs, as considerable delays have been experienced by schools receiving a response from the Department of Education and Science to a request for special resources.
In making provision for special-educational needs students. The following information is required.
Has the student had access to any of the following resources?
- Special Needs Assistant or Classroom Assistant
- Special Class
- Help, for specific needs, from any resource teacher.
- Assistance with behavioural modifications
- Psychological assessment. Report to be provided.
- Any additional resources to help with his/her special needs.
- Help in areas including, visual impairment, hearing impairment, general learning disability or emotional disturbance.
- Any resource in relation to travel or mobility etc.
If an expert report is provided, it should include a workable strategy for addressing the needs, allowing for the resources available.
The Board of Management, having gathered all relevant information and professional documentation, assesses how the needs to special educational needs students can be met.
Final confirmation of place may, in exceptional cases, have to be withheld until the Department of Education and Science confirms that the necessary resources are to be allocated.
In exceptional cases, even with additional resources provided by the Department of Education and Science, the College may not be able to provide an appropriate place due to the nature of a particular students special educational needs, as the Department of Education and Science does not provide Waterpark College with an ex-quota special educational needs teacher. The College can only cater in any given year for a certain number of pupils with learning support and special educational needs.
Transfer of a student from another school
The College will make every responsible effort to facilitate a student seeking a transfer to our school. The Board of Management will decide on application for admission to any other year other than first year by applying the following criteria:
All relevant information having being made available from the applicant’s previous school, the Board will decide whether or not a transfer:-
- Is in agreement with the school’s admission policy
- Is in the best interest of the student
- Is in the best interest of the school
- Is of educational benefit of the student
It may be necessary for a consultation with the Educational Welfare Officer to take place.
Where a student is considered for a place, the decision will be taken by the Board of Management, in consultation with the student’s parents/guardians, his former school, the education welfare officer, whether such a place may be offered immediately, or whether it would be better to wait until the beginning of the next year academic year.
Appeals
The Board of Management shall not refuse to admit as a student in such school a child , in respect of whom an application to be so admitted has been made, except where such refusal is in accordance with the policy of the recognized school concerned published under section 15(2) (d) of the Education Act 1998. Education (Welfare Act 2000. Section 19(1).)
Should a student’s application for admission to the College be refused, the parents/guardians have the right to appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science, (Education Act 1998, Section 29 (d)). The parents/guardians will be informed in writing of the Board’s decision, and the reasons why the student was not accepted should be clearly stated. The appeal must be made within 42 calendar days from the date the decision of the Board of Management was notified to the parents/guardians concerned. (Circular, M48/01)
An appeal may be made to: The Secretary General of The Department of Education and Science, The Appeals Administration Unit, Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.
Parent/Guardians are informed herewith that an appeal should be made in writing on the Application Form supplied.
Parents/Guardians must inform the school in writing of the decision to appeal.