Admissions
How to Apply
APPLICATIONS TO 1ST YEAR 2025 – now closed.
Enrolment into First Year Cohort
Children will be enrolled into 1st Year on receipt of a completed online Application Form and a copy of their birth cert during the specified time-frame in Oct-November. Application forms are available for a 3 week period from Oct 24th to November 15th 2024. Our Open Night/ Enrolment Night is Thurs Oct 24th from 7pm- 9pm. This is to facilitate sixth class students visiting Cnoc Mhuire.
Application forms and prospectuses are distributed to each 6th class student in all our feeder schools prior to Open Night. Applications after Nov 15th will be processed as late applications. Parents must accept the school’s Code of Behaviour and agree that their son/ daughter will abide by it.
Parents will be informed that they have a place by Dec 6th 2024 and they must accept this place by Dec 20th 2024. If the school is oversubscribed, placement will be offered to children who meet the following selection criteria:
- Those who come from feeder schools within the catchment area
- Siblings of pupils already attending the school
- Sons/daughters of past students
- If a grandparent is a past pupil
- Any other student
Those who enrol must be aged 12 on 1st January in the calendar year following the child’s entry into First Year. (Birth Certificate required). This is the minimum age requirement for all Post Primary schools. First Year pupils take a CAT 4 assessment in the school in late February/ early March. Equal mixed ability classes are formed based on the test results.
Additional Educational Needs
Students with additional educational needs are welcomed. The school will access such students’ records from primary school/individual educational programme in order to apply to the Department of Education and Skills for resources to support students with additional education needs. Individual records may contain the following: educational, medical, physical or psychological reports. The SENO will be contacted in exceptional cases. In Sept 2022, we opened a special class for children with Autism.Admission to Special Class for children with autism
The same digital application form as for 1st Year enrollment applies. Please complete the relevant section on ASD.
Admission to Special Class for children with autism
Recently, there have been changes to the admissions policy for all schools that have established a special class for students with Autism.
Parents/guardians of children who may require a special class placement for the 2026/27 school year are now required to engage with the parents’ notify process prior to the October 1st 2025 deadline. Parents/guardians who engage in this process will receive a letter from the NCSE confirming the outcome of the NCSEs review of supporting documentation which can then be given to schools as part of their application for enrolment in a special class. This process is relevant for students moving from Primary (6th class) to Post Primary or where schools are aware that the parents of a young person already enrolled in a mainstream class in their school are seeking a special class place.
Parents/guardians can notify the NCSE via the parents notify system which is outlined on the NCSE website at: https://ncse.ie/notify-ncse-special-class-special-school
For schools with autism special class(es):
As per circular 0039/2025 this letter of eligibility is a requirement for enrolment in a special class. Children and young people are eligible for enrolment in a special class for autism when the following is provided in support of an application: Professional reports outlining:- Diagnosis of Autism DSM IV/V or ICD 10/11 (psychologist, psychiatrist, multi-disciplinary report) AND
- A demonstration of the understanding of complexity of the child’s overall level of need/s evidenced in the professional reports AND
- Given the severity or complexity of the child’s support needs, a clear professional recommendation as to what educational placement type would be most appropriate to best meet the child’s needs, along with the rationale for same AND
- A letter from the NCSE confirming that the child is known to them and that the child has the required diagnosis and recommendation for a special class for autism.
Transfer from another school
Application for enrolment into any other year, i.e. transfer from another second-level school, must normally be made before May 31st. All transfers from other second-level schools (at any time) are subject to:
- The school’s admissions policy.
- The provision, by the other school, of records outlining the student’s attendance and progress.
- Availability of space.
- Decisions, in relation to admissions, are made by the Board of Management in accordance with school policy and the principles of natural justice.
- Parents have the right, under Section 29 of the Education Act, to appeal to the Trustees of the school or to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills in the event of a refusal by the school to enrol a student.
Repeat Students
Repeat students will be accepted if resources are available and subject choices are suitable.