St Thomas More Catholic School - Admission policy notes and definitions

Notes and definitions

1. An Education, Health and Care Plan is a plan made by the local authority under section 37 of the Children and Families Act 2014, specifying the special educational provision required for a child. A Statement of Special Educational Needs is a statement made by the local authority under section 324 of the Education Act 1996, specifying the special educational provision for a child.

2. A looked after child has the same meaning as in section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989 and means any child who is (a) in the care of a local authority or (b) being provided with accommodation by them in the exercise of their social services functions (e.g., children with foster parents) at the time of making an application to the school.

   A previously looked after child is a child who was looked after but ceased to be so because he or she was adopted or became subject to child arrangements order or special guardianship order.

   Included in this definition are those children who appear (to the admissions authority) to have been in state care outside of England and who ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.

3. Definition of Catholic: a member of a Church in full communion with the See of Rome. This includes the Eastern Catholic Churches. This will be evidenced by a certificate of baptism in a Catholic Church or a certificate of reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church. For the purposes of this policy, it includes a looked after child who is part of a Catholic family where a letter from a priest demonstrates that the child would have been baptised or received if it were not for their status as a looked after child (e.g., a looked after child in the process of adoption by a Catholic family).

   For a child to be treated as Catholic, evidence of Catholic baptism or reception into the Church will be required. Those who have difficulty obtaining written evidence of baptism or reception should contact their parish priest who, after consulting with the Diocese, will decide how the question of baptism or reception is to be resolved and how written evidence is to be produced in accordance with the law of the Church. The school will require to see the baptismal certificate of all children claiming to be Catholic, please include a copy of the Baptismal Certificate with your application.

4. Catechumen means a member of the catechumenate of a Catholic Church. For the purposes of admissions this refers to the child on whose behalf the application is being made. This will normally be evidenced by a certificate of reception into the order of catechumens.

5. Eastern Christian Church includes Orthodox Churches, and is normally evidenced by a certificate of baptism or reception from the authorities of that Church. Those who have difficulty obtaining written evidence of baptism or reception should contact the Diocese who will decide how the question of baptism or reception is to be resolved and how written evidence is to be produced in accordance with the law of the Church.

6. Definition of other Christian denominations: children who belong to other churches and ecclesial communities which, acknowledge God's revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures, and, in obedience to God's will and in the power of the Holy Spirit commit themselves: to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is his body; and to fulfil their mission to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service in the world to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. An ecclesial community which on principle has no credal statements in its tradition, is included if it manifests faith in Christ as witnessed to in the Scriptures and is committed to working in the spirit of the above. All members of Churches Together in England and CYTÛN are deemed to be included in the above definition, as are all other churches and ecclesial communities that are in membership of any local Churches Together Group (by whatever title) on the above basis. Applicants must provide a baptismal certificate or where child baptism is not practised, a letter confirming their church membership from their minister or faith leader.

7. For a child to be considered "practising members of another Christian denomination" they will:have been initiated into that church; the school will need to see documentary evidence of baptism/initiation; be verified by the named minister of religion as being a currently practicing member of the church.

8. Definition of Sibling:Sibling means a child who lives as a brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted brothers or sisters, step brothers or sisters, half brothers or sisters, foster brothers or sisters whether or not they are living at the same address; and the child of a parent's partner where that child lives for a least part of the week in the same family unit at the same address as the applicant. It also includes natural brothers or sisters where the child for whom the school place is sought is not living in the same family unit at the same address as that sibling.

9. Home Address is the parental address which will be used in applying the admission criteria. This means that, when stating your choice of school, you should give the parental/guardian address at the time of application. The address of childminders or other family members who may share in the care of the child must not be used as the home address. For categories where the child must live within the catchment area, verification of address will be required.

10. A member of staff includes all school staff who are under the direct employment of the trustees of The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust and who work at St Thomas More School.

11. For categories 2-10 parents will be requested to give the following information on the supplementary form:

    - names of any older brothers or sisters in the school
    - baptismal status
    - whether your child is a practising Catholics or a practising member of another Christian denomination
    - copies of Baptismal certificates or other evidence of reception should be included with your supplementary form

12. Social, medical or pastoral need: To demonstrate an exceptional social, medical or pastoral need of the child which can be most appropriately met at this school, the admissions authority will require compelling written evidence from an appropriate professional, such as a social worker, doctor or priest.

13. Catholic Feeder Primary Schools

    - St Joseph's, Blaydon St Agnes', Crawcrook
    - SS Mary and Thomas Aquinas, Stella St Philip Neri, Dunston
    - St Mary's, Whickham St Joseph's, Highfield
    - Corpus Christi, Gateshead Sacred Heart, Byermoor St Matthew's, Prudhoe

14. Children who are not Catholic attending a Catholic feeder primary school.

15. Children of other faiths means children who are members of a religious community that does not fall within the definition of 'other Christian denominations' at 6 above and which falls within the definition of a religion for the purposes of charity law. The Charities Act 2011 defines religion to include:

• a religion which involves belief in more than one God, and

• a religion which does not involve belief in a God

Case law has identified certain characteristics which describe the meaning of religion for the purposes of charity law, which are characterised by a belief in a Supreme Being and an expression of belief in that Supreme Being through worship.

Applicants must provide a letter of support to confirm their faith membership from their minister or faith leader.