PART IIIADMISSION OF CHILDREN TO GRANT-AIDED SCHOOLS

Admission to grammar schools14

1

This Article applies to applications for the admission of a child to a grammar school; and in this Article—

a

paragraphs (2) and (3) apply to an application for the admission of a child in the relevant age group where the proposed admission is to take effect at the beginning of the first term of the school year;

b

paragraphs (4) and (5) apply to an application for the admission of a child in the relevant age group where the proposed admission is to take effect at any later time in the school year; and

c

paragraphs (6) and (7) apply to an application for the admission of a child who is not in the relevant age group.

2

Where an application to which this paragraph applies is made, the Board of Governors—

a

shall admit the child to the school if the total number of such applications does not exceed the admissions number of the school; and

b

in any other case, shall—

i

apply the criteria drawn up under Article 16(1) to select for admission to the school a number of children equal to the school's admissions number; and

ii

admit, or refuse to admit, the child to the school accordingly.

3

The Board of Governors may refuse to admit a child to the school in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) or (b) where—

a

it is of the opinion that admission of the child to the school would be detrimental to the educational interests of the child; and

b

it has obtained the approval of the Department to do so.

4

Where an application to which this paragraph applies is made, the Board of Governors shall—

a

if, at the time the application is considered, there are vacant places in the relevant age group at the school—

i

admit the child to the school, if the total number of such applications falling to be considered at that time does not exceed the number of vacant places;

ii

in any other case, apply the criteria drawn up under Article 16(1) to select for admission to the school a number of children equal to the number of vacant places and admit, or refuse to admit, the child to the school accordingly;

b

if, at that time, there are no vacant places in the relevant age group at the school, refuse to admit the child to the school.

5

The Board of Governors may refuse to admit a child to the school in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (4)(a)(i) or (ii) where it is of the opinion that the academic ability of the child is not of a standard equivalent to that of the pupils with whom he would be taught at the school.

6

Where an application to which this paragraph applies is made, the Board of Governors shall—

a

if, at the time the application is considered, there are vacant places at the school—

i

admit the child to the school, if the total number of such applications falling to be considered at that time does not exceed the number of vacant places;

ii

in any other case, apply the criteria drawn up under Article 16(1) to select for admission to the school a number of children equal to the number of vacant places and admit, or refuse to admit, the child to the school accordingly;

b

if, at that time, there are no vacant places at the school, refuse to admit the child to the school.

7

The Board of Governors may refuse to admit a child to the school in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (6)(a)(i) or (ii) where it is of the opinion that—

a

the academic ability of the child is not of a standard equivalent to that of the pupils with whom he would be taught at the school; or

b

the admission of the child to the school would prejudice the efficient use of resources.