ADMISSION TO RECEPTION CLASS SEPTEMBER 2021

Guidance for school governors on interpreting evidence of Catholic Practice in Supplementary Information Forms following the Coronavirus outbreak.

Evidence of Practice

On the advice of the Education Commission of the Archdiocese of Southwark the governing body of Our Lady Immaculate School has agreed the following statement in order to clarify how its faith-based oversubscription criteria will be interpreted whilst churches are closed or attendance at church is not possible due to COVID19.  This statement has been shared widely with parishes in order to ensure that determinations made by parish priests concerning regular practice of the faith are being made on a consistent basis.

The suspension of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass was announced on 18th March 2020 by Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. If a parent/carer attended Mass at a particular parish (or parishes) prior to 18th March 2020 then they will be considered to have attended Mass in that parish (or parishes) regularly since that time. This will remain the case until the Sunday obligation is reintroduced by the Bishops.

Any admission to this school requires parents/carers to do the following two things:

* Read the information regarding Admissions on your home local authority's website and then complete an online application form via the pan-London portal (https://www.eadmissions.org.uk)

* Complete the supplementary information form (SIF) which needs to be given direct to the school

The school was established by, and for, the parishioners of Our Lady Immaculate Parish, Tolworth and St Catherine of Siena Parish, Chessington and Hook. The school exists primarily to serve the Catholic community and Catholic children always have priority of admission. However, the Governing Body always welcomes all applications and, after consultation with the local authority, admits 60 children to the Reception classes, each year.