The Road to Learning 2008
St Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School
Admission criteria and procedure
The governing body has responsibility for places in this school. The number of children who get a place in Reception, Key Stage 1 classes (Years 1 and 2) and Key Stage 2 classes (Years 3 to 6) is 30.
The school consider applications from parents and guardians who want a Catholic education for their children. Due to the large number of applications, the governors will decide after receiving a reference from the parish priest associated with the family.
This reference must show that at least 1 parent has a practising commitment to the faith.
The governors will use the following admission criteria in order of priority to decide who to give places to.
Admission criteria
- Children from practising Catholic families who are living in the parish and who go to the Church of St Vincent de Paul, Becontree
- Children from practising Catholic families who live in the parish of St Vincent de Paul Church, but go to Mass in another parish
- Children from practising Catholic families who go to Mass in another parish, and do not live in the parish of St Vincent de Paul Church
- Baptised Catholic children who go to Mass on most Sundays (for example, every 2 weeks)
- Baptised Catholic children who go to Mass on some Sundays (for example, every month)
- Baptised Catholic children
- Christian children of other faiths whose parents agree with the aims and ethos of the school and whose application is supported by a minister of religion
- Children of other faiths whose parents agree with the aims and ethos of the school and whose application is supported by a religious leader
- Children of parents who want their child to be educated in a Catholic school
Important notes
1. Siblings
Those who have a brother or sister in the school at the time the child is due to start school will have preference in the categories in which they fall.
2. Baptism
You must provide proof of baptism into the Catholic or other church when you apply.
3. Practice
A practising Catholic is someone in good standing with the church and its teachings, whose Catholic faith is alive, goes to Mass every Sunday (including Mass on Saturday evening) and Holy Day. It is the role of the parish priest to decide whether you meet the criteria for qualifying as a practising Catholic.
4. Children in care
Within each criterion (category) the school gives priority to children in care.
5. Tie break
If the offer of places to all children in any of the categories listed above would still lead to more applications than places available, the school will offer places to those living nearest to the school by the agreed local authority measuring system.
St Vincent's priest's reference form 
PDF 359K
To view PDF files requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.
