Castleknock College Admission Policy
St Vincent’s Castleknock College
St Vincent’s Castleknock College (also known as ‘Castleknock College’) was founded in 1835
by the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians). The Vincentians, named after the French
priest and teacher St Vincent de Paul, remain the College Trustees. The College motto is Nos
autem in nomine Domini.
St Vincent de Paul's charisma is best captured in one statement he made: 'God desires first
and foremost the heart...and then the work.'
The Mission Statement of the College is reflected in the ethos of the College:
Mission Statement
To have a College which is concerned with the development of the
whole person in a Christian atmosphere,
which encourages involvement in a balance of
religious, intellectual, cultural and sporting activities;
and which promotes the growth of self-worth and respect for others
in the spirit of St Vincent de Paul.
The mission is achieved through the objectives of Castleknock College which are:
· To pursue excellence in all areas of College life: academic, creative, cultural and
sporting,
· To nurture a friendly and caring environment which allows each student to develop his
own natural talents and gifts,
· To recognise the College's responsibility towards the wider community in developing a
spirit of service,
· To offer opportunities for the spiritual development of each member of the College
community.
The aim of Castleknock College is to enable each of its students to reach full development in a
harmonious growth of the whole person. It promotes this aim of integral formation by many
varied activities, religious, academic, social, cultural and sporting, which are conducted by
means of personal interaction and shared commitments and experiences by the students in the
context of life within the College. In this task the College recognises that the primary
responsibility for the education of children rests with their parents or guardians and seeks to cooperate
closely with and to be as helpful as possible to them in the fulfilment of that
responsibility.
Castleknock College has learned from St Vincent de Paul the importance of a mild and gentle
approach and of easy and friendly relationships. In the rule of life which he wrote for "the little
company" the name by which he always referred to his Vincentian followers, he asked them, in
a touching phrase, "to live together after the manner of dear friends". They were to be simple
and unpretentious, friendly, and informal. He envisaged the relationship of his priests with one
another as that of the members of a natural family. Castleknock College seeks to inculcate that
family spirit in the college; hence the friendly and informal atmosphere.
Castleknock College has always kept in mind that school days are not merely a preparation for
life, but are part of life, and is concerned that students should be happy within its walls. It
profoundly believes that an atmosphere of physical well-being, moral integrity and mental
stimulation is necessary for harmonious growth.
The College seeks to promote the spiritual and religious growth of its students by creating, as
far as possible, a truly Christian atmosphere. It leads them to maturity within the context of the
Christian faith, which should inform and colour their lives during their school days and continue
to guide their conduct to the end of their lives. Hence it sees education not only as a
preparation for life, but for life eternal.
The development of the personality and character of its students has always been, and
remains, a matter of paramount importance to the College. Personality and character are
recognised as providing the basis for life's achievements and support in its ups and downs.
The talents of some students lie in sport, drama, art or music. Such students are likely to find
particular satisfaction and self-esteem in the extensive cultural, aesthetic and sporting facilities
of the College.
In their relationships with one another the students are encouraged to live in a spirit of trust,
tolerance and respect. St Vincent always saw Christ in his neighbour and his approach to the
less privileged was one of caring and service. Hence, the College seeks to educate its students
in their responsibility to the wider community. It is concerned with the removal of injustices in
society and the promotion of a more human and humane world.
Ethos of the College
The Castleknock College ethos is one in which our College embraces a genuinely caring
attitude, built on mutual respect, of a resourceful, flexible and approachable nature,
encapsulating the true and patient commitment of a Christian and creating a collegiate
atmosphere where social consciousness and tolerant attitudes are developed and respected.
Implementation of the Ethos of the College
Our ethos, the spirit and belief of Castleknock College, is the responsibility of everyone at the
College. Both staff and students contribute to its creation and implementation in the day to day
living of our Mission Statement. Since it rarely emerges by accident or by chance, its
development has to be promoted and encouraged by practical means and lines of action.
Hence, while our goal is for the highest academic achievement coupled with a strong work
ethic, we must all be concerned for the development of each individual's potential, value and
self worth. This will primarily be achieved through the expertise, commitment, and positive
influence of the teachers and the Special Needs staff.
Spiritual and moral development is not to be seen as the exclusive responsibility of religious
education. Each subject offers its own unique opportunities for promoting and consolidating
gospel values. Indeed it is very often outside the classroom that spiritual and moral values are
communicated.
To best promote and foster the religious growth and development of the students, opportunity
for prayer, celebration of the sacraments, retreats and meaningful liturgies will be provided
through the school year.
Everyone within the College community must know that they belong to the Castleknock Family,
and we must ensure that our visitors and new members experience a warm welcome and are
cared for properly.
Our relationships with one another are based upon the recognition of the dignity and of the
uniqueness of each individual and are conducted in a spirit of loyalty, understanding, and
support.
All members of staff recognise their pastoral responsibly towards one another and towards the
students. The pastoral-care programme and work of the chaplaincy is an integral part of our
school-life, helping us to identify and promote the gifts and needs of each person in the
Collegel community.
So as to ensure that our students recognise their Christian and social responsibility,
opportunities are given to them to voice their opinion on social issues, to study the social
teaching of the Church, and to work with the under-privileged in our world. This will enable
them to be grateful for all they have received, form their conscience in line with the gospel
values and hopefully in later life to champion the cause of the poor in a truly Christian way.
Board of Management
The College has a Board of Management, or the Board, constituted in accordance with Irish
educational law. There are eight members on the Board. Four of its members are nominated
by the Trustees (the Vincentians), two by the full time teaching staff and two by the parents.
The Board is responsible for the conduct, management and financial administration of the
College subject to the general supervision and control of the Trustees. In addition to their
general responsibilities as set out in the articles of Management, the Board also have special
responsibilities with regard to the upholding of the College Mission Statement and College
Ethos, the observance of the liturgical calendar, the continuation of the College traditions and
the induction of first time students and parents into a Vincentian college.
The Headmaster is responsible for the internal organisation, management and discipline of the
College subject to the direction of the Board. The Headmaster is supported by the Deputy
Principal, Assistant Principals, Special Duty Teachers, Special Educational Needs Officer,
Guidance Teacher and the staff of teachers. They have the responsibility to make sure that the
decisions of the Board are carried out in the day-to-day running of the school.
The President of the College, a Vincentian, acts as a representative of the Trustees at the
College. He is the head of the Vincentian Community who live at Castleknock College.
Each student year group (from 1st through 6th year) consists of between three and four classes.
Each class is assigned a Class Tutor from the teaching staff who has a pastoral role:
generating a positive class atmosphere, setting targets, ensuring that all students are content,
and organising events and tours for their class. Each class in 1st and 2nd Year also has two 6th
year prefects assigned to it who get to know the students and makes sure that they are getting
on well. Each year group is assigned a Year Head from the teaching staff who looks after the
discipline, attendance and academic direction of the student year group.
Each year group in the College has its own Parents' Core Group. They consist of volunteer
parents. These are charged with maintaining positive channels of communications between
home and College. Two representatives of each Core Group are on the Parents'
Representative Association (PRA) of Castleknock College. The PRA meets with the
Headmaster about five times a year to ensure that there is good communication between the
parents and the College.
The students have an elected Student Council. This body has its own constitution and
chairman and is facilitated by a member of the teaching staff. There is also a system of College
Prefects who are appointed by the Headmaster, having consulted with the staff and students of
senior years.
The College
The School and Facilities
The school building comprises one linear building running east-west, and includes a recently
constructed extension which links Cregan House with MacNamara House. Cregan house dates
from the 1950s and some parts of MacNamara House date from as far back as the 1830s. In
recent years, the entire school was refurbished, extended and restored at a cost of close to €15
million. The centre piece of the school, where all student, teaching and administration staff
interacts on a daily basis, is St Vincent’s Hall which serves as a main junction between
classrooms, chapel, refectories and sports facilities. The classrooms are located on all three
floors of the buildings with a lift to cater for students and visitors who are less-mobile or who
have special needs. Newly constructed specialist rooms include modern science laboratories,
music teaching and practice rooms, an art studio and fully equipped computer rooms. The 19th
century College Chapel and pipe organ have also recently been restored, as have the College
Concert & Assembly Hall and the College library. The College is situated within seventy-acres
of beautiful mature parkland which includes ten sports pitches, a gymnasium, a weights room,
a running track, a cricket crease and a table tennis room. In 2011, the College opened five
newly constructed tennis courts complete with floodlights.
A Fee-paying School
Castleknock College is a Voluntary Catholic Secondary School under the trusteeship of the
Congregation of the Missions, more commonly known as the Vincentians. It is a fee-paying
school which prepares students for the Department of Education and Skills (DES) Junior
Certificate and Leaving Certificate State examinations. The College follows the curricular
programmes prescribed by the DES, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance
with Irish law.
Curriculum
The Junior Certificate subjects are:
Irish, English, Mathematics, History, Geography, Science, SPHE (Social, Personal and Health
Education), CSPE (Civic, Social and Political Education), Art, Music, French, Spanish, German,
Classical Studies, Technical Graphics, and Business Studies. The College also provides
Religious Education, Computer Education and Physical Education.
All students do Transition Year (4th Year). Subjects are the same as for Leaving Certificate
with extra activities including Fencing, Swimming, Martial Arts, First Aid, Driver Awareness,
Media Studies, Public Speaking, Environmental Studies, Enterprise, teaching computers to the
local Active Retirement Group and Computer Studies.
For Leaving Certificate the subjects are Irish, English, Mathematics, History and Geography,
Art, Music, French, Spanish, German, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Agricultural Science,
Applied Mathematics, Business, Economics, Accounting, Religion and DCG (Design and
Communication Graphics). Classes are also provided in Religious Education and Physical
Education.
The College has a library with a qualified librarian and assistant librarian. There is a wide
collection of books and research resources including Internet search facilities, newspapers,
film, audio-books, and chess sets. Students have access at designated times to two fully
equipped Computer Rooms.
The Guidance Office provides guidance and counselling service to all students.
There is a wide range of co-curricular activities. There is a musical or play performed each
year. Music lessons are offered on a range of instruments. The choir sings at many
ceremonies. There is a vibrant chess club. There are clubs for Irish, French, Spanish,
Mandarin, Maths, Computers – and a lot more. There are vibrant debating societies in English,
Irish, Spanish and French. The Gold Medal Debate is a significant annual event.
There is a vast array of sports. Rugby is played by almost everyone and is actively
encouraged. All students in 1st and 2nd Year should play at least one sport through the winter
and another in the spring and summer. There is a place for everyone and everyone has a
place irrespective of ability. The sports are: rugby, tennis, cricket, athletics (track and field
events), cross-country running, table tennis, soccer for senior students. Students also play
basketball, Olympic handball and badminton as part of the physical education programme.
Gaelic football and hurling are played in the summer term.
Special Needs
For students who require extra assistance, a Learning Support Department and Special Needs
Teachers are available. The Learning Support Department works with the student and his
family to make sure that any necessary tests are carried out, that all documentation is in order,
that the Special Educational Needs Officer (SENO) is informed, and that an appropriate
learning programme is put in place.
While every effort will be made by Castleknock College to meet the special needs of every
student, there may be cases where the school will be unable to meet some or all the needs of
an individual applicant student or student.
School Day
Class begins at 8.40am Monday to Friday and ends at 3.45pm on each day except Wednesday
when class ends at 1.00 pm. Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings are usually
dedicated to sports activities (matches, competitions, etc) albeit training sessions will be
undertaken on most other days. Each school day starts with a 12-minute period in class with
the Class Tutor. This period is known as LAPC (Literacy and Pastoral Care). During this time
the Class Tutor takes the register and deals with any pastoral care issues. However, the real
purpose is to enable students read any book of their choice in silence so as to enhance their
literacy skills.
The College is open for 167 days in the school year.
A parent-teacher meeting is arranged once a year for each year.
Admission Policy
The Board of Management of St Vincent’s Castleknock College is committed to an Admission
Policy which reflects the spirit and meaning of the Education Act 1998, the Education (Welfare)
Act 2000 and the Equal Status Act 2000. This policy was last updated in 2011.
Castleknock College aims to achieve the highest academic standard in its students. The gifts
and talents of the students are sensitively assessed in order to enable them to realise their
potential and the College expects them to commit themselves to academic achievement
commensurate with their abilities. The widest possible range of subjects is provided from which
they may choose, with appropriate guidance, those which best satisfy their interests, needs and
aspirations. Student guidance extends to preparation for a wide range of third level courses
and occupations. This is based on the identification and fostering of the talents of each
individual student.
Castleknock College recognises parents as the primary educators of their children.
Parents who decide to apply for a place for their son in the College should be aware of the
character, aims, Mission Statement and ethos of the College. While this does not preclude a
person from another faith from attending the College it is important that a parent should be
aware that in sending their son to the College they have decided to send him to a Catholic
school. The College respects diversity of tradition, values, beliefs, languages and ways of life in
a more pluralist society. This is balanced with the aims and objectives of a Catholic education.
Where non-Catholic parents accept a place for their student in the College those parents are
also undertaking to provide religious instruction for their own child. That service is not provided
in the College.
Fee-paying
Castleknock College is a fee-paying secondary school in the voluntary sector. The current
annual fee structure is available from the Administrator's Office. There are various methods of
payment to facilitate our parents. Arrangement for the payment of fees must be made before
registration at the start of each academic year (August). In order to retain a place in the
College all students’ fees must be paid by the due date. Otherwise the place may be forfeited.
The College operates within the regulations laid down, from time to time, by the Department of
Education and Skills (DES).
Application Forms
An application form is available on the College website www.castleknockcollege.ie or from
reception (Telephone: 01-8213051). This form should be completed and returned to the
Admissions Officer. Parents should not delay an application beyond the end of fourth class in
Primary School. Applications must be accompanied by a Birth Certificate, latest school report,
any other reports of relevance and the application fee. The closing date for applications is 31st
May in the year before the student will enter the College (i.e. when the student is in 5th class).
Late applications may be considered under special circumstances.
Right of Admission
The right of admission to a place in the College rests with the Board of Management. In making
its decision to admit a student to the College, the Board may have due regard to the suitability
of the student to the full school curriculum; his ability to adhere to the Code of Behaviour and
the ethos of Castleknock College; the health and safety of all staff and students; and the Board
may take into consideration any reports from the Headmaster as are deemed relevant to the
application. Although every effort will be made to meet the needs of every student, parents
should understand that the College may not be in a position to accommodate those needs in all
circumstances. The Board will act in the best interest of all the students and staff of the
College and according to the principles of natural justice.
Priority in creating the list of those who may be admitted
Castleknock College will normally admit a maximum of 100 students each year, making four
classes each with 25 students. However, the Board may decide to admit more than 100
students in 1st year depending on circumstances. The Board aims to have a mix of students
from the urban and rural hinterlands of the College.
Castleknock College has an open admissions policy. The only priority is to brothers of students
already in the school or brothers of students who completed sixth year in previous years. The
places will be given to the student who (along with his parents) is most in sympathy with the
ethos of the College. All other things being equal, places will be allocated to those whose
application form arrives earliest.
Procedure for entry into First Year
1. Parents must lodge a fully completed application form together with the stated
application fee. The deadline is May 31st of the year before entry. Parents are required
to furnish the latest primary school report, any relevant educational or psychological
report on the student relating to any disabilities or special educational needs or any
medical condition. Parents are asked to allow the Headmaster, if he sees fit, to contact
the Principal of the primary school to enquire about the student.
2. Parents and their sons will be invited to visit the College for the Open Evening which
will be notified in advance and advertised through our feeder schools and in the local
press.
3. All prospective student applicants will be invited to visit the College for an Open Day.
This purpose of this day is for prospective students to experience the academic and
sports facilities of the College; meet some of the teaching staff; and meet other
prospective students of their own age in a relaxed atmosphere.
4. The College will apply to the Department of Education and Skills (DES) for the
resources to support any student whose reports warrant an application.
5. Parents and student applicants are invited to the College for private interview by a
senior member of the College community.
6. In the context of the Mission and Ethos statements of the College a discussion takes
place at interview on the prospective match of the talents and aptitudes of the student
with these statements. Parents are also invited to discuss their willingness to support
the Mission and Ethos statements in practice.
7. A list of the student applicants who have satisfied the criteria outlined above is
prepared, based on the order of priority set out above and presented to the Board for
approval.
8. Parents of successful applicants are notified by post that their son has been offered a
place in the College.
9. On acceptance of an offer of a place a non-refundable deposit is required to be paid to
the College.
10. All prospective students must complete a series of assessments at the College which
are used to assign each person to a class, study subjects and level.
11. Prior to commencement in First Year, the parents of each student must sign an
undertaking that their son will abide by the Castleknock College Code of Behaviour.
12. Parents of students who are not being offered a place will be notified by post. They
may be offered a place on the waiting list which will be dealt with in sequential order.
Application for Admission to a year other than First Year
Applications made for places in other years (2nd to 6th) will be assessed on a case-by-case
basis. The application procedure is as follows:
1. Parents must lodge a fully completed application form together with the stated
application fee.
2. Parents must submit their son’s most recent school report from his present school as
well as any educational or psychological report or other reports which may be relevant
to the application.
3. The Headmaster (or another senior member of the College community) interviews the
student and parents. In the context of the Mission and Ethos statements of the College
a discussion takes place at interview on the prospective match of the talents and
aptitudes of the student with these statements. Parents are also invited to discuss their
willingness to support the Mission and Ethos statements in practice.
4. The Headmaster makes a recommendation to the Board which may offer a place to an
applicant who has satisfied the entry criteria provided:
(a) there is space for the student applicant in the relevant year
(b) that the student and his parents subscribe to the Mission and Ethos
statements of the College
(c) that the student has made sufficient progress in his current or former schools
to permit him to cope with the normal demands of the College’s academic
programme
(d) that the student's behaviour and participation in his previous school(s)
demonstrates that he is compatible with the mission and ethos of the College
(e) That the Board is satisfied with the reasons for the student’s transferring from
the other school.
5. The Board of Management may refuse an application in circumstances where it is
concerned that the admission of the applicant student would have a negative impact on
the common good of the College or be a risk to the health and safety of others in the
College or that the College is not equipped to cater for the individual needs of the
applicant student.
6. If the application is successful, parents of a student transferring from another school
will be required to pay the appropriate deposit prior to admission to the College.
7. A transferring student may be required to complete a series of assessments at the
College which will be used to assign the student to a class, study subjects and level.
8. Prior to commencement in the College the parents and the student must sign an
undertaking that the student will abide by the Castleknock College Code of Behaviour.
Appeal
Please note that in accordance with Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 parents have a right
to appeal a refusal by a school to enrol a student. The Appeal Form is available through the
College or from the DES website www.education.ie
