Enrolment Policy

Rationale

RATIONALE
Loreto Normanhurst provides an education within the Catholic, and specifically Loreto tradition.
The charism of Mary Ward provides a basis for the selection of families who seek enrolment and
Loreto Normanhurst seeks to be a place where our Catholic Christian faith is fostered and
developed. Mary Ward’s values of justice, sincerity, truth, felicity and freedom, as well as a deep
respect for the contribution of women, underpin the mission of our school and every aspect of
school life.  We endevour to be a school where all people are invited to grow in their knowledge
and love of God and to embrace the gospel. Each year, this invitation is extended to new students
and their families.

 

PRINCIPLES

• In selecting students for enrolment, primary consideration will be given to congruence with Catholic values and the ethos of the school. Priority will therefore be given to families who profess to be Catholic, although the Principal has some discretionary power in this matter.
• Families need to provide evidence of involvement in the broad mission of the Church. This will take the form of a guided reference from a person in an appropriate position, such as Parish priest or minister, the Principal of a primary school, or current Loreto family.
• Other factors which may be taken into account in selecting students include: previous connection with the school or other Loreto schools; length of time on the waiting list; siblings already in the school; vacancies in the boarding school (if applicable). Special consideration may be given to degree of isolation in the case of applicants for boarding places and to families transferring from interstate or overseas.
• The school enrols a number of families who do not profess to be Catholic, but this number is minimal. Such families need to be made aware from the outset that their daughters will not be eligible to be a Liturgy Captain or Eucharistic minister.
• Loreto Normanhurst recognises the uniqueness of each student. The whole school community benefits when the diversity of strengths and needs of individuals is acknowledged and catered for. Therefore, the school is not academically selective. At the same time, the school endeavours to provide for the specific needs, educational and other, of a student seeking enrolment. Parents or guardians may be asked to provide expert opinion from independent specialists so that a decision is based on sound educational data.
• Loreto schools fulfil their mission in partnership with parents, who are the first educators of their children, hence it is expected that parents will be actively involved in their children’s education at the school. This involvement may take a variety of forms.
• Acceptance of an application form will not guarantee an enrolment interview or an offer of enrolment.
• The Loreto Normanhurst enrolment guidelines are publicly available and make clear the enrolment priority and criteria.
• The following information is also publicly available:
  • procedure for application
  • details of Application and Enrolment Fees and when these are payable
  • details of information sessions, Open Days, orientation days, interviews
  • details of the interview process
  • details of the school’s schedule of fees and payment policy
  • timeline for processing applications
  • outline of enrolment conditions and the requirement of formal acceptance of these
  • parental obligations and expectations of parents by the school
  • Parents or guardians will be required to declare at the time of enrolment and at any time during
  enrolment that they have:
  • disclosed all special needs of the prospective student;
  • disclosed all medical or psychological conditions and/or health care requirements of the
  prospective student;
  • provided a copy of any Court Orders which apply to the prospective student and /or
  parent/s; and
  • fully completed the application and enrolment forms.
• If a parent or guardian withholds information relevant to the application/enrolment process then the Principal reserves the right to refuse, or terminate enrolment on that ground.
• Both parents or guardians will be required, jointly and severally, formally to accept responsibility for the payment of all school fees unless otherwise agreed upon with the school.
• When accepting a place at Loreto Normanhurst parents are deemed to have accepted the School’s values, policies, procedures and expectations and to continue to endorse and support them.
• The decision on whether the student is to be enrolled will ideally be made in partnership with the parents or guardians based on the school’s ability to cater for the student’s needs. The final decision in matters of enrolment rests with the Principal.

 

January 2001
Revised August 2009