Enrolment Information

Enrolment Information

As a state-integrated Catholic school, we have two types of enrolment – preference (the child has a Catholic connection), and non-preference (there is no Catholic connection).
 
Preference Criteria

The criteria promulgated by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which are to be used by proprietors and their agents, in order to grant Preference of Enrolment are:

  1. The child has been baptised or is being prepared for baptism in the Catholic Church.
  2. The child’s parents/guardians have already allowed one or more of its siblings to be baptised in the Catholic faith.
  3. At least one parent/guardian is a Catholic, and although their child has not yet been baptised, the child’s participation in the life of the school could lead to the parents having the child baptised.
  4. With the agreement of the child’s parent/guardian, a grandparent, or other significant adults in the child’s life, such as an aunt, uncle, or godparent, undertakes to support the child’s formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church.
  5. One or both of a child’s non-Catholic parents/guardians is preparing to become a Catholic.
 
 

Children not of the Catholic faith can apply to enrol in a Catholic school, they require a non-preference form. Catholic school’s can only enrol a maximum of 5% non-preference students.

Enrolment at Sacred Heart School

Thank you for considering Sacred Heart School for your child’s education. Children are entitled to start school the day of their fifth birthday.

You are welcome to contact us at any time and make an appointment to see the Principal and to view our school.

Enrolment forms are available from our school office.  

As part of the Enrolment process, you will need to bring with you to an interview, copies of your child’s:
 
  • New Zealand Birth Certificate (Preferred document of identification) or
  • Passport – Passport showing current residency status (if not born in NZ)
  • Preference of Enrolment Certificate obtained from Catholic Parish of Christchurch South office (next to the Sacred Heart Church in Addington). You will need to take with you a copy of your child’s baptism certificate (or a parent’s – if the child is not baptised). For further information ph 03338-8395 or email secretary@christchurchsouth.org.nz
  • Your child’s immunisation certificate

Optional

Children who are not Catholic are welcomed into our school community, depending on places available (as we are only allowed 5% of our maximum roll for non-preference children).

Pre-visits

It is advised that you allow for pre-visits to our school so that your child may become familiar with the class and routines before starting. These visits are usually arranged with the new entrant teacher. Please phone to make some times for these visits about 2-3 weeks prior to your child’s start date.

Enrolment Policy

In determining an enrolment policy for Sacred Heart School, maintenance of the school’s Special Character must be the Board’s prime focus.
 
Submitting an application for enrolment at Sacred Heart School is not a guarantee of acceptance.
 
  • Pre-enrolment of Students
As Sacred Heart School is a Catholic school, students who enrol need to be baptised Catholic, or, if they are not yet baptised, they come from a Catholic family. A Preference of Enrolment Certificate is given by the parish to verify the Catholic connection. In order to pre-enrol all students will be required to obtain a preference certificate from the Catholic Parish of Christchurch South office (next to the Sacred Heart Church in Addington). You will need to take with you a copy of your child’s baptism certificate (or a parent’s – if the child is not baptised). For further information ph 03 338-8395 or email secretary@christchurchsouth.org.nz
 
The criteria promulgated by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which are to be used by proprietors and their agents, in order to grant Preference of Enrolment is:
 
1. The child has been baptised or is being prepared for baptism in the Catholic Church.
 
2. The child’s parents/guardians have already allowed one or more of its siblings to be baptised in the Catholic faith.
 
3. At least one parent/guardian is a Catholic, and although their child has not yet been baptised, the child’s participation in the life of the school could lead to the parents having the child baptised.
 
4. With the agreement of the child’s parent/guardian, a grandparent or another significant adult in the child’s life, such as an aunt, uncle or godparent undertakes to support the child’s formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church.
 
5. One or both of a child’s non-Catholic parents/guardians is preparing to become a Catholic.
 
For further information regarding preference/non-preference refer to the
Catholic Education Office website here.
 
 
  • Total School Roll

The total school roll will not exceed the maximum roll. Once all preference students have been accommodated, non-preference students may be accepted up to 5% of the maximum roll. This is conditional on the school roll not exceeding 85% of its maximum roll.

 
  • Priority In Enrolment

If there are more applications than places available, then the following priority for enrolment will apply:

> First Priority will be given to preference applicants residing within the traditional boundaries of the old Sacred Heart Parish. Click on the Old Sacred Heart
Parish link to view the document here.
 
> Second Priority will be given to preference applicants residing within the Catholic Parish of Christchurch South, as defined by the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch.
 
> Third Priority will be given to those preference applicants whose siblings already attend Sacred Heart School.
 
> Fourth Priority will be given to those preference applicants who are children of Sacred Heart School Board of Trustees permanent employees.
 
> Fifth Priority will be given to those preference applicants who are children of current members of the Sacred Heart School Board of Trustees.
 
> Sixth Priority will be given to those preference applicants who are siblings of former students of Sacred Heart School.
 
> Seventh Priority will be given to those applicants who are preference students from Catholic Parishes that do not have a Catholic school within their parish boundary.
 
> Eighth Priority will be given to those applicants who are preference students who have not been offered a space at the Catholic School within their parish boundary.
 
> Ninth Priority will be given to non-preference students. If there are more applicants than places available, the following sub-priorities will operate:
 
i) those who are siblings of non-preference students attending Sacred Heart School
 
ii) applicants who are children of Sacred Heart School Board of Trustees permanent employees
 
iii) applicants who are children of current members of the Sacred Heart School Board of Trustees
 
iv) applicants who are non-preference students living within the Parish area
 
v) applicants who are non-preference students living outside the Parish area should there be more applicants in one priority group than there are places available, places will be allocated according to the date of pre-enrolment application. If applications are on the same date places will be allocated by ballot.
 
  • Waiting List Procedure

All unsuccessful applicants may choose to have their names placed on a waiting list. The waiting list will be kept within relevant priority categories, ranked in order. Parents and caregivers of those applicants on the waiting list will be notified when and if places become available for their children. Parents and caregivers will then have seven days to confirm their enrolment. If no confirmation is received the applicant will be removed from the waiting list, and the position may be offered to the next priority student. The waiting list will remain current until the beginning of the next school year.

 
The Board of Trustees delegates the authority to administer this policy to the Principal.