"There was no warning that places were so scarce"

A TRIM mother whose son was refused a place in their local secondary school says parents have been left ‘high and dry’ and say they were not informed about an oversubscription crisis. 

Dozens of students who applied to Boyne Community School have been left without a place in any school for September with as many as 36 currently on the waiting list. Susan Wall's son, Alex, who attends nearby St Michael's primary school and was not accepted to the secondary school says she is furious.

"My son attends St Michael's the local primary where historically all students from there went to the Boyne. We had no idea this was happening. There was no warning that places were scarce. That was our biggest gripe when we found out. 

"They had even visited St Michael's giving them application forms and telling them how wonderful the school was. Because we had no idea that this was coming there was no opportunity for us to look at other schools in Athboy or Longwood.

"The entrance assessment was last Saturday and it was so sad. Alex had to watch his friends go in as proud as punch because they were going to secondary school. He was very upset and was asking why didn't they pick me?' 

Boyne Community School in Trim have up to 36 students on a waiting list

"The school has 144 places and last year they took 194 because they were so oversubscribed.  It was designed for 600 kids and there is nearly 800 in it. It is packed.

"This year for the 144 places there were 260 applications. There are seven first-year classes this year, they should only have four. The waiting list initially was 89 but that has now come down to 36 children. 

"There are 23 primary schools in the catchment area, it is huge. They are building another 300 houses out the Dublin road, where are those children going to go? We need a new school in Trim but in the meantime, Boyne Community School needs to put provisions in place to take these children." 

Christopher Buckley's son Dylan has also been refused a place.  

"We live within the catchment area and St Michael’s is a listed feeder school for the Boyne community school so we qualified for placement.

"We received the application form from Boyne which came home with Dylan back in September with a lovely letter and brochure from the principal telling the boys all about the school. There was no mention of any issue about numbers or capacity.

Anna O'Reilly says son Charlie is 'devastated' to have been refused a place in Boyne Community School 

Christopher and his family heard nothing until they received a rejection letter on the last Friday in November. 

"We were devastated. My wife and I went into the school on the following Monday morning where we were told they were way oversubscribed and that Dylan had been entered into a lottery and unfortunately he was now on a waiting list. 

"I then submitted a section 29 appeal with the Department of Education which was heard earlier this month, we are awaiting the outcome.

"So we are basically at a place now with no idea where Dylan will be attending secondary school in September which is leaving him very anxious and us as parents powerless to do anything. 

Meanwhile, it has been announced that an additional 45 places have been allocated to Colaiste na hInse in Laytown to accommodate local students living the area who did not get a place for September.  

 

Michael Gibbons with family protesting outside Colaiste na hInse in Laytown

Louth Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd made the announcement yesterday evening. 

Distressed parents in Laytown came out in force on Sunday to protest against the lack of places in the school and called on the Department of Education to take urgent action.

Michael Gibbon's twelve-year-old son Cian who attends the local primary school in Laytown was one the pupils on the waiting list. He says parents are delighted at the news. 

"We are absolutely delighted and we welcome the news. For us, it means that local children that attend their local school, it was always about the children. 

Mr Gibbons commented that recent events may be an opportunity to examine how the school's admissions system is conducted. 

"Boards of management seem to operate in a veil of secrecy. I think it's now time that they discuss the plans with the public. Unless you are on one of these boards you don't know what's going on and I think it's now time for them to share some information with the community so we can participate in it.

"There needs to be a consultation process and the community should have an opportunity to contribute to that."

Boyne Community School and Coláiste na hInse have been contacted for comment.