Rationale
Hamilton State School recognises as its prime obligation the provision of access to an appropriate educational service for students resident within this community as defined by its local catchment area.
Because of enrolment capacity and growth Hamilton State School may be unable to meet this obligation in future, unless action is taken now to manage enrolment.
This plan sets out the conditions under which students may be enrolled into Hamilton State School.
Local catchment area
The school's enrolment capacity for students who live outside the local catchment is dependant upon:
- the school's enrolment capacity.
- catering for in-catchment enrolments.
- allowing for in-catchment growth during the year.
- ensuring an even spread of students across all year levels while maintaining class size targets.
The local catchment area is based on equidistance boundaries with other schools. The attached map defines the boundary area for which Hamilton State School is the closest school by vehicular trafficable route. Should this capacity change because of changes to road networks, this will be formally notified through the registration and gazettal of an amended plan including the operative date for the new catchment area.
Enrolment policy
All students who reside within the local catchment area and are eligible for enrolment in the educational program offered by the school, have a right to enrolment at the school. The principal will hold places for students who relocate to within the catchment boundary throughout the school year.
Enrolment of students from outside the local catchment area will be managed to ensure that the total current and forecast enrolments do not exceed the school's current built capacity and where applicable will ensure there is an even spread of students across year levels or class groupings.
The school's enrolment management plan does not replace other departmental policy; for example safe supportive and disciplined school environment, nor does it override subsequent determinations regarding built school capacity.
Enrolment criteria
Students who reside outside the schools local catchment boundary who apply for enrolment at the school will be put on a waiting list in order of receipt of application. Where there is spare capacity, students will be enrolled from the waiting list based on the following criteria and order of priority:
- Siblings of students already enrolled.
- Children and young people who are subject to child protection orders that grant guardianship or custody to the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Communities (Child Safety Services).
- Students whose parent or legal guardian is employed by the school.
- Siblings of students who have left the school and reside outside of the local catchment boundary.
- Students who reside outside the catchment area and who officially leave the school will be considered for re-admission in accordance with the enrolment criteria.
- Any remaining students residing outside the catchment area.
Proof of residency
Parents who wish to enrol their child/ren at Hamilton State School under the enrolment management plan will need to demonstrate that the child/ren to be enrolled, reside within the catchment area. Current proof of residency at the address indicated can be provided by way of one each of the following:
- one primary source - a current lease agreement, rates notice or drivers license, or unconditional sale agreement
- one secondary source - a utility bill, (eg electricity, gas) showing this same address.
If unable to provide this proof of residence, a statutory declaration confirming that an officer authorised to endorse statutory declarations has sighted sufficient evidence that in their opinion the student is a resident within the catchment area, must be provided.
Acceptance and notification processes
Applications for admission into Prep to Year 6 will be accepted each year from the beginning of Term 2 for enrolment to commence from the beginning of Term 1 the following year.
Applications will be recorded in order of receipt.
Applications will remain current only for the year of submission.
Review
All enrolment applications will be considered on merit in accordance with the enrolment criteria.
Parents wishing to have an unsuccessful enrolment application reviewed may provide a written submission to the principal providing evidence to substantiate a claim that the stated criteria have not been applied fairly and equitably.
The principal will review written submissions and the reply should be in writing within 14 days of submission.
Enrolment management committee
The enrolment management committee consists of the principal (chair), a P&C representative, a representative of the regional director and a staff representative.
Further appeal should be directed to the assistant regional director on behalf of the regional director whose decision will be final.
Review date
Reviewed annually.
The Hamilton State School enrolment management plan was gazetted on 13 January 2012, No.5.