Background
Rationale
Enrolment capacity of school
Local catchment area
Enrolment Policy
Enrolment Criteria
Proof of Residency
Acceptance and notification processes
Review
Enrolment Management Committee
The town of Gracemere and Shire of Fitzroy are experiencing unexpected growth in residential, industrial and commercial areas. Thirteen new housing developments with approximately 1300 new residential home sites, two shopping complexes, the Stanwell Coking Plant due to commence construction in mid-2006 and mining families relocating to live in Gracemere have the potential to exert enormous pressure on the educational facilities at Gracemere State School over the next three to five years. Increased traffic around the school with the shopping centre complex to be built across the road from the school in 2006 will also pose safety concerns for students and families entering and exiting the school car park.
The school grounds cover an area of 2.8ha and are bounded by two major arterial roads, the railway line and railway-owned land. It has one large oval and one smaller grassed area, seven buildings, two shade structures and two courts. Very little area is available to accommodate more than 10 classes without encroaching on available sporting/playground areas. Hence our long term aim is to retain ten classes, including the Prep year.
Gracemere State School community is committed to creating and sustaining a positive, challenging and supportive learning environment where all students will achieve quality learning outcomes, values and dispositions that will serve them well for life. As an IDEAS school, our major goal is to improve student, professional and school outcomes.
Managing our enrolments will assist us to achieve these outcomes through the judicious use of our resources and facilities. It will enable us to provide for quality learning programs for our diverse range of learners within the constraints of our facilities; it will ensure spaces for students' continued participation in sport activities and our music program; and will eliminate behaviour management issues due to overcrowding.
Gracemere 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 Gracemere 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 Gracemere State School.
The school currently has the capacity to enrol up to 262 students in 11 classrooms.
The school's enrolment capacity for students who live outside the local catchment is dependant upon:
The local catchment area is based on equidistance boundaries with other schools. The attached map defines the boundary area for which Gracemere State School 
372k is the closest school by 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.
As Gracemere State School is in an area that is still being developed, or has the potential for re-development, the catchment boundary has the potential to change as new trafficable routes are established. This Plan will be updated if the catchment area changes with an operative date. During this transition phase students who live within the new proposed enrolment boundary will be allowed to enrol at the school.
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.
Students who reside outside the school's 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:
School should select which documentation is required to be produced:
Parents who wish to enrol their child/ren at Gracemere State School under the Enrolment Management Plan will need to demonstrate that the child/ren to be enrolled, reside within the catchment area. The following documentation may be required if requested by the principal:
Applications for admission into Years Prep-7 will be accepted each year from the beginning of Term 3 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.
All enrolment applications will be considered on merit in accordance with the enrolment criteria.
Parents wishing to have an unsuccessful enrolment application reviewed may seek clarification from the principal. Parents may provide a written submission seeking a review of an unsuccessful enrolment application. This submission should present evidence to substantiate a claim that the stated criteria have not been applied fairly and equitably.
The Enrolment Management Committee will review written submissions and the reply should be in writing within 14 days of submission.
The enrolment management committee consists of Principal (Chair)/P&C or School Council Representative/Representative of Executive Director (Schools)/Staff Representative.
Further appeal should be directed to the Executive Director (Schools) whose decision will be final.
Please contact the principal at Gracemere State School on - tel: (07) 4931 7555 should you wish to discuss, or need further assistance with enrolments.
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Access keys |
Other languages
© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2006.