The current planned admission figure is 45. From September 2008 the figure is 30. The target figure for the school is 210.

Children who are of statutory school age or become so during the academic year will be admitted in September.
Where applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied, in the order set out below, to decide which children to admit:

Catholic schools are to provide a Catholic education for Baptised Catholic children.

ORDER OF ADMISSION PRIORITY

Please note that in the case of Catholic children a baptism certificate must be provided as evidence of catholicity.

1. This Catholic school is so situated as to provide a Catholic education for the Rainham Parish. Therefore, all Catholic children within the area have first priority of admission. This will include Looked after Catholic children living elsewhere in the authority.
2. Baptised Catholic children, outside the designated area, will have second priority.
3. Non-Catholic looked after children.
4. Non-Catholic brothers and sisters of children already in the school, at the time of application.
5. Non-Catholic brothers and sisters of children who formerly attended the school.
6. Other non-Catholic children whose parents express a wish for Catholic education.
7. Any special pastoral, medical or social need of an individual child as supported in writing by a relevant practitioner. (E.g. clergy, doctor, social worker) This evidence should be disclosed at the time of application.
8. The proximity of the child's home to the school, as measured in a straight line on a map, with those living nearer receiving higher priority.

APPEALS

Appeals against non-admission to St. Thomas of Canterbury School must be made in writing within 3 weeks of the date of refusal of admission, and addressed to the Admissions Appeal Secretary, c/o St. Thomas of Canterbury School, Romany Road, Rainham, Kent ME8 6JH.

A date will then be arranged for the independent appeal hearing.

Applications for admission for September 2008 must be received by 3rd March. Parents will be informed of admission decision by post on 25th April 2008.
Parents should accept the offer of a place by 9th May 2008.