POLICY STATEMENT

Our school is a dual medium, co-educational, Christian Primary School catering for boys and girls aged 6 to 13 years of age.

The school Governing Body and Principal will act lawfully and reasonably when considering applications for acceptance at the school.

Priority for acceptance will be given in the following order:

  • Children who already have brothers or sisters in the school.
  • Children who have brothers or sisters in the nursery schools in Darling, but not in the school.
  • Children residing within the Darling / Yzerfontein district.
  • Children not in the above categories.

The following admission criteria, in priority order, are applied, as mentioned in the school’s prospectus:

  • Grade R application for a learner who is five years old and who will turn six before or on 30 June of their admission year.
  • Grade 1 application for a learner who is six and will turn seven during their grade one year.
  • Grade 2 – 7: current grade numbers is the main factor in accepting children into these grades.

Other factors that may be considered include:

  • Learner’s age.
  • Academic, social and emotional factors.
  • Previous promotion records (transfers and years repeated).
  • A child who would have a brother or sister attending the school at the time of the admission.
  • Pupils who live closest to the school, with the shortest walking distance. In the case of a surplus, priorities in order 1 to 4 will be applied.

The school Governors will not discriminate against applicants on the grounds of gender, race, colour, religion, nationality or country of origin. The school supports the ideals of equity, justice, inclusivity, diversity and service to the community.

The Governing Body will not discriminate against applicants on the grounds of the child not living in the vicinity of Darling / Yzerfontein, except in a case where such an application contradicts the above-mentioned admission policy.

As stated in the Constitution, the numbers and approved admission numbers for each class are set with reference to the School’s capacity to accommodate pupils.

The admissions number for any class will only be exceeded in exceptional circumstances and after consultation with the Governing Body and Principal as stipulated in the Constitution of Darling College.

An independent panel for appeal will be appointed by the Governing Body and the Principal.

The school Governors will publish its admissions policy annually in the school’s prospectus.

The admission policy strives to be in accordance with the Darling College Constitution.

The Darling College application forms for admission will be distributed to the different pre-schools in Yzerfontein and Darling.

Admission forms will also be sent with the School Prospectus to any parents making enquiries about the school.

An application form and fees schedule are then either e-mailed, posted or collected by the applicant.

The school admission ratio is set at 1:23 per class.

Applications for admission should preferably be submitted to school by the end of the third term in September prior to the year in which the child is due to start.

Applications that arrive late, will only be handled as timeously under the following conditions:

  1. Where a family had recently moved into the Darling / Yzerfontein-area.
  2. Where the Governing Body accepts individual circumstances and that the delay in the given case is accepted as reasonable.
  3. In each of the cases above, the relevant documents would have to be submitted as proof.

In any other case, or if the application had not been received by the end of September, late applications will receive a lesser priority, and will only be considered after applications that have been received timeously, or considered as such.

Parents will be notified by the end of October, of an offer for admission for a single place, in accordance with the powers of the Principal and Governing Body, after an agreement with the school.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE:

  1. Upon receipt of the completed application form, together with the ID of both parents and the learner, a letter is sent acknowledging same.
  2. The Bursar will send a Financial Clearance to the learner’s school in order to ensure that school fees are paid. In the course of the first year’s term, before admission, a letter could be sent to all prospective learners whereby they are invited to complete the required assessment / skills test (grade 2 – 7). A copy of the learner’s most recent report is required to accompany the application form together with the registration fee. Appointments are set up for the parents and prospective learner to meet with the principal and for a walkabout to see the school.
  3. In the case of a grade R learner, all assessments by a therapist or specialist, as well as a recommendation of some form of school readiness, should be submitted. After the assessment / skills test had been processed, letters are sent to the successful candidates, including all relevant documents pertaining to the candidate’s admission.
  4. Once the learner has been admitted, letters are sent out to successful candidates together with the acceptance letter as well as a full package enclosing all the relevant documents pertaining to the learner’s entry.
  5. Should a prospective learner not be a South African citizen, it is imperative that a study permit is in place prior to the learner’s entry.
  6. An introductory session is held annually for prospective Grade 1-learners.
  7. The parents of prospective grade 1 learners, that have been accepted, will be invited to an information session in November.
  8. If a child is declined a place at the school, the parents will be informed in writing. The school will inform the Governing Body of all admissions made. If parents wish to appeal against a refusal of a place their case may be heard following receipt of a letter of appeal to the Chair of Governors via the school address, within 14 days of receiving the letter of refusal. (The panel members will consist of the Principal, Governing Body Chairman, Bursar, and/or a foundation phase senior teacher or intermediate phase senior teacher.)

WAITING LIST

When all available places have been allocated, the school will operate a waiting list. Parents, who wish their child to be included on the waiting list, must inform the school in writing. Any places that become available will be allocated according to the criteria of the admission policy with no account being taken of the length of time on the waiting list or any priority order expressed as part of the main admission round.

The waiting list will be reviewed and revised – each time a child is added to or removed from the waiting list; when a child’s changed circumstances will affect his/her priority; at the end of each school year, when parents with a child on the waiting list will be contacted and asked if they wish to remain on the list for the following school year.

SCREENING OF ALL PROSPECTIVE LEARNERS TO DARLING COLLEGE:

  1. Darling College is an Independent School and reserves the right of admission. The Governing Body and the Principal, as a member of the Governing Body of this institution, are responsible for and at liberty to screen any candidate learner. (Read Article 6.5.1 of the Constitution)
  2. Darling College is not a remedial school and is not equipped for remedial teaching. Article 3.4 states: “The school strives to maintain a high standard of education.”
  3. Each child is screened for the purposes of ensuring that the school is suitable for the child’s needs.
  4. These tests will assess the child’s verbal and non-verbal skills as well as the child’s overall behaviour.
  5. If the screening test indicates that specialised advice should be obtained, the parents would be referred to a child specialist. In such a situation, it is the onus of the parent, to pay for further tests.
  6. Parents of gr. 1 learners that choose Darling College for the education of their child will be requested to submit some sort of recommendation, e.g. a gr. R report (in the case of a grade 1 learner) that shows the child’s school readiness, as well as any other evaluations of an occupational therapist or other therapists. Darling College will assess a candidate that has no preschool experience.
  7. In the case of an older learner, the most recent school report will be requested. In addition to that selection tests can be done as mentioned in 2.
  8. The school will take notice of that which is in the best interest of the child.
  9. Parents, who fail to submit a child’s report, as stipulated in 6, can be notified that their child had been accepted provisionally, and that parents would be informed in the third term if their child’s progress was unsatisfactory. Thereafter, continued attendance could be refused. In considering admission and each learner’s continued attendance, we will always be guided by what is considered in the best interests of the majority of learners in each class.
  10. As clearly stipulated in the Admissions Policy, Darling College will not discriminate against any child on the basis of their race, gender, religion, citizenship or country of origin. Within our means, Darling College will do anything to accommodate a new candidate. A true, loyal family member of Darling College will respect the above-mentioned rules and will encourage their children to adhere to the rules, while setting a good example at home. Thank you that you help to make a difference.

BELEIDSVERKLARING

Ons skool is ‘n tweetalige, Christelike primêre skool vir seuns en dogters tussen 6 en 13 jaar oud.

Die skool se Beheerliggaam en die Skoolhoof sal volgens die wet redelik optree wanneer aansoeke om toelating tot die skool oorweeg word.

Die volgorde van prioriteit vir opname is soos volg:

  • Kinders wat reeds broers of susters in die skool het.
  • Kinders met broers of susters in kleuterskole in die dorp, maar nie in die skool nie.
  • Kinders wat in die omgewing van Darling / Yzerfontein woon.
  • Kinders wat nie in hierdie kategorieë val nie.

Die volgende toelatingskriteria word in die skool se prospektus in volgorde van prioriteit vermeld:

  • Graad R: Leerder wat vyf jaar oud is en wat voor of op 30 Junie van die toelatingsjaar 6 word.
  • Graad 1: Leerder wat ses jaar oud is en in die loop van die toelatingsjaar sewe word.
  • Graad 2 – 7: heersende getalle is die eerste faktor wat die aanvaarding van kinders in hierdie grade bepaal.

Ander faktore wat oorweeg kan word, sluit in:

  • ‘n Leerder se ouderdom.
  • Akademiese, sosiale en emosionele faktore.
  • Vorige promosieverslae (oordragte en jare wat herhaal is).
  • ‘n Kind wat moontlik ten tye van toelating ‘n broer of suster in die skool het.
  • Leerders wat die naaste aan die skool met die kortste loopafstand daarvandaan woon.  In die geval van ‘n ooraanbod, sal prioriteite in die volgorde van 1 tot 4 toegepas word.

Die skool se Beheerliggaam sal nie diskrimineer teen applikante ten opsigte van hul geslag, ras, kleur, geloof, burgerskap of land van herkoms nie. Die skool ondersteun die ideale van gelykheid, geregtigheid, inklusiwiteit, diversiteit en diens aan die gemeenskap.

Die Beheerliggaam sal nie diskrimineer teen aansoekers op grond daarvan dat die kind nie in die omgewing van Darling / Yzerfontein woon nie, behalwe in die geval waar so ‘n aansoek die skool se toelatingsbeleid hierbo weerspreek.

Soos in die Grondwet vermeld, word getalle en aanvaarde toelatingsgetalle vir elke klasgroep bepaal deur die Skool se kapasiteit om leerders te akkomodeer.

Die aantal toelatings vir enige klas sal slegs in buitengewone omstandighede en ná raadpleging met die Beheerliggaam en die Skoolhoof oorskry word, soos dit in die Grondwet van Darling Kollege vervat is.

‘n Onafhanklike paneel vir appèl sal deur die Beheerliggaam en die Skoolhoof aangestel word.

Die skool se Bestuur sal die toelatingsbeleid jaarliks in die skool se prospektus publiseer.

Die toelatingsbeleid streef na ooreenstemming met Darling Kollege se Grondwet.

Darling Kollege se aansoekvorms vir toelating sal onder al die voorskoolse inrigtings in Darling versprei word.

Aansoekvorms sal ook saam met die skool se Prospektus aan alle ouers wat navraag doen, gestuur word.

‘n Aansoekvorm en ‘n skedule van fooie word dan ge-e-pos, gepos of deur die applikant afgehaal.

Die skool se verhoudingsgetal vir toelating is vasgestel op 1:23 per graad.

Aansoeke om toelating tot die skool moet verkieslik teen die einde van die derde termyn in September vóór die jaar waarin die kind moet begin, voorgelê word.

Aansoeke wat laat ontvang word, sal alleenlik in die volgende omstandighede as tydige aansoeke hanteer word:

a) Waar ‘n gesin hulle pas in die Darling / Yzerfontein-omgewing kom vestig het.
b) Waar die Beheerliggaam aanvaar dat individuele omstandighede geld en die vertraging in die gegewe omstandighede redelik is.
c) In elke geval hierbo sal stawende dokumente as bewyse verlang word.

In enige ander geval, of indien die aansoek nie ná einde September ontvang word nie, sal laat aansoeke minder prioriteit geniet en eers oorweeg word ná aansoeke wat betyds was of as sodanig beskou word.

Ouers sal teen die einde van Oktober kennis ontvang van ‘n aanbod vir ‘n enkele plek in die skool kragtens die Skoolhoof en Beheerliggaam se magte ná ‘n ooreenkoms met die skool.

PROSEDURE VIR TOELATING:

  1. By ontvangs van die voltooide aansoekvorm, saam met die ID van albei ouers en die leerder, word ‘n brief gestuur wat ontvangs erken.
  2.   Die Tesourier mag ‘n finansiële navraag doen om seker te maak dat die leerder se skoolfooie betaal sal word.
  3. In die loop van die eerste jaartermyn, voor toelating, kan ‘n brief aan alle voornemende leerders gestuur word waarin hulle genooi word om die vereiste assessering / vaardigheidstoets (Graad 2 – 7) af te lê. ‘n Afskrif van die leerder se jongste rapport moet die aansoekvorm saam met die registrasiefooi vergesel. Afsprake word vir die ouers en voornemende leerders gereël om die Skoolhoof te ontmoet en die skool te besigtig.
  4. In die geval van ‘n graad R-leerder moet alle assesserings deur ‘n terapeut of spesialis asook een of ander aanbeveling van skoolgereedheid voorgelê word. Wanneer die assessering / vaardigheidstoetse verwerk is, word briewe aan suksesvolle kandidate gestuur, insluitend alle relevante dokumente vir die leerder se toelating.
  5. Indien ‘n voornemende leerder nie ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse burger is nie, is dit noodsaaklik dat ‘n studiepermit voor die leerder se toelating bekom word. Dit is gebruiklik dat ons die nodige deposito en aanvaarding van ‘n plek in die skool voor die einde van die tweede termyn, d.w.s. Junie, verlang.
  6. ‘n Bekendstellingssessie word jaarliks vir voornemende graad 1-leerders gehou.
  7. Die ouers van voornemende graad 1-leerders wat aanvaar is, sal in November na ‘n inligtingsessie genooi word.

Indien ‘n kind nie ‘n plek in die skool aangebied word nie, sal die ouers skriftelik ingelig word, saam met hul reg om te appelleer. Die Beheerliggaam en die Skoolhoof sal alle aansoeke hanteer.

Die skool sal die Beheerliggaam oor alle toelatings inlig. Indien ouers teen ‘n afwysing appèl wil aanteken, sal ‘n paneel hul saak aanhoor ná  ontvangs van
‘n skriftelike appèl, wat binne 14 dae ná die afwysing gerig aan die Beheerliggaamsvoorsitter by die skool se adres ontvang word. (Die paneellede sal bestaan uit die Skoolhoof, die Voorsitter van die Beheerliggaam, die Tesourier en óf ‘n senior grondslagfase, óf ‘n senior intermediêre fase-onderwyser.)

In elke kategorie sal prioriteit gegee word aan kinders wat die naaste aan die skool woon met die naaste staproete wat bestaande voetpaaie insluit.

Vir kinders wat in terme van die statutêre Verklaring oor Spesiale Onderwysbehoeftes na hierdie skool verwys word as die mees gepaste plek vir hul onderrigbehoeftes, sal ‘n plek in die skool aangebied word.

WAG LYS

Wanneer alle beskikbare plekke in ‘n skool gevul is, stel die skool ‘n waglys op. Ouers wat
hul kinders op die waglys wil plaas, moet die skool skriftelik in kennis stel. Alle plekke wat ontstaan, sal toegewys word volgens die kriteria van die toelatingsbeleid. Geen tydsduur of volgorde van prioriteit as deel van die eerste toelatingsrondte sal vir die waglys geld nie.

Die waglys sal hersien en aangepas word

  • sodra ‘n kind tot die waglys bygevoeg of daarvan verwyder word;
  • wanneer veranderde omstandighede ‘n kind se prioriteit beïnvloed;
  • aan die einde van elke skooljaar wanneer ouers met kinders op die waglys gevra sal word of hulle vir die volgende jaar op die waglys wil bly.

KEURING VAN ALLE KANDIDAAT-LEERDERS BY DARLING KOLLEGE

  1. Darling Kollege is ‘n Onafhanklike Skool en behou die reg op toelating voor. Die Beheerliggaam en die Skoolhoof, wat ‘n lid is van die Beheerliggaam, is verantwoordelik vir en het die vryheid om enige kandidaat-leerder te keur. (Lees Artikel 6.5.1 van die Grondwet.)
  2.   Darling Kollege is nie ‘n remediërende skool nie en is nie vir remediërende onderrig toegerus nie. Artikel 3.4 bepaal: “Die skool streef daarna om ‘n hoë standaard van onderrig te handhaaf.”
  3. Elke kind word gekeur met die doel om te verseker dat die skool geskik is vir die kind se behoeftes.
  4. Hierdie toetse sal die kind se verbale en nie-verbale vaardighede, asook sy of haar algehele gedrag assesseer.
  5. Indien die keuringstoets aandui dat gespesialiseerde advies nodig is, sal die ouers na ‘n kinderspesialis verwys word. In so ‘n geval berus die onus op die ouers om vir verdere toetse te betaal.
  6. Ouers van moontlike gr. 1-leerders wat Darling Kollege vir die onderrig van hul kind kies, sal versoek word om enige vorm van aanbeveling, bv. ‘n gr. R-verslag (in die geval van ‘n graad 1-leerder) wat die kind se skoolgereedheid verklaar, asook enige ander
    evaluerings van ‘n beroepsterapeut-onderwyser of ander terapeute of spesialiste voor te lê. Darling Kollege sal ‘n kandidaat wat nie voorskoolse ervaring het nie, assesseer.
  7.   In die geval van ‘n ouer leerder sal die mees onlangse skoolrapport gevra word. Daarbenewens kan keuringstoetse gedoen word soos in 2. vermeld.
  8. Die skool sal kennis neem van dit wat in die kind se belang is.
  9. Ouers wat versuim om ‘n kind se rapport in te handig soos in 6. neergelê, kan kennis kry dat die kind voorwaardelik aanvaar word en sal in die derde kwartaal ingelig word indien hul kind se vordering onbevredigend was. Daarna kan voortgesette bywoning geweier word. By die oorweging van toelating en elke leerder se volgehoue bywoning, sal ons altyd gelei word deur dit wat in die beste belang van die meerheid leerders in elke klas geag word.
  10. Soos duidelik in die Toelatingsbeleid gestel, sal Darling Kollege nie op grond van enige kind se ras, geslag, geloof, burgerskap of land van herkoms diskrimineer nie.  Binne ons vermoë sal Darling Kollege alles doen om ‘n nuwe kandidaat te akkommodeer.‘n Ware, lojale familielid van Darling Kollege sal die bogenoemde reëls respekteer en hul kind/ers aanmoedig om die reëls te onderhou asook om ‘n goeie voorbeeld tuis te stel.Dankie dat u help om ‘n verskil te maak.