Second Level Members' Meeting- 26 January 2008

Huge Turnout at 1st Second Level Members' Meeting
The first General Members' Meeting devoted specifically to the issue of second-level Educate Together education was held last Saturday, 26th Jan, in the Mont Clare Hotel in Dublin. Over one hundred people attended, including parents, teachers, pupils and past-pupils as well as representatives from some second-level education partners. There was a great atmosphere on the day, and a real sense of what an exciting opportunity this project provides.

In the morning session Emer Nowlan, second-level project manager, presented an outline of the second-level project. Dr Aidan Seery and Dr Andrew Loxley, from the School of Education in Trinity College Dublin, then gave a summary of some of the findings from a feasibility study which was carried out by Trinity on the opening of a second-level school by Educate Together. These presentations were followed by four lively workshops, facilitated by national office staff and Directors. 

In the afternoon, some specific questions were discussed by an impressive invited panel and by participants. Prof Áine Hyland, Dr Emer Smyth, Dr Aidan Seery and Micheal Johnston offered some valuable advice on how best to go forward with the second-level project. In his closing address, Paul Rowe drew parallels with the process which led to the setting up of the first Educate Together school in the 1970s, emphasising what an exciting opportunity this project provides for people to get involved and make a difference. The day was chaired by Noreen Byrne, Chairperson of Educate Together.

Siobán O'Brien Green, Director, and Deirdre O'Donohue, Head of Primary Education, Educate Together at the meeting.

Agenda
Presentation 1- Outline of Project (slides)
Presentation 2- Results of Feasibility Study (slides)
Feedback form
Comments so far from feedback received
Notes from the workshops
Information on Panelists

Press Release- 26 January 2008

Visit the Educate Together photo gallery to view pictures of the day

Joanne Galvin and Noeleen Dooley, Waterford ETNS.