• Last opportunity to register your interest in a second-level school for 2012 / 2013! The Department of Education and Skills deadline for second-level patronage applications is Friday 24 February. See below:

Educate Together is applying to open its first second-level schools in Ireland. We are looking for parents to make their voices heard.

The Government will open a number of new post primary (second-level) schools in 2013 and 2014. Educate Together intends to apply to be the patron of schools in the following areas:

• Greystones, Wicklow (2014)
• Lusk, Dublin (2013)
• Drogheda, Louth (2014)
• Dublin 15 (2014)

This is great news for parents campaigning for Educate Together post-primary (second-level) schools all over the country. Now we are asking parents to make their voice heard in this process!

• Download our second-level Brochure for Parents here.

Connect with your local campaign group below and register your interest with them… help to establish the first Educate Together second-level schools…

Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School Action Group (ET2L Drogheda)

Website: www.droghedaetss.com

“We’re really delighted that a timeframe has been announced, and we look forward to working with the team in the National Office, to develop our application for patronage. We have a substantial database of parents who have signalled that they would like a wider choice of patronage in Drogheda.” Elaine Hanley, Chairperson

Dublin 15 Educate Together Second Level Campaign

Website: www.et2ldublin15.info

Online Expression of Interest: here

“An Educate Together second-level school in Dublin 15 would be truly multi-denominational and be at the cutting edge of education in terms of teaching methods, the built environment and parental involvement.” Michael McLoughlin, Chairperson

Educate Together Second-level, Lusk (ET2LL)

Website: www.et2ll.info

Online Expression of Interest: here

“Lusk will finally have a second-level school opening in 2013! If you’re a parent/guardian of children of primary-school-going age or even younger, this will be of interest to you.“ John McKenna, Spokesperson

North Wicklow/Greystones Second Level Action Group

Website: www.wicklow2school.ie

Online Expression of Interest: here

“We are delighted with the news that Greystones will have a new second-level school in 2014… We have over 800 expressions of interest from local parents already!” Jessica Bird, Chairperson

So what will Educate Together second-level schools look like?

twenty-first century schools

People now see that our second-level schools need new, innovative approaches for the 21st century. Educate Together second-level schools will nurture creative and critical thinkers, problem solvers, effective communicators and innovators. Teachers in Educate Together second-level schools will use the best teaching and learning methods to make students’ learning active, relevant, challenging and enjoyable. Our Brochure for Parents provides information about what our schools will be like.

excellence in post-primary education

The details of how our second- level schools will run are outlined in the Blueprint for Educate Together Second-level Schools. This documents in detail how the Educate Together model delivers key life skills as well as academic performance. It draws upon best Irish and international best practice and has been widely praised by educationalists, industry and parent and student bodies.