Educate Together today welcomed the next phase of the national survey on school patronage, with the Department of Education and Youth this week issuing school-specific results to every primary school in the country. The results will enable school communities to begin informed discussions about the future direction and ethos of their schools.
Educate Together CEO, Dr. Emer Nowlan, commented:
“This marks an important milestone in expanding parental choice of school ethos in Ireland. For the first time, schools across Ireland will have access to robust data relating specifically to their own communities, providing valuable insight into local demand for change in school patronage, and enabling informed conversations among parents, staff and boards of management about the future of their schools.”
Unmet demand for multi-denominational schooling nationwide
Recently published national survey results showed that 40% of parents with children attending religious-run schools would prefer a multi-denominational primary school. While this level of parental demand would support more than 1,200 multi-denominational schools across Ireland, there are currently just 155, with 95.1% of Ireland’s 3,067 primary schools remaining under religious patronage.
Significant demand for multi-denominational education
Included in the 200,000 survey returns were 7,000 responses from families in schools where Educate Together is patron. Every single Educate Together school surveyed recorded strong majority support for a multi-denominational ethos, and 90% of parents confirmed their preference for a multi-denominational primary school. Among parents of pre-school children selecting these schools support was even stronger, reaching 92%, confirming sustained demand for equality-based education across communities nationwide.
School communities invited to engage in consultation process
Now that schools are receiving their survey results, a consultation period will begin, enabling boards of management to engage with their school communities and gather feedback before deciding whether to explore a change of patronage. Educate Together hopes the process will be characterised by accurate information, respectful dialogue and informed decision-making.
The Department has developed a range of resources to support schools during this stage of the process, with all school-specific reports and the explanatory information pack due to be published on gov.ie in June. Educate Together has also developed a Reconfiguration Information Pack and is available to clarify queries relating to its multi-denominational, equality-based ethos and patronage. Further information is available via schooltransfers@educatetogether.ie.
Government support needed to deliver greater school choice
With almost 50 years of experience in opening, transferring and supporting inclusive, equality-based schools, Educate Together is ready to work with the Department of Education and existing patrons to expand school choice nationwide.
Educate Together is urging the Government to provide adequate resources and investment to support the next phase of the process, ensuring that genuine school choice can be made available in every part of the country. The organisation believes the survey process presents a significant opportunity to better align school provision with parental preferences and strengthen educational choice for families across Ireland.