It is with regret that Educate Together announces that the opening of Malahide Portmarnock Educate Together Secondary School, which was due to open in September 2017, has been postponed to 2018.
Educate Together has been working intensively with the Department of Education and Skills in its efforts to source suitable temporary accommodation for the school for September 2017. While efforts to advance plans on two sites have been ongoing, potential planning and other issues remain with both and there is no guarantee that these will be resolved by September.
Said Paul Rowe, CEO of Educate Together:
‘All at Educate Together are extremely disappointed to have to postpone the opening of Malahide Portmarnock ETSS. Having been granted patronage of the school last November, it was hoped that accommodation could be sourced in good time to give parents some certainty around where they would be sending their children to school in September 2017. Unfortunately this has not transpired but we are determined to work with the Department of Education and Skills to source suitable accommodation for a 2018 opening.’
While significant numbers of students were enrolled for the school, following its sanction in November 2016, uncertainty around the temporary location of the schools has resulted in the enrolment numbers understandably diminishing. They have now reached a point which is not sufficient to create a sustainable, dynamic learning environment.
Educate Together is committed to opening the school in 2018, and while difficulties regarding accommodation still exist, we will continue to work closely with the Department of Education and Skills and other stakeholders to ensure the school opens in suitable accommodation.
Educate Together wishes to sincerely thank all parents, students, local organisations and stakeholders for their support and understanding and is determined to ensure that Malahide Portmarnock ETSS will open to First Years in 2018.
