Educate Together is delighted to announce that Nicholas Sweetman, former Principal of Gorey Community School, has joined the Advisory Panel to its second-level project. The panel is an expert group of academics, curriculum advisors, business leaders and representatives of student, parent and equality groups.
Commenting on his appointment Mr Sweetman said ‘I was very happy to be asked to join the Educate Together advisory group. I have been aware of their interest in the patronage of the proposed new second level school for Gorey for some time. Needless to say I still maintain an active interest in education and am happy to give whatever small advice and assistance I can. In that context I would hope to foster a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship between the existing community school and the new school. Gorey badly needs two vibrant, innovative and forward looking schools and the involvement of Educate Together in the patronage of a community type school offers a real prospect of providing that’.
Educate Together’s local parent group, who have been actively campaigning for the school, have also expressed their delight at the news. Committee chairperson Angie Dooley said Nicholas Sweetman commands huge respect in Gorey for what he has achieved. Gorey Community School is very highly rated for both accessing higher education and the provision of special needs services. His involvement in Educate Together’s second level project says a huge amount. I think that any parent in Gorey who has any questions left about what about what we are trying to achieve here will be very reassured by Nicholas’ involvement’.
Educate Together first applied to open a second-level school in Gorey in March 2008. Since a public meeting in May in this year, parents of 650 children have registered their interest in sending their children to the school. The Minister of Education and Skills recently announced a consultation process for a decision on patronage of the new post-primary school, due to open in September 2011. Local parental choice will be a critical factor in her deliberations.
