“There can be no doubt that, as a society, we have travelled far from the Ireland of 1978 when the Educate Together movement first took root. Today, that pioneering vision has taken its rightful place in our education system, growing, flourishing and enabling a further generation of citizens to benefit from the generous and participative ethos which defines Educate Together.”
Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland
45 years of experience in equality
For over 45 years, Educate Together has been working to establish inspirational schools for children and young people in Ireland. Educate Together has its roots in the Dalkey School Project National School, which was founded in 1978. A committed group of educationalists and parents established the organisation with the stated aim:
“To advance education in Ireland, to develop and support the establishment of a multi-denominational school or schools which are:-
- Run by Boards of Management, which are predominantly democratic in character.
- Multi-denominational and multi-cultural, having an ethos where every child is equally respected and has equal rights of access to the school regardless of social, cultural or religious background or personal creed, and where all children are educated together in an atmosphere of respect.
- Child-centred in their approach to education.
- Co-educational and committed to encouraging all children to explore their full range of interests and opportunities without distinction by sex.”
Dalkey School Project was the culmination of the hard work of a number of parents who wanted inclusive schools that embraced difference and celebrated principles of tolerance and mutual respect, where children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds were equally respected.
Growth: ‘project schools’
Following Dalkey SP, a group of parents in Bray campaigned to have a similar school for their community, and Bray School Project was set up in 1981, followed by the North Dublin National School Project in 1984. These first three schools formed a national umbrella organisation in 1984, under the banner of ‘Educate Together’ – a term which had been in use in Dalkey School Project since its origins.
Educate Together’s Charter
Six years into the existence of Educate Together as an organisation, the Educate Together Charter was formulated in 1990, and unanimously agreed by all member schools at that time. The Charter is the fundamental statement of aims that is endorsed by all members of the movement. The Charter (which can be downloaded below) states that children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds are equally respected at school, that Educate Together schools are co-educational and child-centered in their approach to education, and that they are democratically run with active participation by parents in the daily life of the school.
Educate Together national office
By 1995, Educate Together had grown to 14 schools across Ireland (including schools in Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Kilkenny) and this growth led to the establishment of a permanent national office. Incorporation of the national body into a company limited by guarantee was completed in 1998.
A national movement
In 1999, the State abolished the requirement that Educate Together schools had to provide their own sites and pay 15% of the building costs of a permanent building. This removed what had been the greatest restraint on the progress of the equality-based movement. The role and functions of patrons such as Educate Together in Irish education were also increased at this time, as part of the Education Act 1998.
The Learn Together Ethical Education curriculum
As the number of Educate Together schools grew, it was decided that Educate Together develop a set curriculum, reflecting its ethos and key principles. This led to the launch of the Learn Together Ethical Education curriculum in 2004 – written by school principals and parents from the Educate Together community: Carmel Mulcahy, Paddie Murphy, Frieda McGovern, and Mary Kelleher.
Second-level campaign
Educate Together campaigned for ten years for sanction from the Department of Education and Skills to open second-level schools. In 2007, Educate Together made its first formal applications to the Department to open second-level schools, and sought recognition as a second-level patron. The Minister of Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, announced his formal recognition of Educate Together as a second-level patron at the 2011 AGM in Gorey ETNS.
In 2014, the first Educate Together second-level schools opened: Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School in Dublin 15, Ballymakenny College in Drogheda, and Kishoge Community College in Adamstown, Co Dublin.
Present day
Today, Educate Together operates a national network of 118 schools in Ireland – 97 primary and 21 second-level, catering to over 40,000 students. In 2013, the Educate Together Academy Trust was established in England. The growth in the Educate Together school network continues to be driven by parental demand and the Educate Together national office supports the rights of families to access the education they want for their children.
Downloads
- Multi-Denominational Schools in the Republic of Ireland 1975-1995
- 2000 Presentation – Educate Together Schools – Core Values and Ethos
- 2003 Presentation – The Origin, Development and Potential of the Educate Together Ethos
- 2006 Article – Challenges for the Irish Education System for the Next Generation and Beyond. The Issue of School Patronage
- 2012 Report – School Sector Variation Among Primary Schools in Ireland
