“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
Educate Together has over 40 years experience of providing a unique, inclusive and equality-based school ethos. The Educate Together model is founded on a legal commitment to parents, staff and children to run schools based on equality and respect. Our core values, as set out in the Educate Together’s Charter, are:
Equality-based
All children have equal access to the school and no one religion or worldview is given priority over another within the school.
Co-educational
All children are encouraged to explore their full range of abilities and are provided with equal opportunities regardless of their gender or identity.
Child-centred
Our child-centred approach means that we put children at the heart of all policies and practices and involve them in decision-making where appropriate.
Democratically-run
We run schools on a democratic basis, encouraging active participation by parents and students in the daily life of the school whilst positively affirming the professional role of the teachers.
Educate Together’s Charter
The Educate Together Charter describes schools that guarantee equality of access and esteem to children irrespective of their social, cultural or religious background, are learner centred in their approach to education and are run as participatory democracies, with respectful partnership between parents, pupils and staff. Enshrined in the Educate Together Charter is an obligation to put our students at the centre of everything we do. These values are reflected in Educate Together’s mottos:
Learn Together to Live Together
No Child an Outsider
Educate Together’s Vision
Educate Together is working towards an Ireland in which all people have access to an excellent education that is inclusive of all, irrespective of belief system, race, ethnicity, class, culture, gender, language and ability.
Educate Together’s Mission
Educate Together is an agent for change in the Irish State education system seeking to ensure that parents have the choice of an education based on the inclusive intercultural values of respect for difference and justice and equality for all. In Educate Together schools, every child will learn in an inclusive, democratic, co-educational setting that is committed to enabling and supporting each child to achieve their full potential while at the same time preparing them to become caring and active members of a culturally diverse society.
- Find contact details for your local schools here
- Find contact details for your local campaign groups here
- Read, watch and listen to real stories from the students, staff and families involved in the Educate Together school movement here
