Educate Together has announced its intention to apply for six new second-level schools to open in 2020:
- Dublin 15: Blanchardstown_West_D15 & BlanchardstownVillage_D15 school planning areas
- Goatstown: Goatstown_Stillorgan_Dun Laoghaire Rathdown school planning area
- Enfield: Kilcock school planning area
- Citywest/Saggart: Tallaght & Newcastle/Rathcoole school planning areas
- Harold’s Cross: Dublin 6_Clonskeagh & Dublin6W school planning areas
- Greystones/Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
Educate Together has set up a campaign web page here
Patronage of the schools will be based on parental preference and decided via an Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) provided by the Department of Education and Skills (DES). The Department of Education has stated that “parents whose children will be commencing first year in secondary school from 2020-2024 and who are living in the relevant school planning areas will be eligible to make their preferences known in the online survey.”
Educate Together will work together with local advocates to raise awareness of this new process and encourage families that want an Educate Together second-level school in their area to register their support. The organisation has indicated its willingness to open an Aonad lán-Ghaeilge should there be a demand.
Says Ronan Moore, a parent and campaigner for a second-level Educate Together school to serve Enfield and Kilcock:
“The people of Enfield have spent a long time working to get the go ahead for a new secondary school. And now that one is on its way I think it is important that the school’s patronage reflects the wishes of local parents. The Educate Together ethos is student-centred, celebrates the diversity of students from all backgrounds and encourages parental involvement in school. There are more and more schools opening under their patronage all over the country and and we look forward to bringing an Educate Together school to Enfield and Kilcock.”
Says Adelaide Nic Chárthaigh, Educate Together’s New Schools Manager:
“We hope that our success in the last patronage survey process will be repeated and have already been contacted by many parents and supporters in these areas. We’re looking forward to working with local volunteers to let their communities know what an Educate Together second-level education can offer their children. Educate Together provides choice – a new and innovative model of second-level education – and we hope that once again parents in these areas will choose Educate Together.’
Educate Together provides a new type of second-level school, one that places the student at its centre. It aims to create a vibrant, welcoming school community to which every student feels a real sense of belonging. Using student-centred teaching, learning and assessment methods, Educate Together second-level schools support students’ social, emotional and academic development and wellbeing.
The organisation currently operates thirteen second-level schools and will open four new second-levels this September. These are: Dublin North East Educate Together Secondary School (ETSS); Galway ETSS; Drogheda ETSS and Wicklow ETSS.
Educate Together has set up a campaign web page here
