Parent groups celebrate announcement of new Educate Together post-primary schools in Cork, Kildare, Wicklow and Dublin.
The Department of Education and Skills has appointed Educate Together as patron to 5 new second-level schools opening in 2015 and 2016 (read the Department’s statement here). The schools will be located in Cork, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, North Wicklow, and Balbriggan and Ballinteer in Dublin. Four of these new schools will be voluntary secondary schools, with Educate Together appointed as sole patron. In Celbridge Educate Together is delighted to be working in partnership with Kildare & Wicklow ETB, as joint patrons of the planned new second-level school for the area.
Today’s announcement is warmly welcomed by parent groups in these areas that have campaigned for many years for access to Educate Together schools in their communities.
Lavinia McLean, Chairperson of the Balbriggan Action Group said: “We are delighted with the announcement today, which recognises parental choice in second-level education. Parents and community representatives have worked hard for seven years in Balbriggan to achieve this goal, and are looking forward to a new Educate Together Secondary School in our community”.
Educate Together CEO Paul Rowe: “We are delighted with today’s announcement. Well done to the start up groups who have been working hard to ensure their children can access their preferred model of education. We look forward to working with the local community, local authorities and the Department to make sure these schools open as efficiently as possible. Today represents a really positive step in our work to give parents in Ireland a choice of school type for their children’s education”.
Second-level Programme Manager, Ruth Doggett: “The selection of Educate Together as patron of 5 further schools, in addition to the three sanctioned last year, shows the increasing demand for this innovative model of education. Parents are looking for a new approach to second-level education â one that focuses on the lifelong learning needs of learners in the 21st century. We look forward to engaging with the Department of Education and Skills in relation to securing the necessary resources to open these schools.
Today’s announcement will bring the total number of Educate Together second-level schools to 8, and see the first Educate Together second-level school in Munster open in Carrigaline / Cork South Suburbs in 2016.
Niall Wall, Regional Development Officer for Ireland South said: With five Educate Together primary schools already thriving in Cork, it is high time that parents in the county had the option of an Educate Together second-level school. I am delighted to see the hard work and campaigning of parents come to fruition, and I know that this school will provide a popular additional choice for families in the area.
Educate Together second-level schools will place the student at their centre. They will be vibrant, welcoming communities in which every student feels a real sense of belonging. The Educate Together approach at second-level moves away from ‘teaching to the test’ and towards an emphasis on the learner. Here, students will develop skills in creative and critical thinking, communication, teamwork, research and leadership. Detailed information on Educate Together second-level schools is available here.
Nine new post-primary schools announced for 2015 and 2016:
