Educate Together schools provide a unique, inclusive and equality-based school ethos, as set out in Educate Together’s Charter. The 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. Also enshrined in the Charter is an obligation to put our students at the centre of everything we do. Below you can find out more about each of the four principles of the Educate Together ethos:
Real stories from the Educate Together community
Educate Together’s schools mean so much to the lives of the children and young people who attend them, and to the communities that they are a part of. You can read, watch and listen to real stories from the students, staff and families involved in the Educate Together school movement on this page and at the links above.
Ways to get in touch:
- Email us: info@educatetogether.ie
- Tweet us: @EducateTogether
- Find us on Facebook or Instagram
Building a School of Sanctuary: Galway ETSS navigates the journey with project-based learning
“For the past few months, GETSS has been working towards becoming a School of Sanctuary, a place where our students, their families, and staff feel a strong sense of safety.”
International Cuisine Day in Portlaoise ETNS
Gouri, Mara, Subhan and Zach – 5th & 6th Class members of the Student Council
“On Friday the 23rd February Portlaoise ETNS held their cuisine day. Teachers Rozz, Hazel, Jorja and Sarah along with all the members of the student council planned and organized the day for the whole school. In the run up to the event some of the classes created posters containing lots of information about the food and the country that it represented. The student council then decorated the school hall with these colourful, vibrant and informative posters along with some balloons.”
Festival of Learning at Sandymount Park ETSS – Celebrating a year-long transition into secondary school
“Our Festival of Learning is a chance to celebrate students’ learning journey throughout their first year at Sandymount Park ETSS. The festival takes the form of a showcase, in which students exhibit their learning from the year. Students select three key moments from across their learning journey, which relate to one of the Junior Cycle Key Skills. Key moments can be selected from across curricular, co- and extra-curricular experiences.”
Annual Student Event doubles to welcome more schools and students in 2024
“In April, Educate Together held its annual Student Event for second-level schools. This year’s event was unique in its approach, spanning across two separate schools to accommodate the demand and ensuring accessibility for all students involved.”
Opening the Woodlands Library – working together to learn together!
Aoife Winston, principal of Claregalway ETNS
“It is with immense joy and pride that we unveiled a chapter of our school’s story that has been in the making for months—the grand opening of “The Woodlands,” our brand-new school library. This project has been a testament to the collaborative spirit and shared vision of our dedicated staff, enthusiastic pupils, and supportive parents.”
Olympic handball at Waterford ETNS
“Our aim is to make Olympic handball fun and accessible to all. We believe the Educate Together ethos works perfectly within the Olympic handball setting. “No child is an outsider” can be seen in our game where each child is afforded multiple opportunities to participate in a game, this is a rarity in most other sports. Olympic handball is a fantastic way to learn the importance of teamwork, but also hone their sporting skills in a fun and fast paced game.”
Blooming Day: A blossoming celebration at Westport ETNS
“A fantastic day of celebration took place on Friday, June 16th, 2023 at Westport ETNS. It was a day filled with joy and reflection as the school community gathered to honor their 2nd class students reaching a new phase in their educational journey, that is becoming senior students.“
Two in a row for Galway ETSS in All-Ireland Debating Competition!
“The Educate Together Secondary Schools All-Ireland Debating Competition culminated in a competitive final in Galway this week. Galway Educate Together Secondary School retain their title as competition winners for the second year in a row – their third time winning since the competition’s inception in 2021. Limerick Educate Together Secondary School proposed the motion ‘Everyone is entitled to a platform’ against the opposing side Galway ETSS in one of the closest debates of the year.”
2024 Educate Together AGM delegates warmly welcomes the first Catholic school in the state to transfer to equality-based patronage
“Delegates attending the 2024 Educate Together Annual General Meeting at Broombridge Educate Together National School on Saturday 11 May 2024 heard of significant progress, as well as challenges, for Ireland’s equality-based school movement. At the event, delegates also warmly welcomed the newest national school to join the school network.
Paradise Place ETNS, formerly St Mary’s Primary School – the very first Catholic primary school in the state to change to Educate Together patronage – becomes the 97th Educate Together national school, taking the total number of Educate Together schools at primary and second-level to 118.”
Student voice in action in Bremore ETSS
“During June 2023, five of our students helped to make history at the European Commission. They were invited to participate in the first General Assembly which was co-created and co-chaired by European children to discuss and work on child participation at EU-level. Sixteen countries were represented, together with national government representatives from many EU (European Union) countries, and people from EU organisations that work with children.“
New research: compelling evidence of “extensive student engagement” in Educate Together schools
“Research conducted by Shivaun O’Brien et al from Dublin City University, which explored student participation in Educate Together primary schools, was recently published in the International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education. It found that Educate Together pupils report high levels of participation across each of the participation arenas, of classroom, outside of the classroom, and in decision-making at the whole school level.”
Lights, camera, empathy! Sharing our work on empathy and gender equality with France 2 TV
Andrew Maloney, Deputy Principal, Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School
“Last October our school had a very special visit from a France 2 TV crew. They were eager to learn about our initiatives on empathy and gender equality, so we invited them to check out the fantastic efforts of our 1st Year Cranberries as part of their Ethical Education lessons. Students from our school spearheaded a project on Women’s Safety last year, which won them a Young Social Innovators of the Year Bronze Award. Women’s safety was the anchor for the lesson and the students discussed the idea of privilege associated with gender in society.”
Suzanne’s story: Educate Together: a parent’s perspective
“For me Educate Together is not so much about diversity of race or religion, while these are certainly important issues. For me it is more about an appreciation of all of our differences in whatever form they take. It is about teaching our children to appreciate these differences and showing them how such an appreciation can enrich their lives, and in so doing allow them the space to relax into their own unique expression of what it is to be human, and to feel supported in developing their full potential without the fear of being different.”
Suzanne Dorrian on why the Educate Together ethos is so important to her and her family. Read Suzanne’s story here
Hilary’s story: addressing LGBT issues in primary school
Acknowledging and celebrating different families is crucial to making all children feel part of the school and wider community, and to enable them to learn how to value and respect those who are different. This includes stocking library books which feature different families units, using stories as a springboard for discussion and debate, thinking time, drama, video-making, art, music, history and geography.
Parents, teachers and alumni share their stories
The ‘banning’ of Christmas and Halloween, the prohibition of the greeting ‘Dia dhuit’ (the Irish language equivalent to ‘hello’ which happens to mean ‘God be with you’) and forbidding the celebration of role of grandparents – just some of the myths about Educate Together schools put into the public domain recently. Who better to counter misinformation and myths about the equality-based school community than parents, teachers and ex-pupils of our network? Thanks so much for your support!
Jean’s story: teaching ethical education at second-level
“Starting out in September, I did what so many of us do nowadays and I turned to Google. What would teaching Ethical Education entail? What was Ethics? In the words of Potter Stewart – “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.” Could we help our students to see that just because they could – didn’t mean that they should?”
Teacher Jean Ryan of Ballymakenny College reflects on her first year teaching Ethical Education. Read Jean’s story here
Orla’s story: our Educate Together school campaign came from the heart
“I had the privilege of chairing the local parent-led campaign for a new Educate Together national school for Cork South City. Time and again I was struck by the stories: Parents desperate for a place for their child in a school that would reflect their family, where their child would not be excluded, where they would experience freedom of conscience.”
Orla Burke reflects on experience in advocating for an equality-based school for her family and her community. Read Orla’s story here
A teacher’s story: why I love teaching in an Educate Together second-level school
“I have had the pleasure of teaching in a second-level Educate Together school for the past three years. The ethos of ‘no child an outsider’ allows me to teach in a variety of creative ways which is inclusive of all abilities. The relationship or bond between teachers and students is formed on a basis of respect. Give respect get respect. Students call me by my first name which I believe creates a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.”
Aine’s story: 40 years of equality-based education
2018 saw the 40th anniversary of the opening of what would become the first Educate Together primary school in Ireland. In 1978, Dalkey School Project opened in a residential house. This pioneering new school would go on to be the first of a true alternative to the monopoly of religious-run schools in Ireland. Áine Hyland, one of the founder members of Educate Together, reflects on 40 years of equality-based education in Ireland.”
The Story of the Dalkey School Project
‘The Story of the Dalkey School Project’ is a radio documentary which was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and produced by Aileen O’Mara. It tells the story of how the first Educate Together school in Ireland, the Dalkey School Project National School or DSPNS, came to be.
Cecelia’s story: a school where LGBT is part of everyday life
There is no big deal about the LGBT issue at the school. It is, according to learning support teacher, Cecelia Gavigan, simply part of their commitment to the idea of respect and human rights for all. “Everything we do around LGBT is set within a broader framework of equality and justice. It is very much part of school life and not just something that is achieved in a single initiative.”
Video: Equality in Educate Together Secondary Schools
Every Educate Together secondary school is equality-based. We asked students at Educate Together secondary school what this means to them:
Dominic’s TEDx story: how I defined myself at 15
Dominic Newman, a student at Stepaside Educate Together SS, was born in South Africa strongly believes the ‘Ubuntu’ culture of South Africa has helped mould him into who he is today.
Watch Dominic’s TEDx talk here
Downloads
