Multi-faith schools eye move towards second-level

THE interdenominational schools group Educate Together plans to open second-level schools for the first time within two or three years to cater for the thousands of pupils being taught in its primary schools.

The first school is likely to open in Lucan, Co Dublin, where it already has four 16-classroom schools, which will soon have about 250 children looking for second level places each year. It is also likely to seek clearance for new schools in north and west Dublin, in Cork where plans are being made for a number of new Educate Together primary schools, and in Galway, where there is a limited choice of mixed gender second level schools.

Educate Together now has 44 primary schools under its umbrella, with an extra 1,000 pupils being taught in its new schools each year. It is expected to open about a dozen new schools next September alone to cater for demand, particularly in fast-growing urban areas, bringing its pupil numbers close to 10,000.

While the focus of the group’s primary model has been the absence of any religious or faith formation, there is also likely to be an emphasis on involving students and parents in decision-making, and curricular reforms in assessment and project-based learning.

“There is massive demand from parents whose children are already in Educate Together primary schools, and any school we open would also be open to pupils coming from other types of primary school,” said Educate Together chief executive Paul Rowe.

The organisation is finalising the details of research carried out by Trinity College Dublin among parents at its schools on the feasibility of opening second-level schools.

Mr Rowe said the earliest any school could open would be in 2009, and that various factors would influence the situation, including the level of support from the Department of Education for staffing and building accommodation.

“While parents have the right to choose that their children opt out of religious activities, Educate Together believes it is a breach of a student’s rights if he or she is to be systematically excluded from any part of the life of the school. We feel compelled to support parents’ various campaigns to claim their right to choice,” he said.

A second level project manager has been appointed to develop the plans.