North Mon pulls plans to enrol infant boys

The North Monastery primary school in Cork has withdrawn controversial plans to start teaching infant boys, but its board hopes agreement can be reached with local schools on future enrolments in time for September 2015.

The decision not to go ahead with enrolling junior infants at Scoil Mhuire Fatima followed a meeting with Catholic Bishop of Cork John Buckley and the boards of two other schools in the city’s North Cathedral parish last Friday.

St Vincent’s and North Presentation, two girls’ schools which both teach boys up to first class before most move on to Scoil Mhuire Fatima, had voiced concerns over the plans.