Religious patrons to have 'ultimate say' on ethos of primary school, says minister

Hildegarde Naughton confirmed that there will be no obligation on religious-run schools to switch to a non-religious ethos. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Religious patrons will have the "ultimate say" on whether a primary school changes its ethos, according to the education minister, as a landmark survey finds strong demand for more multi-denominational education.

Speaking at the second day of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) conference, Hildegarde Naughton confirmed that there will be no obligation on religious-run schools to switch to a non-religious ethos.

It comes as schools are set to receive individualised reports in the coming weeks, outlining the preferences of local parents on the school's patronage.

Preliminary findings from a landmark survey published by the Department of Education on Tuesday suggest that 40% of parents with children in religious-run, denominational schools have expressed a preference for multi-denominational education.

Initial data from 200,000 households suggests strong demand for more multi-denominational education, but results are expected to vary depending on individual school communities.

The vast majority of primary schools (88.3%) remain under Catholic patronage, with local bishops acting as patrons.

A further 6.2% operate under other denominations, mainly Church of Ireland, while just 5.5% of schools are multi-denominational, and operate under non-religious patrons.

On Tuesday, the minister confirmed that there will be no obligation from the Department of Education on religious-run schools to divest their patronage, even if there is high demand expressed by local parents.

"It will be up to the local school to decide themselves on that," she said. "Working with the school patron, obviously the board of management. The patron [will] have the ultimate say but this is about parental choice."

However, Ms Naughton stressed that there is data for the first time that captures a "real picture" of the individual choice of local communities when it comes to their local primary school.

"I don't want to speak for the bishops but our patrons across the country recognise that there are different preferences by parents across the country. This is a way of really giving that information to a school. The results that came out today are at a national level, at a county level.” 

There is an “appetite” among patrons, she added.  “They recognise there is a change out there across the country.” She added that she believes its really important when we are looking at change that's its “evidence-based”.

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“That parents and guardians who have children in primary schools currently, and parents who have children about to go into primary school, that they are expressing an interest, so that the school authorities can hear what that preference is, and the department will come in and facilitate it."

Guidance will be issued to schools from the department on how to interpret their specific data when the individualised reports are sent out. A process will then be open for schools who wish to change their ethos.

The Department of Education said schools will receive clear explanatory guidance to help them interpret their results. A good response rate at individual school level will also be relevant in assessing parental preferences.

Ms Naughton said particular counties, villages or towns may be “completely different” to the overall national figures. "It's going to be, I think, very interesting information for individual schools that will be issued to them in the month of May."