About Us

Within the Irish National School System, responsibility for determining the ethos of a school rests with the “Patron”. The main legislation that governs education in Ireland (the Education Act 1998) confers significant powers on school patrons.

Amongst other powers, the Patron:-

• establishes a new school
• sets up its Board of Management
• selects the first Principal before the school opens
• directly appoints two members of the Board, approves the selection of other members and appoints the Chairperson
• approves the appointment of all teaching staff
• lays down the fundamental ethos base of the board.

The fundamental legal concept of Educate Together’s patronage is that the Board of an Educate Together school is bound to operate a school that delivers equality of access and esteem to all children, irrespective of their social, cultural and religious background.

The legal documents of Educate Together commit both the Patron and the Board of all schools to uphold the following principles.

All schools should be:

• Multi-denominational i.e. all children having equal rights of access to the school, and children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds being equally respected
• Co-educational and committed to encouraging all children to explore their full range of abilities and opportunities
• Child centred in their approach to education
• Democratically run with active participation by parents in the daily life of the school, whilst positively affirming the professional role of the teachers.

For further information you can also check the Educate Together website –http://www.educatetogether.ie/

The Educate Together Ethos is based on the Charter.

Recalling Article 26.3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

“Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children”   and Article 42.4 of the Bunreacht na hÉireann (Constitution of Ireland):

The state shall provide for free primary education and shall endeavour to supplement and give reasonable aid to private and corporate educational initiative, and, when the public good requires it, provide other educational facilities or institutions with due regard, however, for the rights of parents, especially in the matter of religious and moral formation”, and recognising:

1.1 That many parents have a valid preference for schools in which boys and girls of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds can be educated together in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect,

1.2 That the multi-denominational schools established under the banner of Educate Together are a distinctive response to the growing demand for such an option within the Irish educational system, Educate Together affirms that:

2.1 Children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds have a right to an education that respects their individual identity whilst exploring the different values and traditions of the world in which they live,

2.2 Parents are entitled to participate actively in decisions that affect the education of their children. In particular, they have the right to decide what kind of school reflects their conscience and lawful preference,

2.3 Multi-denominational schools have the right to be treated no less favourably than other schools within the Irish educational system, in accordance with their needs and their identity,

2.4 The state has a duty to take the identity of the multi-denominational sector fully into account when deciding on policy that affects the establishment and development of schools,

and Commits itself to:

3.1 Support the establishment of schools which are, Multi-denominational i.e. all children having equal rights of access to the school, and children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds being equally respected, Co-educational and committed to encouraging all children to explore their full range of abilities and opportunities, Child centred in their approach to education, Democratically run with active participation by parents in the daily life of the school, whilst positively affirming the professional role of the teachers, in any area where the demand for such a school exists,

3.2 Promote fuller awareness and recognition of the identity of the multi-denominational sector at all levels in Irish society and abroad,

3.3 Participate in appropriate structures and activities concerned with the future development of education in Ireland and abroad,

3.4 Promote a future where multi-denominational education will be as freely available to parents as any other educational option they may choose. Formally launched on 12th May 1990 at the Aula Maxima, University College Galway, Ireland. Amended on April 17th 1999 at the first Annual General Meeting of Educate Together, Bray Co. Wicklow. © Educate Together, 2004 Vision Statement “We are working towards an Ireland in which all people have access to an excellent education that is inclusive of all, irrespective of belief system, race, ethnicity, class, culture, gender, language, lifestyle and ability.”

In an Educate Together school, the daily period of time set aside for the patron’s religious education programme is used to deliver our Ethical Education Curriculum. This programme is called the “Learn Together” curriculum and is published by Education Together. It is subject to review and development by the Education Committee and decisions at Annual General Meetings of the organisation. A copy of the curriculum is available from the school or from Educate Together.

The programme is divided into four strands

Moral and Spiritual Development

Justice and Equality

Belief Systems

Ethics and the Environment

The curriculum specifically addresses the Educate Together ethos and it is here that the values that the school seeks to model in its ‘characteristic spirit’ are articulated and explained in greater depth.

In the strand called ‘Belief Systems’, the programme explains and explores the major belief systems win the world in an educational manner, teaching children about these faiths and beliefs without endorsing any particular one as religious truth. During the year, an Educate Together school may mark – in an age appropriate way – festivals such as Chinese New Year, Easter, Bealtaine, Hindu Festival of Lights (Diwali), Harvest Festivals, Samhain (Halloween), Ramadan and Eid, Hannuka and Christmas. The programme allows the school to explore the similarities and differences with the older celebrations that underlie many of these festivals. Examples would be the Celtic festivals and practices that underpin Easter of the solstice festivals that occur around Christmas.

 It is normal that the treatment of these events becomes integrated into the whole school programme, involving drama, art, music, history and geography and also in many cases, parental and community participation. This may mean exploring wider cultural themes such as cuisine and family celebrations. The range of such activities is determined by the school.

 The educational aim of this work is to model positive information about world faiths in a respectful atmosphere which highlights rights and responsibilities.