=expectationlost wrote: » What are those yellow dots and in this blue dots https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Establishing-a-New-School/New-Primary-Schools/Patronage-Assessment-Report-to-the-New-Schools-Establishment-Group-Assessment-report-for-Swords.pdf
The Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board has not demonstrated viable parental demand for its model type even including children from outside the feeder area. The Educational Society of Ireland has demonstrated the greater level of demand for its model type. Its expressions of interest do not include prospective pupils from outside the feeder area. However, the demand for the model proposed is not strong enough for a viable school. The demand for a viable new multidenominational, English medium school under the patronage of either applicant has not been demonstrated. Recommendation: It is clear that the models proposed by the applicants do not have sufficient parental support to sustain either a school of the size required to cater for the increasing demographics of the area (16 classrooms i.e. a two stream junior infant intake) or two individual eight-classroom schools with a single junior infant intake each. The establishment of a school on foot of the applications received could, therefore, leave a large level of unmet demand for school places in this area. In the circumstances, the Department recommends that a review of the need to establish the school in 2014 should be carried out with existing patrons in the area. If deemed necessary, the patronage determination process should be re-run for the establishment of the school in 2014, otherwise defer until 2015. In re-running the process the Department will discuss, with prospective patrons, possible means of promoting greater awareness of and participation in the process among parents.
Bristolscale7 wrote: » Is Educate Together bankrupt? I heard they're asking schools for a 'voluntary contribution' of €1000--this on top of the existing membership fee (or whatever it's called) per student.
Dades wrote: » All schools "ask" for voluntary contributions.
recedite wrote: » AFAIK those dots are the locations of the households having kids of the relevant age, and having their names down for schools in the area. The year they are due to start school is shown in the legend of the map, with slightly different shades for each year. The bigger dots are the existing schools, showing their ID or roll number. That 2013 Swords patronage report in your link shows that the whole process was a shambles, and a waste of time and money. Only two patrons applied, and the public were not interested in either of them. The Dept. puts far too much emphasis on increasing the "diversity" of different schools in the country. They always include the question "Will the applicant patron(s) provide a school with an ethos not already catered for in the area?" This means that an existing school type in an area is ineligible or disadvantaged, even if it is popular and successful. A wacky new type of school automatically ticks the right boxes, even if nobody wants it. These two patrons were looking for control of a 16 classroom public school, but they only had 24 and 57 supporters respectively. This was the conclusion in the report; The building of the new school seems to have been deferred as a result, even though it was badly needed locally. Its about time we gave up this patronage lark altogether, and came up with a new standard model of state public school. Diverse private patrons shouldn't even be considered until everyone has access to a trusted standard type of state public school.
expectationlost wrote: » couldn't quite believe they'd mark where kids lived on public map, although its not that precise.
recedite wrote: » Presumably ET is considered to be a private charitable organisation, and the accounts are available somewhere. Like any other charity, the people who support it have to decide themselves whether they think the income:expenses ratio is reasonable.
lazygal wrote: » Schools also have to publish their accounts AFAIK, so parents can check what donations are being made.
Equal school access and the Proclamation Sir, – As Diarmaid Ferriter points out (“The 1916 proclamation has many uses and misuses”, March 12th) this week saw Proclamation Day marked in primary schools throughout the country. The Department of Education has said “a major focus on Proclamation Day should be the unveiling and reading of each school’s own Proclamation for a new generation”. One wonders whether this focus on a new Proclamation is because of the failure of our education system to live up to the ideals of the original document. Historians such as Mr Ferriter may debate the nuances of the phrase “cherishing all the children of the nation equally” but to me it seems pretty clear. A 21st-century democracy that continues to uphold such legislation – the sole purpose of which is to discriminate against and segregate four-year-olds on the basis of religion – cannot be said to cherish its children equally. Section 7 of the Equal Status Act is drafted quite deliberately to confer huge educational advantages on children of a particular religion, most obviously Catholic. The fact is 96 per cent of taxpayer-funded primary schools are entitled under that law to turn away children on the basis of religion – in most schools religion is the top enrolment criterion when over-subscribed. Not only is the philosophy underpinning such legislation wholly in opposition to that espoused in the Proclamation, it has real and practical effects beyond mere ideology. Every year, schools really do turn away children of the “wrong” religion. Moreover, to avoid such a consequence, parents throughout the country are compelled by this Republic to baptise their children under duress. It is noteworthy that the original Proclamation goes on to say that the “Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens”. Is it any wonder the Department of Education is diverting attention away from this document in our primary schools? – Yours, etc, PADDY MONAHAN Raheny, Dublin.
‘Curriculum overload’ fears threaten religion class plans Teaching would be separate to existing faith-based classes in primary schools
The planned classes would be separate to existing faith-based classes in denominational schools, which typically take up about half an hour of the school day. It is intended the curriculum would focus on learning about the major forms of religions, traditions and views of people around the world, including secular beliefs.
Cabaal wrote: » http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/curriculum-overload-fears-threaten-religion-class-plans-1.2601046 The solution is very simple, you replace the current catholic religion class with a general religion class. This ensures schools make best use of the available time.
In a highly critical submission, a group of six academics affiliated to teacher-training institutes – including Prof Eamonn Conway of Mary Immaculate College in Limerick – says the proposals would undermine faith schools’ religious instruction and characteristic spirit. “On the basis of our analysis we cannot recommend to the patrons of faith-based schools the introduction of this curriculum in any of the ways suggested by the NCCA.”
Delirium wrote: » also noteworthy in that link:
As a result of discussion with the aforementioned bodies and bearing in mind the conditions listed above, the following criteria have been drawn up (noting age appropriateness in each case) in descending order. 1. Siblings of children currently enrolled in the school [including step-siblings and foster children, resident at the same address] and children of staff members.2. Catholic children in the catchment area of the school (Ref:Appendix 1) 3. Catholic Children living outside the catchment area but in close proximity to the school. (Ref: Appendix 2) 4. Children in the catchment area of the school (Ref:Appendix 1)5. Catholic Children living in the Greater Mullingar area with parents who were past pupils of St Colmcille’s given priority.
Liamario wrote: » Serious question- This is the enrolment criteria for a local school- To me, this quite strongly restricts non catholic children from attending the school.
One eyed Jack wrote: » What's the question?
Liamario wrote: » Well, is this legal? Are they allowed to totally restrict children outside catholicism.
Cabaal wrote: » Yes they can do this and people like Jack are happy with it.
One eyed Jack wrote: » Ah! Yep, it's absolutely legal and above board.
The Minister may prescribe selection criteria that schools shall be permitted to apply and/or selection criteria that schools shall be prohibited from applying in cases where the number of students seeking admission to the school is greater than the number of places available at the school. The selection criteria that schools shall be prohibited from applying may include criteria based on the following: • a student’s connection to a school by virtue of his/her relationship with a specified category or categories of person; • a student’s prior attendance at a specified category or categories of pre-school or pre-school service; • the payment of fees or contributions to the school; • the occupation or financial status of the parents of a student; • a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude; • a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission; • the date on which an application for admission was received by the school.
The Bill was due to be enacted before the Government’s term ends, but Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan signalled last week that it will be shelved.
ENROLMENT CRITERIA The criteria listed below have been drawn up after consultation with the School Patron and the Board of Management. While recognising the rights of parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice, the school also has a duty to respect the rights of the existing school community, and in particular, the children already enrolled. In the drawing up of the criteria listed certain factors must be taken into account •Date of Birth •Number of class places available according to the Department of Education and Science directive for the September of each enrolment year. This criteria is subject to the approval of the Board of Management •When maximum class size has been reached this quota cannot be breached in any circumstances. •Size of /space available in classrooms •Ethos of the school
Age appropriateness of all applicants will be an overriding factor for all classes. ENROLING IN CLASSES FROM SENIOR INFANTS TO SIXTH CLASS Parents wishing to enrol in classes other than Junior Infants may be accommodated under the following additional criteria: •Number of children in relevant class. Class places are determined according to the Department of Education and Skills directive for the September of each enrolment year. This criteria is subject to the approval of the Board of Management •The maximum in any particular class for the school year 2016/17 will be 32 as decided by the BOM in November 2014. •The maximum number of pupils in this school in its entirety as set by the Board for the school year 2016-2017 will be 241. • Letter of release from current school.
Liamario wrote: » They may have preference for catholic children, but as it's a public school, I don't think they can fully restrict non catholic children attending where there are spaces available.
Liamario wrote: » I seriously doubt it's entirely legal.
Article 44 wrote: 2 1° Freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and morality, guaranteed to every citizen. 2° The State guarantees not to endow any religion.3° The State shall not impose any disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious profession, belief or status.
5° Every religious denomination shall have the right to manage its own affairs, own, acquire and administer property, movable and immovable, and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes.
They may have preference for catholic children, but as it's a public school, I don't think they can fully restrict non catholic children attending where there are spaces available.
One eyed Jack wrote: » ...I've also said that a school should be able to maintain and promote their ethos without interference from the State.....
One eyed Jack wrote: » I've never suggested I was happy with it as I believe that no children should be denied an education on the basis of their parents religious beliefs or philosophy.
There have to be criteria in place because schools resources are limited, and in a religious ethos school, it makes sense to restrict enrolment to parents who's religious beliefs or philosophy or values are in line with the ethos of the school.
