How are Educate Together Schools different?
In Ireland, the fundamental operational policies of State-funded primary schools are determined by their “Patrons” In most cases (98%) the patron is the local bishop of either the Roman Catholic or Anglican Church. However, in Educate Together schools, the patron is a company whose legal basis obliges it to operate schools that guarantee equality of access and esteem to children “irrespective of their social, cultural or religious backgrounds”. This is the fundamental difference. Educate Together schools are also “parent initiated schools”. They are set up by groups of parents who wish for this type of school in their locality. As a result there is a high level of parental participation in the operation of the school. The corporate nature of Educate Together as a patron means that all its actions are bound by its legal articles. Each school is a member of the company and so there is transparency, accountability and democratic involvement by the school communities in the decisions it ma
