Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School opens for the first time

Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School opened its doors for the first time this week to first year students.

Temporarily located in the Sandymount Building on Simmonscourt Road, Dublin 4, the school will be able to cater for around 1,000 students when fully established.

It’s permanent home is earmarked for the site of Abilene House, Newtonpark Avenue in Blackrock and due to the temporary accommodation being located outside of the school’s catchment area, the Department of Education has agreed to fund a school bus that will collect and drop off students at various stops in Dun Laoghaire, Booterstown and Blackrock.

This brings the total number of Educate Together schools in Ireland to 116 schools – 95 primary and 21 second-level – providing equality-based education to over 34,000 students.

Blackrock ETSS Principal Donal Evoy said on the opening: “I am looking forward to leading the vibrant Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School community where students will be inspired with a love of learning in a school with the highest academic standards and where every student achieves their potential in an atmosphere defined by respect, democracy and inclusion.”

Emer Nowlan, CEO of Educate Together said she would like to “pay tribute to the school managers, principal, staff, and local community who have gone above and beyond to ensure this school will open safely in the context of challenging circumstances posed by covid-19 restrictions.

“They have found innovative ways to overcome many challenges and create a welcoming and safe environment for young people, and they deserve enormous credit.”