Campaign launched for new Educate Together school

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to rally support for an Educate Together primary school to be built in Dublin North Central.

A pre-enrolment list for the proposed multi-denominational school was launched last week in Fairview.

A start-up group has been established to determine the level of interest for such a school in the area, which they regard as broadly covering the Clontarf, Fairview, Drumcondra, Marino, East Wall, North Strand and Whitehall areas.

The first step to opening a new Educate Together school is to demonstrate formally the demand for a school to cater for pupils of all faiths and none.

There are already 60 Educate Together non-fee paying schools dotted around the country with a further five to open in September.

Caroline Gardiner, chairperson of the start-up group, said:

“The more interest we get from parents the more likely we will get a new Educate Together school in our area.

“Our start up group is run by parents and local residents who believe that our area will benefit from having educational options that meet the needs of a diverse community.

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Marino resident Mary Rossiter, who has a one-year-old son, is among those who have already shown their support for the establishment of a new Educate Together school.

“I’d like the ethos of the Educate Together schools and I’d like my son to be able to choose his faith when he’s old enough to do so,

? she said.

“I’m Catholic and my husband is Protestant so I’d like to let my son decide what he wants himself.

“I also want him to get a good education in a nice and child-focused environment.

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Educate Together schools promote an ethos of where school children are

“equally respected, regardless of social, cultural or religious background

?.

The North Central working group advises that children will be entered on the pre-enrolment list on a first come-first served basis. Pre-enrolment for all years will be accepted.

For more information or to register your interest in the establishment of an Educate Together school in the aforementioned areas visit www.educatetogethernc.com or on the Educate Together North Central Facebook page.