Parents urged to help decide who will run their new school

WITH just days to go before the deadline, campaigners are determined to bring an Educate Together national school to the Southside.

Parents and carers living in the Sallynoggin, Killiney, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and Cherrywood can join an Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) hosted by the Department of Education and Skills.

The data gathered will be used to decide the patronage of the area's new primary school, scheduled to open in 2020.

The brand new school will eventually extend to 16 classrooms. Interested parents and carers of children should visit the website www.patronage.education.gov.ie/ before Sunday, December 22.

Gregg McDonald of the local Educate Together National School campaign group, said: “The ethos of Educate Together schools most closely aligns with our family values of inclusion and diversity.

“I'm really looking forward to working towards bringing an Educate Together primary school to my community.”

At primary level Educate Together has over 40 years’ experience of providing an education based on human rights and that welcomes all children regardless of religious, social or cultural background.

Parents can find out more at https://www.educatetogether.ie/campaigns/sallynoggin-killiney-202.

Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) has also applied to the Department of Education and Skills to be patron of the new primary school due to open in Cherrywood-Sallynoggin-Killiney in September 2020.

The State's Community National School (CNS) model is the only one that has been developed in the 21st century.

"We have an outstanding track record across Dublin,” said patronage officer David McGuinness.

"We currently manage 37 schools across Dublin. What will not surprise anyone in South Dublin is that our schools prioritise excellence in education, equality, and community and multi-denominational education.

“Our schools are also technologically advanced and are designed to prepare students for the many diverse needs of a modern society.”

The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh, has designated that the new primary in South Dublin will be determined by parents who live in the outlined area who have children under five years of age.

The online patronage process system will help determine the new school patron.

Minister McHugh urged parents and guardians to give their views on patronage for a total  of four primary schools being established next year.

Parents and guardians of children who are due to enrol in primary school from 2020-2024 in parts of Dublin are being invited to complete the online survey.

The new post-primary schools will be established in September 2020 following the Government’s commitment to invest heavily in education, with the establishment of 44 new schools in total between 2019 and 2022.

The online survey will remain open until December 22 for the four primary schools which will serve Carrigaline (16 classrooms), Donabate (16) Newcastle Rathcoole/Saggart/Citywest (8) and Sallynoggin Killiney DLR/Cherrywood (16). classrooms.

“The size of the schools will be based on identified need but will also be responsive to patronage demand,” the department stated.