Educate Together

Educate Together
Name	Educate Together
Founded	1984
Headquarters	Dublin
Type	Voluntary organisation
Region served	Republic of Ireland
Focus	Primary education, Second-level education

Educate Together is an Irish co-educational patron body that establishes and manages state-funded schools with a multi-denominational ethos. It was founded in the 1980s in response to demand for schools that avoid denominational control, drawing on influences from reform movements and civic campaigns across Ireland, Europe, and international models such as Waldorf education critiques and secular school movements. The organisation has developed an expanding network of primary and second-level schools, engages with statutory actors, and has been the subject of public debate involving religious institutions, political parties, and educational unions.

History

The movement emerged amid debates in the 1970s and 1980s concerning school patronage tied to the Catholic Church in Ireland, alongside efforts by parents and activists associated with groups like National Parents and Saviours Association and community organisations influenced by examples from Scotland, England, and Finland. Founders included local campaigners and educators who petitioned county councils and the Department of Education (Ireland) for alternative patronage models. Early milestones included the establishment of the first multi-denominational primary schools in urban and suburban areas, legal interactions with the Constitution of Ireland provisions on education, and negotiations with diocesan bodies over school buildings formerly under Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin control. Expansion accelerated after policy changes in the 1990s and 2000s, paralleled by patronage transfer mechanisms introduced under ministers such as Ruairi Quinn and Michael Woods (Irish politician). The organisation later diversified into second-level provision and contributed to public consultations associated with the Education Act 1998 and reforms overseen by the Teaching Council (Ireland).

Organisational Structure and Governance

The body is governed by an elected board and national directors who oversee policy, compliance, and patronage applications, interacting with statutory agencies including the Department of Education (Ireland), Pobal, and local authorities like Dublin City Council. Governance structures include regional committees, school-specific boards of management aligned with provisions from the Education Act 1998, and elected parent nominees mirroring practice in bodies such as the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Schools. Leadership has included figures drawn from academia, civil society, and corporate sectors who liaise with unions such as the Teachers' Union of Ireland and the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland. Oversight mechanisms incorporate child safeguarding policies influenced by legislation like the Children First Act 2015 and audits by bodies comparable to the Irish Audit and Examination Unit.

Educational Ethos and Curriculum

The organisation promotes a pluralist, child-centred ethos emphasising equality, democracy, and respect for diversity, articulated in curricula consistent with the Primary School Curriculum (Ireland) and the Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle frameworks. Schools implement an ethics and belief programme comparable to approaches in Northern Ireland alternative provision debates and draw on pedagogical resources used in progressive schools influenced by Maria Montessori and international comparative studies from institutions such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Religious education within member schools is non-denominational and accommodates families from faith communities including Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, Church of Ireland, Islam in Ireland, Judaism in Ireland, and non-religious backgrounds, while aligning assessment and qualifications with the State Examinations Commission requirements.

Schools and Services

The network comprises primary schools, multi-denominational second-level schools, and an outreach and training arm that supports school start-ups, leadership development, and patronage applications. Schools operate across urban centres and counties including Dublin, Cork (city), Galway (city), Limerick, Waterford, and commuter towns where demand for alternative patrons rose alongside demographic change and housing development. Services include professional development for principals and teachers, governance training for boards, and liaison with bodies like the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The organisation has also engaged in capital projects, negotiations over school sites with county councils, and partnership initiatives with community organisations and voluntary groups such as local development companies.

Admissions and Funding

Schools under this patronage are state-funded and follow admissions policies consistent with statutory directives from the Department of Education (Ireland) and codes applied to patron bodies across Ireland. Admissions policies aim to be inclusive, applying criteria that avoid religious prioritisation while complying with legislation and statutory circulars. Funding sources include annual allocations from the State, capital grants administered via agencies akin to Pobal, and community fundraising; staffing and teacher allocation follow protocols used by the Department of Education (Ireland) and collective agreements involving unions like the Irish National Teachers' Organisation.

Impact, Criticism, and Controversies

The expansion of the patron body has been influential in debates over denominational control of schools, prompting responses from the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, political parties such as Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, and advocacy groups representing religious and secular constituencies. Supporters cite increased parental choice, diversity, and inclusive ethos citing comparative results from assessments by bodies like the Education Research Centre (Ireland). Critics have raised concerns about community cohesion, the use of school sites formerly associated with religious patrons, and potential segregation; controversies have involved media outlets including RTÉ, local newspapers, and parliamentary questions in the Oireachtas. Legal and policy disputes have occasionally required mediation with local authorities and statutory bodies, and the organisation continues to feature in broader national discussions on patronage reform and pluralism in public provision.

Category:Education in the Republic of Ireland