Information for Parents on Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity

The Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process aims to increase the number of multi-denominational primary schools. The programme helps schools to transfer patronage from denominational (Church) patrons to multi-denominational patrons, if the school community want this. A denominational school is a school with a religious patron – the vast majority of primary schools are under Catholic patronage. A multi-denominational school is a school under a non-religious patron, where children learn about all faiths and belief systems through a multi-denominational programme. Examples include Community National Schools in the ETB sector, Educate Together schools and An Foras Pátrúnachta schools).

Irish society is increasingly diverse, and it is considered desirable that the option of accessing multi-denominational education is more widely available. You will find information here on how the government plans to increase the amount of multi-denominational schools in Ireland. We explain about transferring patronage from religious schools to multi-denominational schools, if the school community want this, and what these changes will mean. We also explain about the Department of Education and Youth's online survey for parents of primary school children and parents of children who are not yet in primary school, and hope that you take the opportunity to be involved.

The government’s policy is set out in the Programme for Government. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to seek “to increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and faith-based education”.

The aim of the schools reconfiguration process is to help schools to transfer patronage, if school communities want this, and to increase the number of multi-denominational primary schools in Ireland.

Every school has a patron. The patron determines the ethos of the school. Religious education or instruction may be provided at the school in line with the school’s ethos.

The ‘ethos’ of a school is the morals, values and beliefs of that school.

Some examples of bodies which run religious (or denominational) schools are the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. Some examples of bodies which run multi-denominational schools are Education and Training Boards, Educate Together and An Foras Pátrúnachta. Education and Training Board community national schools use a multi-belief and values education curriculum called “Goodness Me, Goodness You!”. Educate Together schools use a moral and ethical curriculum called “Learn Together”. Schools under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta have a dual ethos, the Irish language and a spiritual ethos such as multi-denominational, Catholic or inter-denominational. In their multi-denominational schools, the Croí na Scoile (Heart of the School) Programme as written by the school in collaboration with An Foras Pátrúnachta is used.

What is a ‘transfer of patronage’?

When a school changes patron, this is called a ‘transfer of patronage’. The new patron takes over responsibility for the school.

When a school transfers patronage, this can mean a change in its ethos. For example, a denominational (religious) school may become a multi-denominational school. For transfers of patronage to multi-denominational patron bodies, the school will change to a multi-denominational school. A change of ethos can take place at the same time as the transfer of patronage or can take place on a more gradual basis. For example, where each new intake of junior infants follows a multi-denominational programme, while the more senior classes continue to follow the denominational programme, until over time, all pupils are following a multi-denominational programme.

Will there be other changes to schools?

When a school transfers patronage, most aspects of school life stay the same

When a school transfers patronage: the school remains open, and staff and pupils remain in the school, operating from the existing school building.

It is envisaged that all pupils and school staff will remain with a school after a transfer of patronage has taken place.

However, where a transfer of patronage involves a change of ethos, it is possible that some parents and guardians may wish to apply to re-enrol their children in a school with a denominational ethos. It is also possible that parents and guardians of children in other denominational schools in the area may wish to apply to re-enrol their children in the school which is transferring to multi-denominational ethos. Patrons and boards of management at local level should make efforts to accommodate such requests, where feasible and in accordance with their admissions policies.

What are the different types of primary schools?

Primary schools can be English-medium schools or Irish-medium gaelscoileanna.

Primary schools include:

• Recognised mainstream primary schools and special schools, and

• non-State-funded private primary schools.

Recognised primary schools include:

• denominational schools (schools with a religious patron – the vast majority of primary schools are under Catholic patronage, for example parish schools with the local Catholic bishop as patron);

•multi-denominational schools (schools under a non-religious patron, where children learn about all faiths and belief systems through a multi-denominational programme. Examples include Community National Schools in the ETB sector, Educate Together schools and An Foras Pátrúnachta schools). Such schools do not provide religious instruction/faith formation classes during the school day); and

•inter-denominational schools (schools under the patronage of more than one religious faith patron).

Multi-denominational primary schools deliver the national curriculum in the same way as all schools, regardless of patron, and are subject to the same Department of Education and Youth rules and regulations. Children in multi-denominational schools learn about all faiths and belief systems as part of the school day. In multi-denominational schools religious instruction/faith formation classes do not take place during the school day.

As parents, you will need to discuss religious teaching with your local church. For example, for Catholic religious instruction you will also need to talk to your parish priest when preparing for First Communion and Confirmation.

Practices may be different for each school.

Examples of multi-denominational patrons

Examples of the main multi-denominational patron bodies include:

• the 16 education and training boards (ETB);
• Educate Together; and
• An Foras Pátrúnachta (patron of some Irish-medium schools).

Determining if a school is to change its patron

The current school patron decides on any transfer of patronage. Any type of school can transfer patronage. For example, a school patron may decide to transfer the patronage of a denominational (religious) school to a multi-denominational (non-religious) patron.

Each school’s transfer of patronage is unique. The wishes of parents, guardians, school staff and the school community are important in each case, as are the circumstances of the school. There may be other factors that are not mentioned here.

Primary School Survey

The Department of Education and Youth is running an online school-specific survey of primary schools. For more information click here: LINK TO LANDING PAGE HERE

If the survey shows that the majority of parents and guardians prefer a school with a multi-denominational ethos, the Department will support the school by providing a resource to help these schools to:

• decide on their preferred multi-denominational patron and
• become a multi-denominational school.

Transferring from schools which provide education through English to schools which provide education through the Irish language

Like most schools in Ireland, many schools which provide education through the Irish language have a denominational (religious) ethos. School communities may wish to change patronage to a multi-denominational patron while continuing as a school that provides education through the Irish language. This type of transfer is possible.

The Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process allows for more multi-denominational schools through either language (Irish or English). There is also an option for schools which provide education through English to transfer to become schools which provide education through Irish.

Transferring from schools which provide education through English to schools which provide education through the Irish language

Like most schools in Ireland, many schools which provide education through the Irish language have a denominational (religious) ethos. School communities may wish to change patronage to a multi-denominational patron while continuing as a school that provides education through the Irish language. This type of transfer is possible.

The Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process allows for more multi-denominational schools through either language (Irish or English). There is also an option for schools which provide education through English to transfer to become schools which provide education through Irish.

Primary school curriculum

All primary and special schools must follow the same rules set by the Department of Education and Youth. The Primary Curriculum is meant for all learners in these schools.

In March 2023, the Primary Curriculum Framework was introduced to update the curriculum. This framework aims to give children the knowledge and skills they need to handle challenges related to the environment, economy, and society.

Religious education in primary schools

At primary level, responsibility for providing religion rests with the patron bodies of individual schools and not the State. There are a number of patrons’ programmes within the primary school system reflecting the diversity of patronage.

The Primary Curriculum Framework is designed to support the learning and development of children from different religious backgrounds and of non-religious backgrounds. The curriculum covers five curriculum areas:

• Language
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education
• Wellbeing
• Arts Education
• Social and Environmental Education.

In addition to these areas, school patrons have the legal right to design their own religious education programmes that match their beliefs. This programme forms part of children’s learning experiences in primary and special schools.

The new Primary Curriculum Framework reduces the time for the Patron’s Programme

• by 50 minutes to 1 hour and 40 minutes per week for junior infants and senior infants, and
• by 30 minutes to two hours per week for 1st class to 6th class.

Denominational schools

The majority of primary schools (88.3%) are ‘denominational’ schools with a Catholic ethos. Faith formation and preparation for sacraments forms part of the school day.

Multi-denominational schools

Children in multi-denominational schools learn about all faiths and belief systems (for example atheistic and humanist values) as part of the school day.

In multi-denominational schools religious instruction/faith formation classes do not take place during the school day.

As parents, you will need to discuss religious teaching with your local church if your child is attending a multi-denominational school. For example, for Catholic religious instruction you will need to talk to your parish priest when preparing for First Communion and Confirmation. Practices may be different for each school.

Multi-denominational schools may celebrate many of the important religious and non-religious events throughout the school term, for example Christmas, Eid, Diwali or Darwin Day. They may display images in the school to reflect the different religions and beliefs of children attending the school, or mark special times of year with images and artefacts, for example, a crib at Christmas or Islamic art displays at Eid.

The arrangements we mention above vary from school to school.

Schools that have transferred their patronage

20 schools have changed patronage and/or ethos to multi-denominational in recent years. This has resulted in:

• 17 multi-denominational community national schools under the patronage of the local education and training board. This number includes three new multi-denominational schools which transferred patronage in September 2024 .
• 1 school under the patronage of Educate Together
• in 2021, an Irish-medium gaelscoil in Dublin (Scoil Chaitlín Maude) transferred patronage from its Catholic patron to An Foras Pátrúnachta.
• a gaelscoil in Gorey under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta (Gaelscoil Moshíológ) changed to a multi-denominational ethos, on a phased basis from September 2022.

Options for transition from a religious ethos to a multi-denominational ethos

Where the results of the Primary School Survey shows parents and guardians have a preference for consideration of a multi-denominational ethos, the Department will provide a facilitator with a broad knowledge of the education system to assist the school community (patron, board of management, staff, parents and guardians) in their consideration of becoming a multi-denominational school and in considering the various multi-denominational patronage options available. The facilitator can assist the school community in considering the below potential options.

Option 1

This involves the transfer of patronage and/or change of ethos to multi-denominational for the whole school community (all classes) and it starts from the date of change of patron. To date, most primary school patronage transfers have involved this option.

Example: As part of the 2022/23 engagement process with school communities in a number of pilot areas, four schools followed this option and have changed school patronage from Catholic to become multi-denominational schools. . Three became multi-denominational community national schools and one became an Educate Together school. These schools are:

• Cornamaddy Community National School in Athlone, and
• South City Community National School in Whitefriar St., Dublin 8.
• Kyle National School, Kyle, Youghal, Co Cork
• Paradise Place Primary School Dorset St. Dublin 7

Option 2

This is a gradual change of ethos to multi-denominational over time. For example, this is where each new intake of junior infants does an Ethics and Morality Programme, while the more senior classes continue to follow the denominational programme. Eventually, all pupils follow the multi-denominational programme.

Example: Gaelscoil Moshíológ in Gorey (a gaelscoil under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta) changed to a multi-denominational ethos on a phased basis from September 2022.

Option 3

This is where some school patrons are willing to offer parents of junior infants the choice for their children to do either an Ethics and Morality Programme or a denominational programme.

Some multi-denominational patrons are willing to support some, but not all, of the above options.

The most suitable option for each school will depend on the wishes of the school community, and the views of the outgoing and incoming patrons.

Support from Catholic patrons

Some Catholic Bishops have already facilitated transfers of patronage, as have some Church of Ireland Bishops.

Representatives of Catholic patrons have stated that ‘Bishops would like to move as quickly as possible to a situation in which the State supports parents with the provision of schools whose ethos genuinely reflects what they want for their children.’

Catholic patrons have indicated that they support an educational landscape which reflects the reality of the increasingly diverse society in our country, and that a true plurality of patronage across the country should ensure parental choice whilst enabling patrons to be true to their own ethos and characteristic spirit.