Reconfiguration/transfer of patronage to multi-denominational patronage FAQ

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.

Working in agreement with communities, some schools will transfer to multi-denominational patrons. 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. The table below shows the ethos of primary schools in Ireland today:

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

To support Irish society changes, it is important to consider the option of making schools with a multi-denominational ethos more widely available, where the school community supports this.

Parents decide which school to send their children to for a wide variety of different reasons and ethos can be an important factor for some.

There is demand for schools that don’t have a denominational/religious ethos at their core.

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”.

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

All primary schools are being included in the survey to get a full picture of school community preferences at primary school level. Denominational school communities (such as those under the patronage of other Church bodies such as the Church of Ireland) cater for minority faith communities, represent a small proportion of primary schools and add to the diversity of primary school options available to parents.

Patronage of a school refers to a person or body that manages a school, which is known as the school’s patron.

All recognised primary schools (irrespective of patron):

• follow the national curriculum
• follow the Department of Education rules and regulations
• have a school patron.

The school patron appoints a Board of Management to manage the school on their behalf. The patron also decides on the ethos of the school. Religious education or instruction may be provided at the school in line with its ethos.

Some examples of bodies which run denominational schools (schools with a religious patron) are the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. Some examples of bodies which run multi-denominational schools (schools with a non-religious patron where children learn about all faith and belief systems through a multi-denominational programme) are Education and Training Boards, Educate Together and An Foras Pátrúnachta.

Community National Schools (ETB sector) 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.

Children in multi-denominational schools learn about all faiths and belief systems, including atheistic and humanist perspectives, as part of the school day. In multi-denominational schools faith formation classes (for example, preparation for First Penance/ Holy Communion/ Confirmation) do not take place during the school day.

In denominational primary schools , a Christian ethos permeates the school day and the life of the school. Arrangements for faith formation and faith formation classes (for example, preparation for First Penance/ Holy Communion/ Confirmation), in schools under Catholic patronage are a matter for the patrons themselves and faith formation and preparation for sacraments forms part of the school day.

All recognised primary schools (irrespective of patron):

• follow the national curriculum
• follow the Department of Education rules and regulations
• have a school patron.

Some examples of bodies which run denominational schools (schools with a religious patron) are the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. Some examples of bodies which run multi-denominational schools (schools with a non-religious patron where children learn about all faith and belief systems through a multi-denominational programme) are Education and Training Boards, Educate Together and An Foras Pátrúnachta.

The vast majority of primary schools are under Catholic patronage and this informs the ethos of the school. In line with this, a Christian ethos permeates the school day and the life of the school. Arrangements for faith formation and faith formation classes, for example preparation for First Communion & Confirmation, in schools under religious (Church) patronage are a matter for the patrons themselves and faith formation and preparation for sacraments forms part of the school day.

Children in multi-denominational schools learn about all faiths and belief systems, including atheistic and humanist perspectives, as part of the school day.

For example, Community National Schools (ETB sector) 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 the Irish language as their ethos 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.

In multi-denominational schools faith formation classes (for example, preparation for First Penance/ Holy Communion/ Confirmation) do not take place during the school day.

All recognised primary schools (irrespective of patron):

• follow the national curriculum
• follow the Department of Education rules and regulations
• have a school patron.

Click here to play the recordings of the representatives of the Catholic patrons and of the main multi-denominational patron bodies and their school communities describing how their schools operate. (add link to recorded statements here)

Some examples of bodies which run multi-denominational schools are the 16 Education and Training Board Community National Schools, Educate Together and An Foras Pátrúnachta.

Click here to play the recordings of representatives of the main multi-denominational patron bodies and their school communities describing how their schools operate. (add link to recorded statements here)

The websites of the main multi-denominational patron bodies are available here: (add links to home pages of ETBI, ET & AFP here)

Main multi-denominational patron’s curriculum

• Educate Together multi-denominational primary schools
• Multi-denominational Community National Schools (ETB sector): Goodness Me, Goodness you
• An Foras Pátrúnachta multi-denominational primary schools

Where can I hear from principals, staff and parents of schools which have changed to a multi-denominational ethos?

Click here to play this recording of the main multi-denominational patron bodies and their school communities describing how their schools operate. (add link to recorded statements here)

Links to the main multi-denominational patron bodies website are here: (insert)

For more information please see the information for parents and guardians on An Foras Pátrúnachta www.foras.ie

Community National Schools www.cns.ie

Educate Together www.educatetogether.ie

Education and Training Boards

For more information please see the information for parents and guardians on

www.gov.ie/schoolsreconfiguration

Catholic patrons have indicated that they are supportive of 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.

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”.

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

To view a video recording of the representatives of the Catholic school patrons and of the main multi-denominational school patrons expressing their support for this work and encouraging parents, guardians and school staff to complete a survey, click here: Patron reps and school community recordings

There are a number of options for a change to a multi-denominational ethos if parents and guardians want this. The Department of Education 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

• Transfer of patronage and change of ethos takes effect for the whole school community from the date of change of patron. The majority of primary school patronage transfers which have taken place in recent years have followed this option.

Option 2

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

Option 3

• Some school patrons may be willing to offer parents of junior infants the choice of undertaking an Ethics and Morality Programme, and, for parents who so choose, a denominational programme is provided.

The most suitable option for each school will depend on the wishes of the school community, and the views of the incoming patron. Some multi-denominational patrons are willing to support some, but not all, of the above potential options.

What happens if the majority of parents and guardians of children want change for their school?

If the survey shows that the majority of parents and guardians of children attending a primary school prefer a multi-denominational ethos.

the Department will support the school by providing a facilitator with a broad knowledge of the education system to help these schools move towards their preference.

For schools on a change journey, the overall results of the staff and board of management survey will provide useful information and will help shape the school community engagement by the facilitator.

What happens in a scenario where a minority of parents and guardians want change?

In cases where the survey shows a minority of the parents and guardians of children attending a primary school have a preference for change and a majority of the parents and guardians of future pupils of that school also express an interest in change , the Department will facilitate a discussion at a local level to examine if there is scope for a possible phased introduction to meet this demand.

For example, a phased introduction of a multi-denominational ethos is where each new intake of junior infants follow a multi-denominational Ethics and Morality Programme, while the more senior classes continue to follow the Catholic programme until, over time, all pupils are following the multi-denominational Ethics and Morality Programme.

For schools on a change journey, the overall results of the staff and board of management survey will provide useful information and will help shape the school community engagement by the facilitator.

To take account that in a number of years the parents of incoming pupils will be the school parent body at that time and that many of the current parents may not have children still in primary school at that stage, it is intended that a further, school-specific survey will be conducted in the 2028/29 school year.