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FAQ for Parents

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You’re sure to have questions when it comes to Community National Schools and reconfiguration. You might want to know does it effect the curriculum in primary schools? Is inclusive education considered at multi-denominational schools? The Department of Education put a very useful guide together to demystify what reconfiguration for diversity will actually mean for your child and location. You can download the booklet in full here.

What is meant by patronage?

Patronage of a school refers to a person or body that manages a school, which is known as the school’s patron. The patron appoints the board of management to manage the operation of the school. The patron also determines the ethos and characteristic spirit of the 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. 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.

Are primary schools curriculums the same in all schools?

All State-funded primary schools follow a common national curriculum and are subject to the same rules and regulations. Currently at primary level, Religious Education is one of 12 subjects in the 1999 Primary School Curriculum, with schools currently required to allocate thirty minutes per day for religious instruction. Religious Education holds a unique position in that the responsibility for providing a programme of Religious Education rests with the patron bodies of individual schools and not the State. This means that the content of the religious education programme in a particular primary school is determined by the patron of the school.

What happens in multi-denominational schools?

Curriculum: Multi-denominational schools deliver the national curriculum in the same way as all schools, regardless of patron, and are subject to the same rules and regulations. The Irish language is nurtured in children attending multi-denominational schools in the same way as children attending other primary schools.
The celebration of religious festivals such as Christmas: Multi-denominational schools may celebrate many of the important religious and non-religious events that take place throughout the year such as Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Eid, Vaisakhi, Holi, Darwin Day and other festivals. . Arrangements can vary from school to school.

What is Reconfiguration?

The Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity Process aims to provide more multi-denominational schools, in line with the choices of families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment. When a school transfers from one patron to another, the school remains open (with the same roll number and operating from the same school property), with staff and pupils remaining in place. Government policy as set out in the Programme for Government is to expand and prioritise the transfer of viable schools to Education and Training Board Community National Schools

How are schools selected for Reconfiguration?

To provide choice for parents, it is hoped that in places, such as towns or areas of cities where there are a number of denominational schools but no multi-denominational schools, a process can be agreed whereby the existing majority patron (the relevant Catholic Bishop in most cases) can engage with the Department and the local community to identify a suitable school for reconfiguration. For more information on the reconfiguration procedure, click HERE