Patronage Assessment Report to the New Schools Establishment Group Assessment Report for Sandymount Ringsend

7/29/2019 Patronage Assessment Report to the New Schools Establishment Group Assessment Report for Sandymount Ringsend

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New Primary Schools 2014

Patronage Assessment Report to the New Schools Establishment Group

Assessment report for: Sandymount/Ringsend Attachment no. 3 to Report

Forward Planning Section, Department of Education and Skills

September 2013


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New primary Schools 2014 Assessment of Applications for Patronage

Location: Sandymount/Ringsend Area. See attached map of area to be served

Year Required: 2014

School Size required: Long term projected need up to 16 classrooms (2 stream junior infant intake)Applications Received: Three applications have been received to establish the new school for the Sandymount/Ringsendarea. A brief profile of each of the applicants together with a synopsis of the school types proposed is set out hereunder:

An Foras Ptrnachta

Profile of applicantAn Foras Ptrnachta is a national patronage system founded in 1993 to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish

throughout the country. Currently 59 primary schools and 3 post primary schools operate under the patronage of An Foras.

School type proposedAn Foras Ptrnachta proposes the establishment of a multidenominational, co-educational, Irish medium school.

Educational Society of Ireland

Profile of applicantEducational Society of Ireland commenced operation in 2004. It comprises people from various different backgrounds and ethnic origins

familiar with the educational system either professionally, academically, as business people or as parents.

The legal status of the organisation is not known.

It is involved in a home school study program and core and enrichment classes. The organisation supports high achievers.

The Educational Society of Ireland is not a recognised patron currently.

School type proposedThe Educational Society of Ireland proposes a multidenominational, multi-cultural, co-educational, English medium school.


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Educate Together

Profile of applicantEducate Together is the representative organisation of the Educate Together schools and associations throughout the Country. It is the patron

body for some 60 primary schools and it is advanced in its plans to open its first second-level school. The organisation became a companylimited by guarantee in 1998 and has charitable status.

School type proposedEducate Together proposes a multi denominational school which would co-educational teaching through the medium of English.

Demographic information

Child benefit data for the area suggests that 445 children could commence primary school in 2014. This compares with 336 pupils enrolled in

junior infants for the 2012/13 school year, which is a difference of 109 pupils.


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Assessment of applications

1. Requirements

Has the applicant Patron(s) confirmed that they will comply with the requirements as set out: (comment if necessary in regard to any

requirement)- Is willing to accept and open special education facilities

- Is willing to have up to three streams subject to demand for the school

- Is willing to enter into the standard lease agreement with DES (or otherwise provide their own site)

- Is willing to operate by the rules and regulations laid down by various DES circulars and operating procedures and to follow the

prescribed curriculum

- Is willing to operate the school within the resourcing and policy parameters established by the DES

- Is willing to be part of a campus development with other primary or second level schools as identified by the Department

- Is willing to enrol children in the area for whom the Department has identified the need for a school

An Foras Ptrnachtaapplicant has confirmed that it will comply with all of the requirements as set out above.Educational Society of Irelandapplicant has confirmed that it will comply with all of the requirements as set out above.

Educate Togetherapplicant has confirmed that it will comply with all of the requirements as set out above.

2. Examination of current provision in the area versus school type proposed by applicant patron(s)

(a) Outline details of current number of schools in the area, ethos of schools, total number of pupils in existing schools, percentage of

pupils by school type in existing schools, what percentage of children already attending school in the area attend a school of the same

patronage as the applicant patron? (need to take into account the development already achieved by recently established schools of a

particular patronage in the identified area and the potential for future growth of these schools, and the extent to which schools of

similar patronage have already expanded to three streams subject to space on existing site etc)

There are 10 schools in the area to be served by the new school. All teach through the medium of English.

8 have a Catholic ethos

1 is a Church of Ireland School

1 is a multidenominational school


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Details of current schools in the feeder area (10)

Roll No School Name Ethos Patron

Language

Medium

2012/13 Total

Enrolment

% in school ofTotal Area

Enrolment

03917V Naomh Padraig Boys Catholic Catholic Archbishop English 110 5%

11578V City Quay NS Catholic Catholic Archbishop English 164 8%

11894I Scoil Mhuire Catholic Catholic Archbishop English 275 13%

15253N St Patricks Girls NS Catholic Catholic Archbishop English 152 7%

15995L Canon O Hanlon Memorial NS Catholic Catholic Archbishop English 342 17%

16567S St Brigid's Convent NS Catholic Catholic Archbishop English 287 14%

17279S Scoil Muire Catholic Catholic Archbishop English 171 8%

18282M SN Paroiste Maitiu Nfa Church Of Ireland COI Archbishop English 191 9%19896G Scoil Caitriona Na MBraithre Catholic Catholic Archbishop English 85 4%

20103V John Scottus NS

Multi

Denominational

John Scottus Educational

Trust Ltd English 265 13%

Total 2042 100%

Table summary: 78% of children attend Catholic schools, 13% attend the multidenominational school and 9% attend the Church of Ireland

school


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By Class Group - 2012/13 Enrolments

Roll No School_Name Jnr Inf Snr Inf 1 st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Total

03917V Naomh Padraig Boys 22 13 12 18 12 13 14 6 11011578V City Quay Boys NS 25 27 24 20 16 15 21 16 164

11894I Scoil Mhuire 41 47 29 43 29 26 33 27 275

15253N St Patricks Girls NS 22 27 14 20 17 22 17 13 152

15995L Canon O Hanlon Memorial NS 55 46 52 36 46 47 31 29 342

16567S St Brigid's Convent NS 83 60 24 19 28 27 21 25 287

17279S Scoil Muire 0 0 29 34 23 30 24 31 171

18282M SN Paroiste Maitiu Nfa 29 32 29 30 19 21 18 13 191

19896G Scoil Caitriona Na Mbraithre 17 20 9 10 6 8 5 10 85

20103V John Scottus NS 42 27 28 22 41 33 39 33 265

Total 336 299 250 252 237 242 223 203 2042Jnr & Snr Total 1137 905


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Historic 5 &10 Year Trend

Roll No School Name 2003/2004 2008/2009 2012/2013

Historic5 year

trend

Historic10 year

trend

03917V Naomh Padraig Boys 86 105 110 5 24

11578V City Quay Boys NS 149 147 164 17 15

11894I Scoil Mhuire 283 270 275 5 -8

15253N St Patricks Girls NS 126 138 152 14 26

15995L Canon O Hanlon Memorial NS 318 316 342 26 24

16567S St Brigids Convent NS 203 278 287 9 84

17279S Scoil Muire 135 146 171 25 36

18282M Sn Paroiste Maitiu Nfa 93 114 191 77 98

19896G Scoil Caitriona Na Mbraithre 55 85 85 0 30

20103V John Scottus NS 193 274 265 -9 72

Total 1641 1873 2042 169 401


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(b) Will the applicant patron(s) provide a school with an ethos not already catered for in the area?

An Foras Ptrnachtathe model proposed by An Foras is an Irish-medium, multi-denominational, co-educational school. As 80% of the

schools in the area are of a Catholic ethos and there is only one multi-denominational school, the model proposed by An Foras will represent a

further expansion of diversity in the area in terms of ethos as well as in terms of providing Irish-medium education, not currently catered for.Educational Society of Ireland (ESI) there is one multi-denominational school in the area. However, as 80% of the existing schools are

Catholic, this model would widen diversity in the areaEducate Togetherthere is one multi-denominational school in the area and, as 80% of the existing schools are of a Catholic ethos, this model

would expand diversity in the area.

(c) The proximity of school(s) of similar ethos to those proposed by the applicant patron(s)

There is one multi-denominational school in the area, under the patronage of the John Scottus Educational Trust. This school opened inSeptember 1999, and it is currently operating with provisional recognition from the Department.

(d) Will the proposed school or schools under the prospective patron(s) provide for extending or strengthening diversity of provision in

each area?

An Foras Ptrnachtawhile there is one multi-denominational school in the area currently, only 13% of school-going children in the area are

attending this school. The model proposed by An Foras will represent a further expansion of diversity in the area in terms of ethos, as well as in

terms of providing Irish-medium education, which is not currently catered for.

Educational Society of Ireland (ESI) - will provide for expansion of diversity of ethos in the area.

Educate Togetherwill provide for expansion of diversity of ethos in the area.

(e) Has the applicant patron demonstrated that there is a demand for this type of school in the area (Comment on the applicants

demonstration of parental demand for the school type proposed. Take into consideration the extent or range of diversity offered acrossexisting schools in the identified area, having regard to the views of parents)

The details of parental demand for the various models are set out below.


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An Foras Ptrnachta

Sandymount Ringsend Area

2014 2015 2016

JuniorInfant 2 0 1

Outside of Sandymount RingsendArea

2014 2015 2016

JuniorInfant 0 0 1

On the basis of this level of parental preference, An Foras has not demonstrated a viable demand for its model.

Educational Society of Ireland (ESI)Sandymount Ringsend Area

2014 2015 2016 2017

JuniorInfant 19 11 19 5

Outside of Sandymount Ringsend Area

2014 2015 2016 2017

JuniorInfant 0 2 1 0

The parental preferences presented for this model are not particularly strong. The figures suggest that the model would struggle to become a

single stream school (up to 2 streams are expected to be required to meet the projected demographic need of the area). Indeed, given that therewould be insufficient enrolments for a full class group in any of the years between 2014 and 2017 inclusive, it likely that mixed classes would

arise. This would be unusual in a large urban setting and it underscores that the level of demand is not particularly strong for this model.


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Educate Together

Sandymount Ringsend Area

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Junior

Infant 33 109 51 58 64 2

Outside of Sandymount Ringsend Area

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

JuniorInfant 23 67 50 62 26 0

Children already in school

Within Feeder Area Outside Feeder Area

8 4

As the school is not due to open until September 2014, the parental preferences for 2013 are not particularly relevant, although, parents with a

strong preference for this model could defer sending their children to school until the new school opens in 2014. In any event, the potential

enrolment for 2014 would be sufficient, at a Pupil Teacher Ratio of 28:1, for almost 4 streams at start up. The level of parental preference

suggests a two-stream intake up until 2017.

This profile demonstrates a very strong viable parental demand for this particular model of provision.

(f) Has the applicant patron demonstrated that the school will, as a priority, cater for children in the area in which the school is located

(or an area defined by the DES).

An Foras Ptrnachta

States that it will adhere to the requirement to serve children within the area.Educational Society of Ireland (ESI) States it will adhere to the requirement to serve children within the area.

Educate TogetherStates that it will adhere to the requirement to serve children from within the area.


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(g) If this area is to be served by a single school, can proposed school meet the needs of all pupils in the area.

N/A

3. Additional information provided by the prospective patrons

An Foras Ptrnachta

The applicant submitted a comprehensive application in which the patron body refers to its track record of educational achievement through its

network of schools, and its intention to comply with all of the Departments criteria.

An Foras requests that the patronage establishment process be reviewed to take account of the special status of the Irish language and refers to

the importance given to education in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language. It should be noted however, that this policy document

states Irish education will be provided to a high standard for school pupils whose parents/guardians require it.

An Foras Ptrnachta submitted only 4 parental expressions of interest for its school type (this includes one pupil from outside the area to be served bythe new school). Therefore, there is no evidence that education through the medium of Irish is required by parents/guardians in this particular area atthis time.

The application refers to significant capacity issues in Gaelscoileanna in the wider area, with reference to children being unable to obtain places, butno evidence of this has been provided through parental expressions of interest from those areas.

Educational Society of Ireland (ESI)

This applicant is not yet patron of any school in Ireland. It has provided some detail regarding its advisory board, educational vision, ethos and

also proposed curriculum, school policies and staffing structure but is has not provided any detail of its legal status.

Educate Together

The applicant submitted a comprehensive application, covering its track record, and proven ability in the Irish education system, and proven

adherence to the requirements of the DES in existing Educate Together schools.


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4. Conclusions

All prospective patrons have agreed to comply with the Departments requirements for the establishment of the new school.

All 3 models would widen diversity in the area.

The An Foras Ptrntachta model would provide all-Irish instruction in the area, which is not currently catered for. However, with 3

prospective pupils between 2014 and 2016, An Foras has not demonstrated a viable parental demand for its model nor has it

demonstrated that there is overflow demand from adjoining feeder areas.

The Educational Society of Ireland (ESI) has demonstrated a level of demand for its model but the level of demand presented is not

strong enough to establish an 8-teacher school. In this regard, the Department projects that a school of up to 16 teachers will be needed

to meet the demographics of the area.

Educate Together has presented the strongest demand for its model. Its parental preference is 5 times greater than that for the

Educational Society of Ireland model and 95 times greater than that for the An Foras model.

5. Recommendation

The evidence of parental preference for the Educate Together model is very strong and the Department recommends that patronage for the new

school in this area should be awarded to Educate Together.


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Patronage Assessment Report to the New Schools Establishment Group Assessment Report for Sandymount Ringsend

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