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/Ringsend area. 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 applicant
An 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 proposed

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

Educational Society of Ireland Profile of applicant

Educational 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 proposed

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

Educate Together Profile of applicant

Educate 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 company limited by guarantee in 1998 and has charitable status.

School type proposed

Educate 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.

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 Ptrnachta applicant has confirmed that it will comply with all of the requirements as set out above. Educational Society of Ireland applicant has confirmed that it will comply with all of the requirements as set out above. Educate Together applicant 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 4

Details of current schools in the feeder area (10) % in school of Total Area Enrolment 5% 8% 13% 7% 17% 14% 8% 9% 4% 13% 100%

Roll No 03917V 11578V 11894I 15253N 15995L 16567S 17279S 18282M 19896G 20103V

School Name Naomh Padraig Boys City Quay NS Scoil Mhuire St Patricks Girls NS Canon O Hanlon Memorial NS St Brigid's Convent NS Scoil Muire SN Paroiste Maitiu Nfa Scoil Caitriona Na MBraithre John Scottus NS Total

Ethos Catholic Catholic Catholic Catholic Catholic Catholic Catholic Church Of Ireland Catholic Multi Denominational

Patron Catholic Archbishop Catholic Archbishop Catholic Archbishop Catholic Archbishop Catholic Archbishop Catholic Archbishop Catholic Archbishop COI Archbishop Catholic Archbishop John Scottus Educational Trust Ltd

Language Medium English English English English English English English English English English

2012/13 Total Enrolment 110 164 275 152 342 287 171 191 85 265 2042

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

By Class Group - 2012/13 Enrolments Roll No 03917V 11578V 11894I 15253N 15995L 16567S 17279S 18282M 19896G 20103V School_Name Naomh Padraig Boys City Quay Boys NS Scoil Mhuire St Patricks Girls NS Canon O Hanlon Memorial NS St Brigid's Convent NS Scoil Muire SN Paroiste Maitiu Nfa Scoil Caitriona Na Mbraithre John Scottus NS Total Jnr & Snr Total Jnr Inf 22 25 41 22 55 83 0 29 17 42 336 Snr Inf 13 27 47 27 46 60 0 32 20 27 299 1137 1st 12 24 29 14 52 24 29 29 9 28 250 2nd 18 20 43 20 36 19 34 30 10 22 252 3rd 12 16 29 17 46 28 23 19 6 41 237 4th 5th 13 14 15 21 26 33 22 17 47 31 27 21 30 24 21 18 8 5 33 39 242 223 905 6th 6 16 27 13 29 25 31 13 10 33 203 Total 110 164 275 152 342 287 171 191 85 265 2042

Historic 5 &10 Year Trend

Roll No 03917V 11578V 11894I 15253N 15995L 16567S 17279S 18282M 19896G 20103V

School Name Naomh Padraig Boys City Quay Boys NS Scoil Mhuire St Patricks Girls NS Canon O Hanlon Memorial NS St Brigids Convent NS Scoil Muire Sn Paroiste Maitiu Nfa Scoil Caitriona Na Mbraithre John Scottus NS Total

2003/2004 2008/2009 2012/2013 86 105 110 149 147 164 283 270 275 126 138 152 318 316 342 203 278 287 135 146 171 93 114 191 55 85 85 193 274 265 1641 1873 2042

Historic Historic 5 year 10 year trend trend 5 24 17 15 5 -8 14 26 26 24 9 84 25 36 77 98 0 30 -9 72 169 401

(b) Will the applicant patron(s) provide a school with an ethos not already catered for in the area? An Foras Ptrnachta the 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 area Educate Together there 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 in September 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 Ptrnachta while 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 Together will 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 applicant s demonstration of parental demand for the school type proposed. Take into consideration the extent or range of diversity offered across existing 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.

An Foras Ptrnachta
Sandymount Ringsend Area 2014 Junior Infant 2015 2016

Outside of Sandymount Ringsend Area 2014 Junior Infant 2015 2016

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 Junior Infant 19 11 19 2017 5

Outside of Sandymount Ringsend Area 2014 2015 2016 2017 Junior Infant 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 there would 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.

Educate Together
2013 Junior Infant 33 Sandymount Ringsend Area 2014 2015 2016 109 51 58 2017 64 2018 2

Outside of Sandymount Ringsend Area 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Junior Infant 23 67 50 62 26

2018 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 Together States 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 by the new school). Therefore, there is no evidence that education through the medium of Irish is required by parents/guardians in this particular area at this time. The application refers to significant capacity issues in Gaelscoileanna in the wider area, with reference to children being unable to obtain places, but no 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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