Survey reveals gap in school provision and parent demand in Leitrim

Almost 40 percent of families in Leitrim would prefer their children to receive a multi-denominational education even though all schools in the county operate under a religious patronage.

This information came from the results of the National Primary School Survey where over 200,000 households submitted validated responses alongside participation from school staff.

The results of the surveys were announced by the Minister for Education and Youth  Hildegarde Naughton on Tuesday, April 7.  

According to the results, 40 percent of parents in religious-run schools nationally would prefer a multi-denominational primary school and 37.8 percent of families in Leitrim would prefer a multi-denominational education. 

These numbers contrast with current school provision, whereby 95.1 percent of primary schools nationally remain under denominational control.  

Demand for multi-denominational and equality-based education in Leitrim is not currently being met as it is one of only four counties where all schools currently operate under religious patronage. 

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The survey also found that nationally, approximately 73 percent of parents in the 276 single‑sex primary schools favour a move to co‑education and approximately 87 percent of parents in English-medium schools support maintaining English as the primary language of instruction.

Parents in Leitrim have no choice other than to send their children to a denominational primary school, despite the clear demand for choice. 

The Educate Together national office have expressed their hopes to work with Leitrim-based families in the future, to make access to equality-based education possible for communities around the county.    

“These national results are very encouraging for the future of school choice in Leitrim. At Educate Together we regularly engage with families and local communities who are frustrated by the lack of multi-denominational and equality-based school places available to them,” said Edward Platt, Schools Development Officer for Educate Together.

“Now that The Department of Education has provided statistically valid data to show that almost 38 percent of parents in Leitrim want their child to have access to a multi-denominational school, we need to see action taken to make this a reality.”

Educate Together has seen demand for its schools increase, and the organisation has opened 60 schools in the last 15 years in response to parental demand.   

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 Educate Together is urging the government to announce school level data for Leitrim soon, and to provide adequate resourcing and investment to support the next steps of the process, so that choice can be provided in the county.  

“Educate Together looks forward to engaging with schools following this next stage of the process and exploring potential patronage transfer where demand exists,” concluded Mr Platt.  

In May, every primary school will receive their individual school-specific report from the survey, along with clear information on the steps a school may need to take, where the parental preference shows demand for change. 

The school-specific reports will include the preferences of parents and guardians of pupils currently in the school and the preferences of parents and guardians of incoming pupils. The information which will be provided to schools will also include guidance, aimed at enabling schools to interpret their results so it would be clear to each school whether there is a preference for the school to remain as is or whether there is a preference for change.

Leitrim families seeking more information are encouraged to email schooltransfers@educatetogether.ie and to go to Educate Together’s website to find out more about the process of school patronage transfers.

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