Carlow Ed Together welcomes survey results

THE multi-denominational school organisation Educate Together has welcomed the findings of a national survey in which 35.3% of parents in Carlow surveyed said they would prefer a multi-denominational education for their children.

Currently, 95.1% of primary schools nationally remain under denominational control.

First opened in 2008, Carlow Educate Together School on Athy Road is the only multi-denominational school in the county. Educate Together operates a national network of 97 primary schools and 21 second-level schools in Ireland, catering to over 40,000 students.

Over the last 15 years, Educate Together has opened 60 schools in response to parental demand.

Schools development officer for Educate Together Edward Platt has said the results of the survey are “encouraging” for the future of school choice in Carlow and has said there needs to be action so that the wishes of parents are met.

“At Educate Together, we regularly engage with families and local communities who are frustrated by the lack of multi-denominational/equality-based school places available to them,” he said.

“Now that the Department of Education has provided statistically valid data to show that more than 35% of parents in Carlow want their child to have access to a multi-denominational school, we need to see action taken to make this a reality,” he added.

Educate Together wants to see individualised reports from the survey issued to schools and is open to exploring potential patronage transfer where there is a demand.

Families in Carlow seeking further information can visit Educate Together’s website to find out more about the process of school patronage transfers or email schooltransfers@educatetogether.ie.