Divestment ‘not progressing as quickly as hoped’
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
The Minister for Education has accepted that plans to divest primary schools from the Catholic Church to other patrons are not progressing as quickly as hoped.
Today will see only the second change of patronage under the scheme when Newtownwhite National School outside Ballina, Co Mayo, transfers from the Church of Ireland to Educate Together in a ceremony due to be attended by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
According to a report in today’s Irish Times, the process is being hindered by unexpected legal complications, including an absence of paperwork between the sState and religious authorities over title to land.
Paul Rowe of Educate Together: says there have been unexpected hold-ups due to “real estate” problems, including that many schools earmarked for transfer were owned by religious trusts or foundationsLack of paperwork hindering school divestment programme
Breda O’Brien of the Iona Institute said the report appeared to strike the right balance between making denominational schools more genuinely inclusive while also respecting the ethos and identity of those schools.
Speaking in Limerick this morning, Jan O’Sullivan stressed divestment can only be achieved through a process of consultation.
“Clearly, there are ownership rights and property rights and so on, that are involved but I would like to move it as quickly as possible,” she said.
“I think there are 28 parts of the country where there has already been some surveys carried out and where there is an expressed view that parents want other options. I want to see those [views] developed,” she added.
The Minister insisted divestment was not just a matter of paperwork.
“It’s around actually working out an agreement whereby a school that currently has ownership or patronage of a school is willing to engage in terms of changing, so it is a process of consultation and collaboration and I would certainly hope to drive it.”
Cyber bullying
The Minister for Education also said today that her Department is engaged in discussions with education partners to see how they can “actively address” the scourge of cyber bullying.
Her remarks follows calls from school principals for a dedicated classroom module on cyber bullying to be introduced to tackle growing concerns at junior and senior levels .
“It is something that concerns me greatly. Children are very vulnerable to cyber bullying they obviously have access to all technology now and are very engaged and it’s a very insidious form of bullying. It’s much easier to deal with physical bullying in a school situation but we certainly need to address it.”
Irish Times
Mo chéad lá ar scoil 2014 – Gaelscoil an Chuilinn
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
Grianghraif álainn de naíonaín bheaga 2014 ar a gcéad lá scoile! Féach suíomh na scoile, www.gaelscoilanchuilinn.ie.
Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ Luimneach – Éacht agus buaicphointe i Stair na Scoile
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
Comhghairdeas le gach éinne atá bainteach le Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, ainmnithe mar an scoil is fearr sa tír san Sunday Times inné. Don chéad uair riamh, tá scoil lán- Ghaelach ar bharr an liosta. ‘Is cúis áthais agus bhróid dúinn go bhfuil an scoil seo ‘gainne, atá ar an bhfód ó 1935 ar aghaidh, tar éis an t-aitheantas seo a fháil. Ina theannta san, tá áthas orainn go bhfuil ag éirí chomh maith san le scoileanna atá ag feidhmiú trí mheán na Gaeilge ar fud na tíre’ arsa Aedín Ni Bhriain, príomhoide Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ. Luimneach abú – Gaeilge abú!
Limerick’s Laurel Hill is Ireland’s top school
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
Limerick’s Laurel Hill Colaiste FCJ is the first gaelcholaiste to be named the top secondary school in Ireland.
With an average of 88.7% of its pupils gaining university places over the last three years, the 400-pupil girls’ school on South Circular Road, Limerick, has overtaken boys’ boarding school Glenstal Abbey, in Murroe, Limerick, to gain the top place in the 2014 Sunday Times Guide to Ireland’s 400 best schools, published today (August 31).
Laurel Hill Colaiste FCJ is the first Irish-language school to head the annual Sunday Times Parent Power survey since the paper published its first league table in 2003. It is also the first non-fee-paying school at the top of the Sunday Times league table for 10 years, and is the first girls’ school to be named the best school in Ireland since 2009. Laurel Hill Colaiste FCJ has been the top school in Munster (excluding Cork) for four out of the past 11 years.
The Sunday Times Parent Power survey ranks the top 400 secondary schools on the average number of pupils gaining university places over the three years between 2011 and 2013. The Guide also reveals the figures for the total number of pupils entering all public sector third-level education from each school.
Glenstal Abbey, Limerick, now second in The Sunday Times School Guide, was the top school in Ireland in 2012 and 2013. It sent an average of 88.3% of its students to university between 2011 and 2013. The 200-pupil boys’ boarding school, which opened its doors to day students in 2012, was the top school in Munster (excluding Cork) for five out of the past eleven years.
THE SUNDAY TIMES SCHOOLS GUIDE
IRELAND’S TOP 25 SCHOOLS
Fee-paying school in bold, gaelcholáistí in italics
- Laurel Hill Colaiste FCJ, South Circular Rd, Limerick
- Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co Limerick
- Colaiste Iosagain, Booterstown, Co Dublin
- Gonzaga College, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
- Mount Anville Secondary School, Goatstown, Dublin 14
- Alexandra College, Milltown, Dublin 6
- Presentation Brothers College, Mardyke, Cork
- Colaiste na Coiribe, Tuam Road, Galway
- Scoil Mhuire, Sydney Place, Cork
- Holy Child Secondary School, Killiney, Co Dublin
- Mount Mercy College, Model Farm Rd, Cork
- Colaiste Ide, Dingle, Co Kerry
- Colaiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire, Co Cork
- Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
- Colaiste Ailigh, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
- Rathdown School, Glenageary, Co Dublin
- The Teresian School, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
- Christian Brothers College, Sidney Hill, Cork
- Castleknock College, Castleknock, Dublin 15
- Colaiste Eoin, Booterstown, Co Dublin
- Colaiste Iognaid SJ, Sea Rd, Galway
- Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salthill, Galway
- Muckross Park College, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
- Colaiste Oiriall, Monaghan
- Loreto High School, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
Limerick tops secondary-school league tables
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
Gaelscoileanna have beaten off stiff competition to secure a place in the top 10 of this year’s Sunday Times Parent Power Survey.
Irish-language schools represent 5% of secondary schools nationally.
Limerick’s Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ is the first non-fee-paying school to top the secondary schools league table for 10 years, ousting Glenstal Abbey in Murroe, Limerick which has been named the top fee-paying school.
The Sunday Times Parent Power Survey ranks the top 400 secondary schools on the average number of pupils gaining university places over the three years between 2011 and 2013.
An average of 88.7% of Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ pupils gained university places over the last three years. The school has 400 pupils and is located on South Circular Road in Limerick.
Coláiste Na Coiribe in Galway is Ireland’s best mixed school, Coláiste Losagain is the top school in South Dublin for the second year.
Castleknock College is ranked highly for North Dublin with Presentation Brothers College the top school in Cork for a second year. Coláiste Ailigh is the top school in Ulster for the first time.
Kate Butler from the Sunday Times, who compiled the survey, said parents play a huge part when it comes to their children’s education.
“60% of the girls in Laurel Hill Coláiste came from English-speaking primary schools, so they had to immerse themselves (in Irish),” she said. “Parents who send their child to a gaelcoláiste are very actively interested in education, because of the extra effort that’s involved.”
She said the bonus points children from the Irish-language schools got in the Leaving Cert was also an important consideration.
Coláiste Ailigh tops in Ulster
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny is the top school in Ulster, according to a survey in today’s Sunday Times.
The paper ranked Ireland’s top 400 secondary schools based on the percentage of students admitted to university in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Coláiste Ailigh ranked 15th nationally, up from 43rd last year, with 77.3% of students at going on to university and 90.3 % in third level education.
Donegal’s next top performer is also an Irish language school. Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Arranmore Island was ranked 52nd, up from 149th last year, with 65.9% of students going on to university.
Loreto Convent, Letterkenny, also made the top 100, at 75th place nationally, up from 79th last year, with 60.9% of students continuing their studies at university.
Limerick tops secondary-school league tables
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
Gaelscoileanna have beaten off stiff competition to secure a place in the top 10 of this year’s Sunday Times Parent Power Survey.
Irish-language schools represent 5% of secondary schools nationally.
Limerick’s Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ is the first non-fee-paying school to top the secondary schools league table for 10 years, ousting Glenstal Abbey in Murroe, Limerick which has been named the top fee-paying school.
The Sunday Times Parent Power Survey ranks the top 400 secondary schools on the average number of pupils gaining university places over the three years between 2011 and 2013.
An average of 88.7% of Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ pupils gained university places over the last three years. The school has 400 pupils and is located on South Circular Road in Limerick.
Coláiste Na Coiribe in Galway is Ireland’s best mixed school, Coláiste Losagain is the top school in South Dublin for the second year.
Castleknock College is ranked highly for North Dublin with Presentation Brothers College the top school in Cork for a second year. Coláiste Ailigh is the top school in Ulster for the first time.
Kate Butler from the Sunday Times, who compiled the survey, said parents play a huge part when it comes to their children’s education.
“60% of the girls in Laurel Hill Coláiste came from English-speaking primary schools, so they had to immerse themselves (in Irish),” she said. “Parents who send their child to a gaelcoláiste are very actively interested in education, because of the extra effort that’s involved.”
She said the bonus points children from the Irish-language schools got in the Leaving Cert was also an important consideration.
Young gaelgóirí enjoy the Colaiste Lú summer camps
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
Young gaelgóirí from all over the county descended on the gaelcholáiste this month for a fun-filled and worthwhile week at Coláiste Lú’s annual summer camp.
In its second successful year, the summer camp offers an opportunity to students aged between 10 and 13 to practice their Irish and make new friends while engaging in a range of activity workshops.
Students at this year’s summer camp enjoyed music, sport and art workshops each day.
The wide range of activities included learning Haka na Gaeilge on the camp’s rugby day, brushing up on their gaelic football skills and creating safe-havens for their pocket money by building piggy banks.
Teacher Maria NicEochaidh, who co-ordinated the Coláiste Lú summer camp, was delighted with this year’s
campers.
Maria told The Democrat: “It was great to hear the school filled with young voices full of energy and enthusiasm for the language even in the middle of the summer.
“In Coláiste Lú we always encourage collaborative and child-centred learning.
“As the week progressed confidence and friendships grew and the students went from strength to strength.
“ It was wonderful to see.”
Coláiste Lú is an all-Irish post-primary school offering a wide range of subjects and a variety of extra-curricular activities in a complete Irish immersion environment in the heart of Dundalk.
The school is now accepting applications for First Year 2015/16. Deadline for Applications is 17th October 2014.
Application forms and admissions policy available from Coláiste LúChapel St, Dundalk.
You can see more photographs and videos from the Coláiste Lú summer camp and keep up to date with other school activities by following the school twitter feed, @ColaisteLu.
Gaeilge 24 le Conradh na Gaeilge
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
Is í aidhm an dúshláin seo ná daoine óga a spreagadh chun labhairt as Gaeilge amháin do 24 uair a’ chloig: sa bhaile, ar scoil, le siopaí agus gnólachtaí, timpeall an bhaile, le cairde, sa chlub spóirt nó óige agus eile! Tá na sonraí ar fad ar fáil ar www.cnag.ie.
Preasráiteas na Roinne Oideachais ar mholadh forbartha Ghaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh
Meán Fómhair 1, 2014
Ba cheart go mbeadh rogha na gaelscolaíochta ag pobal Chaisleán na Deirge. Leanfaidh Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta ag tacú leo siúd ar mian leo rogha na gaelscolaíochta bheith ann dá bpáistí i gCaisleán na Deirge.
Dr. Micheál Ó Duibh, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
29 August 2014
O’Dowd turns down expansion of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, Strabane
Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has turned down a development proposal to expand Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, Strabane.
The Western Education and Library Board, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, published a development proposal seeking to expand the school through the establishment of an ‘off-site unit’ in Castlederg. This unit was to be a conversion of the existing, independent Irish-medium provision in Castlederg, Gaelscoil na Deirge.
Speaking about his decision to turn the proposal down, the Minister said: “I take my statutory duties in relation to Irish-medium education very seriously and I recognise that both Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh and Gaelscoil na Deirge deliver good quality education through the medium of Irish to children in the Strabane and Castlederg areas respectively. I am also, however, duty bound to consider carefully all the information pertinent to any proposal to establish new provision on a case-by-case basis.
“While my Department has a statutory duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium education, it would not be prudent for me to approve this proposal to expand Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh. The proposal as put forward is not financially viable and approval would potentially see the school fall into a deficit position which in turn may threaten the viability of the host school.
“Furthermore, a new-build project for Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, close to its existing Strabane site, is currently progressing in planning. The new-build project does not factor in the costs or implications associated with establishing an extension of the school in Castlederg and would inevitably need to be reassessed should the new unit be approved.
“I would also highlight the many practical issues that would arise from establishing and running what would effectively be a split-site school with locations some 13 miles apart. There is a risk, for example, that pupils at the Castlederg location would experience a lack of peer socialisation with their counterparts on the Strabane site.
“Taking all of these factors into account, I am not satisfied that the establishment of the proposed ‘off-site unit’ at Castlederg is viable or in the best educational interests of the children.”
The Minister went on to say: “By turning down this proposal, I would emphasise that I am not suggesting that there is no demand for Irish-medium education in the Castlederg area. Further work is required to provide a robust solution to meet this demand that is educationally strong and viable, financially sound and works to the benefit of local children. I am therefore tasking Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, the Western Education and Library Board and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools to explore options for Irish-medium provision in the area. I will give due consideration to any new development proposals that may arise.
“I firmly believe that this approach will best serve the longer term interests children and parents in Strabane and Castlederg who wish to learn through the medium of Irish.”
Notes to editors:
1. The Western Education and Library Board, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, published Development Proposal No. 257 on 27 March 2014 which proposed the expansion of the school through the establishment of an ‘off-site unit’ in Castlederg, from 1 September 2014 or as soon as possible thereafter. The two-month statutory consultation period expired on 27 May 2014.
2. The Department of Education’s ‘Education Works’ campaign encourages families to play, talk, read and count with their child and to ‘Get Involved Because Education Works’. Watch out for the ads on television, radio and outdoor locations. The campaign highlights the vital role families can play in helping children do well at school and improve their life chances. Visit http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/education-works for more information.
Watch the TV ad on the Department’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/thedeptofeducation
3. See photos from the Department of Education in our collection at http://www.flickr.com/niexecutive
4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 99 715 440, and your call will be returned.
