ET Strategy Final.Qxd
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CONTENTS Contents Vision and Mission 2 Introduction 3 Facts & Figures & History 4 Overview 5 1. National Centre 6 2. Increasing the number of places - opening more schools 7 3. Educate Together Foundation 8 4. Website and Newsletter 9 1 5. Management Training and Support 10 6. Educational Development - Implementing the Ethos 11 7. Research 12 8. Public Relations 13 9. Educational Policy 14 10. Regional Structures 15 Appendix A: Educate Together Schools 2000/2001 16 Appendix B: Educate Together Charter 18 Acknowledgments 19 VISION & MISSION Vision and Mission Vision Statement "Learn Together to Live Together" 2 Mission Statement To promote a philosophy of education in which no child is considered an outsider; which promotes the fullest development of ability irrespective of gender, class or stereotype; and which encapsulates this ethos in a democratic partnership uniquely combining the involvement of parents with the professional role of teachers. INTRODUCTION Introduction Educate Together is the representative Whilst the concepts of child-centredness and organisation of the Educate Together schools and co-educationalism are now widely accepted in associations throughout the Republic of Ireland. It Irish primary education, what distinguishes the owes its origins in the movement to establish new Educate Together schools is their hard work in multi-denominational primary schools which developing a culturally inclusive and democratic emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. By ethos. This has pioneered unique approaches to 1984, when Educate Together was established, inclusion of minority opinions and faiths in the there were three schools and the organisation Irish context. The schools have developed acted as their co-ordinating body. Since then the education programmes which open the eyes of movement has grown considerably. Today there children to the naturally positive contribution that are 19 schools, 12 of which are in the greater social diversity and difference of viewpoint and Dublin area. The organisation became a company opinion make to society. The other characteristic limited by guarantee in 1998 and has charitable feature of these schools is that they are status. It has a small national office staffed on a democratically organised and governed. This part-time basis. All directors and committee maximises the potential for building a genuine members work in a voluntary capacity. partnership between the professional, objective role of the teacher and the necessarily personal Educate Together aims to meet a growing need in involvement of the parent in contributing to their Irish society for schools that recognise the children's education. developing diversity of Irish life and the modern In the year 2000, Educate Together is facing need for democratic management structures. In 3 particular, Educate Together guarantees children unprecedented demand for places in its schools, and parents of all faiths and none equal respect for increased services to schools and is under in the operation and governing of education. pressure to open new schools in new areas. It is also being urged to promote its philosophy in the The schools operated by the member associations wider context of secondary education and pre- of Educate Together are fully recognised by the school provision. This growing demand can be Irish Department of Education and Science and attributed to objective factors in modern Irish life, work under the same regulations and funding namely the rapid diversification of society, structures as other national schools. However, economic growth, increasing population, they have a distinct ethos or governing spirit. This globalisation of the economy and improved has been defined in the following terms: communications. It is also attributed to the • "Multi-denominational i.e. all children having increasing demand of Irish parents to participate equal rights of access to the school, and as partners in the educational process and a wish children of all social, cultural and religious that their children should grow up at ease with backgrounds being equally respected, social, religious and cultural difference. • Co-educational and committed to This statement of strategy is being presented with encouraging all children to explore their full the objective of radically increasing the number of range of abilities and opportunities, schools run under the Educate Together ethos and • Child centred in their approach to education to substantially improve the service that the national organisation can provide for its members. • Democratically run with active participation We hope that people will see the planned by parents in the daily life of the school, development of a national network of Educate whilst positively affirming the professional Together schools as a positive contribution to role of the teachers." society, enriching the educational landscape and (Educate Together Charter - see Appendix B) building a significant asset for the future. FACTS, FIGURES & HISTORY Facts,Figures & History Educate Together started as an organisation in Educate Together started as co-ordinating 4 1984, when the first three schools decided to set organisation in which decisions were arrived at by up a co-ordinating committee that would consensus. During the 1980s it adopted a disseminate information among the existing constitution with majority voting. It represented schools and assist in the growth and development the sector on national educational bodies and by of new schools. The three schools were located in 1990 had become the recognised voice of multi- Dalkey, Bray and Glasnevin, all in the greater denominational education in Ireland. The Educate Dublin area. Together Charter (see Appendix B) was formally adopted in 1990. At the time almost all national schools in the country were under denominational patronage. In 1994, Educate Together received limited School sites were provided by the patron, i.e. the private funding to rent, equip and staff an office diocese. Lay chairpersons of Boards of for a three year period. The office opened in Management were rare. Parental involvement in January 1995, with one part-time co-ordinator. running national schools was minimal. In 1998, Educate Together became a company limited by guarantee. In the year 2000 Educate In the ensuing years, Educate Together opened Together was granted permanent core funding of schools in Sligo, Cork and Kilkenny (1987), £27,500 ( 34918) per annum by the Limerick (1989), Kilbarrack, Ranelagh and Department of Education and Science. Crumlin1 (1990), Cork - a Gaelscoil - (1993), Galway, Celbridge and Inchicore2 (1994), Monkstown and Lucan (1997), Ennis (1998), Castleknock3 (1999) and Phibsborough (2000). There are currently over 3,500 pupils enrolled and over 200 teachers and staff employed in the Educate Together sector. 1 Now in Rathfarnham 2 Now in Griffith Barracks, South Ciruclur Road 3 Temporarily relocated to the Navan Road, Dublin OVERVIEW Overview The core strategic concept of this document is this distinct educational philosophy offers in the that by strengthening the national centre we can education of future generations of Irish children. 5 radically improve the experience of education for children in our existing schools and rapidly This statement of strategy has the following increase the number of schools and places in the specific targets: sector. • To open a National Centre • To address the increasing demand for places This concept is based on the analysis that there is and employ a full time development officer already a wealth of experience within the Educate Together community. The sector has accumulated • To establish a national fundraising body 176 years experience of operating democratically • To develop a regular national newsletter and managed, multi-cultural schools. By establishing a a professional website national centre with the necessary education and • To provide a comprehensive management research facilities, this experience can be and patronage training scheme. concentrated and presented back to the sector as • To employ a full-time education officer to guidelines, resources and examples of best enhance the delivery of ethical education practice. The resources identified by the review programmes process involved in this statement of strategy • To develop a programme of research include: culture and ethos, management practice, legal affairs, education resources and teaching • To enhance the national profile of the methods. Enhancing the centre's ability to present organisation this experience will make it readily available to • To establish regional structures to support groups setting up new schools and to the wider clusters of schools educational community at home and abroad. A • To increase state support for Educate strong and adequately resourced national centre Together will also address the objective reality that many people in Ireland are unaware of Educate The following pages elaborate these objectives in Together's existence and the opportunities that more detail. NATIONAL CENTRE National Centre Recognising The members of Educate Together • that Educate Together requires a full-time commit themselves to national centre in order to provide a • support the development of the national 6 focus for all the activities detailed in centre in practical terms by this document - participating in research • that Educate Together's current office space - providing regular reports cannot be developed to fulfil this role - contributing to the educational