NURTURING THE SEED The First Ten Years of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust 2008–2018 A Our Vision Promoting full personal and social development in caring Christian communities of learning and teaching. Our Mission To provide Catholic education in the Edmund Rice tradition Contents 1 10 Years in Numbers 2 2 Care, Safety and Student Happiness 6 What matters to us at your Trust 3 Our Students and our Schools are our Lifeblood 8 4 Handing on the Flame for Future Generations 12 5 Ten Things That Distinguish the Edmund Rice 18 Schools Network 6 6 The Impact of Edmund Rice Education and Values 26 7 A Decade of Development and More to Come 31 8 Highlights and Special Moments 34 9 A Small Dedicated Team 39 10 Education Equality for All 41 Our network of 96 schools Blown Away: Scoil Cholmchille Blarney Street Primary school 1 Brass Band in 2010. 2 10 Years in Numbers Reflecting On a Decade It must have been a bittersweet experience for the many Christian Brothers who gathered in Dublin Castle ten years ago to witness the inauguration of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. I am sure that many of them were heartbroken at the realisation that the cause to which they had devoted their lives “ was in danger of failing because of an absence of vocations. In a tremendous act of faith and hope they decided to hand over the ownership of their almost 100 schools to a lay trust. They reposed faith in us and hoped we would continue the provision of education in accordance with the traditions of Blessed Edmund Rice. I will never forget the experience of Dublin Castle that day. Although sad, there was a tremendous energy and enthusiasm shown by all to ensure that the ideals of Edmund Rice would continue through the agency of this trust. I hope that the Brothers’ act of faith has been honoured and their hope realised by the work of the trust for the last 10 years. The Charter, so carefully drafted so as to ensure that the vision of Edmund Rice would be maintained, has been given effect to in all of our schools. I wish to express sincere thanks to the principals and teachers who have played such a vital role in ensuring the continuation of education in the Edmund Rice tradition.… 3 I also thank and pay tribute to the past and present directors of the trust who gave and give so generously of their time and expertise. The small but very dedicated executive staff have played a huge role in ensuring the success of the trust. Thanks to them. My fellow members of the trust have been no less generous in their commitment to ensuring its success. I am very grateful to them. The proof of the success of the trust is, of course, to be found in our students. They – in a world that is largely unsympathetic to the Edmund Rice ideals – have proved themselves to be enthusiastic ambassadors for those ideals. We are very proud of them. Peter Kelly, Chairman of the Members, Edmund ”Rice Schools Trust 4 37,000 33 students in Ireland primary schools 170,000 students worldwide 96 schools 63 secondary schools 4 school changes to co-education 5 amalgamations 2 brand new 768 schools voluntary Board 3 of Management schools members transferred 6 into ERST Gaelscoileanna 300,000 futures: 7 We estimate that over 300,000 staff 1 students have passed through equivalent new Irish our schools since we were established, many from primary stream to secondary and then beyond to new futures. 5 Care, Safety and Student Happiness 2 WHAT MATTERS TO US AT YOUR TRUST The Seed Will Grow Is cúis áthais is onóra dom fáilte a chur roimh an leabhrán comórtha seo. Is deacair a chreidiúint go bhfuil deich mbliana curtha i gcrích ag Iontaobhas Scoileanna Éamonn Rís agus nach iontach an rud é go bhfuil an Iontaobhas agus a chuid scoileanna ag dul i láidre in aghaidh na bliana. Ten years have passed since that special day in Dublin Castle when “ the Edmund Rice Schools Trust was launched. What a generous and courageous step it was for the Christian Brothers to hand over the trustee- ship of nearly 100 schools to a new lay trust after over two hundred years of intimate and accumulated experience of patronage of their schools. The new patron had a lot to live up to but it was taking on the challenge emboldened with a fierce passion for the vision of Edmund Rice, for our schools, for the students and their communities. It has to be a source of great satisfaction that the vision of Edmund Rice as expressed in the Charter has been embedded in all our school communities in a real and life-giving way. Our principals and teachers have made a tremendous contribution in bringing to life the values of Edmund Rice and we owe such gratitude to parents all over the country who have expressed such confidence in Edmund Rice education. The most remarkable achievement has been the way our students – in a very changed world – have immersed themselves in the ethos of our schools and see in the values of the Charter guiding principles for living meaningful lives. Tá ard-mholadh tuillte go mór ag gach duine a raibh baint acu leis an leabrán seo a ullmhú agus tréaslaim go mór leo. May the spirit of Edmund inspire us all as we face the future in confidence. Noel Merrick, Chairperson of the Directors 6 ” Care, Safety and Student Happiness Unveiling the Whitaker Collection: St Joseph’s CBS, Drogheda, unveiled the Whitaker Collection of documents kindly entrusted to the school by Edmund Rice Schools are a dynamic, We do this in three ways: the family of Dr TK Whitaker in early diverse and thriving network of 96 2018. The Whitaker Alumni was also 1. We encourage our students to be relaunched at the same event. secondary and primary schools across independent thinkers and young Ireland, working every day to inspire social justice leaders by participating and guide over 37,000 children and in our internationally recognised young people. Edmund Rice advocacy, volunteering All of our schools are defined and and immersion programmes. shaped by our unique Charter. It sets 2. We provide every opportunity to out the values of quality teaching and our schools to be at the cutting learning, care, equality, leadership edge of education and innovation and faith at the heart of Edmund Rice by supporting quality teaching Education. and learning methods that focus Our primary aim, as the patron body on bringing out the best in our for this dynamic network, is to support students and teachers. We prioritise our schools to bring these values to life pioneering initiatives for young and to make them an integral part of people with special education and modern school life and experience – in social needs particularly. the classroom, on the playing fields and 3. We appoint, train and support in the community. quality Boards of Management, Principals and Deputy Principals to manage our schools, providing them with specialist advice and support on a range of issues, including governance, child welfare, finance and school developments. 7 3 Diversity Unites Us: Pupils from Oatlands Primary School in 2011. Oatlands Primary is one of the most diverse schools on Dublin’s Southside. Over 55% of ERST Primary schools are providing education and learning for children from disadvantaged communities or with specific education needs. 8 Our Students and our Schools are our Lifeblood There’s always something special about marking an anniversary. It gives you a chance to reflect on what has happened – the people and events that have enriched that time span. And in our case, particularly, the Teachers, Principals, Deputy Principals, Boards of Management, Parents and of course “ Students that have been such an integral part of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust story over our ten years together since 2008. Our students and our schools are our lifeblood. The creativity, diversity, resilience, energy and innovation within our network is simply amazing. As a Trust team we are here to do one thing – and that is to provide the framework that supports and facilitates this vibrant network and the teaching, learning, support and encouragement that goes on every day in our 96 school communities. We are also very aware that 10 years, on the scale of things, is a very short time indeed, particularly when we consider the two century legacy that precedes our establishment. 9 Blessed Edmund Rice, the extraordinary man who Marking any anniversary is also a great time to founded his first school in Waterford 216 years think about the future. While we are celebrating “Our collective task is to enable ago, lit a flame that was to give opportunity to years gone by with this booklet, we are also looking children and young people to hundreds of thousands of children living in Ireland forward with anticipation to the years that have and around the world. Where there were no yet to come. live to the best of their ability in options, he provided a solid choice which started dignity, with hope and a strong with a set of values enshrined in the Catholic faith. There is a strong demand for the broad range of schools within our network. The quality, diverse sense of belonging.” In 2008, the Christian Brothers very generously and social justice ethos of our schools has never handed on responsibility for their schools in been more relevant, nor more needed. Ireland to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, to hold the schools in trust, so that they would continue Our collective task is to enable children and young to provide Catholic education, in the Edmund people to live to the best of their ability in dignity, Rice tradition.