Community National Schools
A Community National School is just as it says. Founded in local communities, our schools are child centred, inclusive, multi-belief, State supported schools providing a high quality primary education for every child in line with the National Primary School Curriculum laid down by the Department of Education & Skills.
The Minister for Education & Skills, Ruairi Quinn, T.D, announced in 2011 that 20 new primary schools are to be established in Ireland over the next six years. County Dublin VEC have applied for patronage of 5 of these schools, under the Community National School model of school:
- Ballinteer (Opening 2012)
- Tallaght/ Citywest (Opening 2012)
- Lucan South (Opening 2013)
- Firhouse/ Old Bawn (Opening 2013)
- Tallaght West (Opening 2013)
The decision from the Minister regarding these schools will be made in early 2012.
Your Community, Your Schools
Under a programme started in 2007, there are now five Community National Schools in the country (three in County Dublin) providing high quality primary education and personal life skills development for children of all beliefs
Community national Schools have a strong community focus. They welcome all children of the appropriate age from the local community.
They operate in exactly the same way as every other national school in Ireland, with the one main difference – they are multi-belief and multi-denominational. Their patron is the Minister for Education and Skills, through the Vocational Education Committee (VEC).
Community National Schools are focused on quality of service provision, good governance and accountability to their local community.
The Boards of the new schools are similar to existing community based representative Boards in the successful VEC model. They comprise two representatives of the VEC, two teachers (the Principal and another), two parents and two community representatives. The Principal of the school is the Secretary to the Board of Management.
The new Community National Schools operated by the VEC are of a very high quality and have met with a very favourable response from parents.
To date, County Dublin VEC has opened three new Community National Schools and we are currently seeking to open further schools across County Dublin.
Existing Community national Schools in the County Dublin area:
Scoil Choilm, Porterstown, Dublin 15
What is the RIGHT CHOICE?
Community National Schools provide the Right Choice for parents and children in communities throughout County Dublin. They are:
R - Respectful of Diversity
I - Inclusive
G - Government funded and State operated
H - Holistic, taking everything into account
T - Together with parents, acting in the child’s best interests and wellbeing
C - Child centred
H - High quality
O - Open and accountable
I - Inspiring in their leadership of modern education
C - Community based
E - Educating for the 21st Century
Community National Schools are the Right Choice for your child’s primary education, personal growth, wellbeing and future skills development for life and living in a modern and inclusive Ireland.
