Shake up in local school sector

One of Athlone town's seven Catholic national schools may lose its Catholic patronage, under new proposals published yesterday (Tuesday) It follows the publication of the final report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. Athlone and Ballinasloe are listed, in the report, among 47 towns across the country in which some primary schools could lose their Catholic patronage during the first phase of proposed changes, it has emerged. The 47 towns chosen are areas, identified by the Department of Education, where "there is a need for divesting to allow for diversity of schools". Although it's not clear how many - or which - schools in the two towns would be involved, it's likely that a single school from each area would be chosen. The advisory group also recommended a phased approach to the transfer of schools, rather than a "big bang" approach. The forum heard 96 per cent of primary schools are under denominational patronage. About 3,000 of the 3,200 primary schools in the State are managed by the Catholic Church. The list of towns where a where a non or multi-denominational school is required was drawn up based on a number of criteria, including population size and a low likelihood that any other new school would be established here before 2016. The seven schools within the town boundary in Athlone are St Peter's NS, Dean Kelly, Cornamaddy, St Paul's, Coosan NS, Scoil na gCeithre Maistrí (gaelscoil), and St Mary's NS. No particular school listed above by the Department has been prioritised as a candidate for divesting. The report says that, in areas such as Athlone and Ballinasloe, where the department has identified a possible need for a change of patronage, a catchment area/district approach is recommended. The report says: "It would be unwise to target a particular school or community without a broad reflection on the overall school provision in the area and a clear enunciation of the value to the community as a whole of the change envisaged." The report also recommends the establishment of a register of parents of pre-school children which would indicate their preference for a type of school patronage.