Community National Schools operate through an ethos of inclusiveness and respect for all beliefs both religious and non-religious. Community National Schools provide a multi-belief education programme within the school setting during school day(s). This commitment is an important and distinguishing feature of Community National Schools.

All children are taught a common multi-belief education programme called “Goodness Me – Goodness You” which centres on a common approach with the key to each lesson involving the relating of a story.

Preparations for key milestones in individual beliefs are provided for within the school day.  Local belief leaders are encouraged to come into the school from time to time and particularly during the child’s preparation for key milestones in accordance with his/her belief.

On 6 May 2010, Ms Mary Coughlan, Tánaiste & Minister for Education and Skills, commented that:

feedback to date from those involved in the programme has been very positive. It has been particularly welcomed by parents of children in the schools who have direct experience of the lessons and materials being developed.

A key hallmark of Community National Schools is their multi-collaborative and inclusive approach to educating children – welcoming and respecting children of all cultures and beliefs. Community National Schools acknowledge the diversity of values, beliefs, languages and traditions in Irish society and are deeply committed to inclusion, equality and fairness. Community National Schools operate through an ethos of inclusivity and respect for all beliefs, both religious and non-religious and recognise the wishes of parents, in making reasonable accommodation to having their children receive belief-specific teaching during the school day.

“Ireland today mirrors Ireland at various times in her past. Ireland has been forged from diversity, from successive waves of immigration including Celtic, Viking, Norman, English, Scots and Huguenot (something which can be seen in the diversity of origins of surnames which are typical in Ireland)”.

The Irish Nobel Prize winning playwright George Bernard Shaw expressed this when he wrote: I am a genuine typical Irishman of the Danish, Norman, Cromwellian and (of course) Scotch invasions.

This historic diversity has contributed to the richness of Irish heritage. The diversity found in contemporary Ireland contributes to the richness of our culture today and into the future.

Community National Schools represent a new departure in the delivery of primary education in Ireland. Community National Schools represent a new colour to the existing palate of options available for parents/guardians in the provision of primary education in Ireland. Established initially in 2008, Community National Schools are State schools operating in accordance with prescribed guidelines and curricula for National Schools as set down by the Department of Education and Skills.

Community National Schools are subject to external monitoring and evaluation by the Department of Education and Skills’ Inspectorate in line with established standards and practice.

Community National Schools strive to provide a primary school educational experience that respects each child’s uniqueness and cultivates each child’s potential through approaches that are child-centred, inclusive, dignified and founded on a commitment to contemporary, high quality teaching and learning methodologies.

Education, particularly at primary level, is influential in shaping one’s view of the world and our sense of belonging within it. School is an important social setting and experiences in school contribute to the building, over time, of core values such as justice, fairness in treatment, respect for oneself and others and so on. Community National Schools, through the work of dedicated staff educating in a culture respecting diversity, invest in the holistic development of each child in a variety of capabilities be it academic, civic, social, moral or spiritual development.

Acknowledging the role of the family and parents enshrined in Article 42 of the Irish Constitution, Community National Schools respect the trust you, as a parent/guardian, place in having your child educated in line with the key principles on which these schools are based.

The school community needs the support and active engagement of parents/guardians at numerous levels. It is a unique experience for any parent when their child goes to primary school and the Community National School strives, through a caring and empathetic approach, to foster a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere in its schools throughout the child’s schooling experience and in support of the child’s parents and family.

Whilst each Community National School is unique in its make-up, the fundamentals are the same. Community National Schools value you as a parent, your child and your child’s family.

Community National Schools appreciate and willingly encourage the involvement of parents, guardians and each child’s family, in the education, social and moral development of their child both within and outside the school day.

A customary special ‘Welcome Day’ takes place at the start of each school year for Junior Infant children and their parents/guardians and various celebratory days in belief calendars are acknowledged during the school calendar year.

Community National Schools provide a variety of after-school activities organised through the school for children and indeed for parents/guardians.

For more detailed information on such programmes and activities log onto your local Community National School or your local ETB.

Community National Schools are founded on a strong community identity. Not only will your child experience being part of the school’s own community but also, and importantly, recognise that he/she is a valued member of the local community in which he/she lives and grows.

Schools are important hubs in any community, oftentimes providing the sole link for parents whether working within or outside the home, to neighbours and the wider community. This has been particularly true in recent years with the emergence of large suburban areas populated by families who are not born in the area in which they, as a family, now live. The importance of the ‘community’ element in the establishment of these schools is a unique feature. Involvement from the local community is actively encouraged whether it is through promoting the Arts, broadening cultural experiences, promoting sporting and social activities or through a variety of other means.

Community National Schools are of the community – uniquely placed in the local community and providing a welcoming, friendly, approach to parental and community involvement.

Through its own unique character and dynamic, each Community National School strives to promote a positive experience for each child of being part of not only their own school, but also assisting in the child’s development of a sense of belonging to and identity with, the community in which they live. Each Community National School simultaneously brings the community into the school and the school into the community.

Community National Schools place the child at the centre of the learning experience. Proven conventional and contemporary approaches to the way the curriculum is taught, both contribute to the development of each child’s learning potential and retention capabilities. Teaching is assisted through the use of modern educational equipment and technologies to support the child’s learning process.

The Board of Management The Board of Management in a Community National School when established will have responsibilities based on the same obligations to those prescribed for other Irish primary schools. This will mean that the Board of Management will be responsible for all matters relating to the operation and accountability of the school.

Community National School Boards of Management will be structured to reflect representation from key stakeholders involved in the school. Every Community National School Board will include representation from parents, teachers, the community, the patron and the Principal.

The VEC as Patron The local Vocational Education Committee (VEC) currently acts as patron designate for Community National Schools pending the enactment of the necessary legislation to facilitate full VEC patronage. Following enactment, the local VEC will act as the patron of the Community National School, setting out the ethos and philosophy for the development of the school. As patron, the VEC will guide that ethos and see that is supported by the Board and staff of the school.

VECs have a distinguished record over decades in delivering and working in partnership in the provision of education and training programmes within the communities they serve. VECs themselves are democratic in representation and statutorily accountable through governing legislation for the performance of their statutory functions. This structure provides significant transparency and accountability.

A number of significant benefits accrue to Community National Schools in having the local VEC as its patron not least of these is the additional support, expertise and knowledge-base that VECs possess which can act as an invaluable resource to Principals, staff, parents and the school community.

Meade and Young [1] commented that the pupil-teacher relationship influences the engagement, motivation and behaviour of pupils at second level. The relationship between the teacher and child at primary level is particularly important given that the individual teacher educates across a variety of disciplines.

The drive, energy and commitment which management, teaching and support staff have demonstrated in the Community National Schools already opened, represents real commitment to the provision of a high standard quality educational experience which respects each individual child and approaches education with renewed purpose and ambition.

[1] Meade and Young – presentation from the Second Level Support Service

A child-centred approach to teaching and learning impacts every aspect of your child’s experience of school life. In real terms, it means that each child’s needs and talents are fostered through teaching and learning approaches that strive to develop each child’s academic, social, moral, emotional, spiritual and creative capabilities. Community National Schools endeavour to provide a welcoming, safe, encouraging and happy learning atmosphere where your child can learn new skills and develop capabilities to enable him/her to engage positively and constructively with the community and the world around them.

Community National Schools teach for the 21st century, applying modern technologies with established and progressive approaches to educating each child. As Margaret Arbuckle, a leading US Educator, wrote:

“In high performing schools, teachers feel invigorated, challenged, professionally engaged, and empowered, just because they are there.”

This is true of the commitment to educating each child in accordance with the key principles that underpin this new initiative in primary education in modern Ireland so that as Robert M. Hutchins so aptly put it

“The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.”