PARENTS TO PICK NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL’S PATRON

PARENTS have until the end of this month to have their say on the patronage of the new secondary school in Wicklow town, which will have capacity for 600 students.

The new school was only announced by the Department of Education in April and is due to open in 2019. Four groups have applied to become patrons of the school, namely the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, Educate Together, Le Chéile Schools Trust and Scoil Sinéad Limited.

The patronage process runs until July 31 and is being overseen by the Independent New Schools Establishment Group, which was established in 2011 to advise the education minister on the patronage of new schools after its consideration of a department-prepared report.

PARENTS have until the end of the month to help decide who will secure patronage of the new secondary school due to be built in Wicklow town.

In April, the Department of Education announced plans for the new school, which will have a capacity for 600 students and is due to open in 2019.

Four groups have applied to become patrons of the school, namely the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, Educate Together, Le Chéile Schools Trust and Scoil Sinéad Limited.

The patronage process will remain open until the end of July and parents are invited to express their preference.

The Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School Action Group has been formed to support Educate Together’s bid to secure patronage of the school.

Louisa Meehan, coordinator of the group, said the group will support the application in any way it can.

‘We have already reached over 2,000 parents through our Facebook page,’ she said. ‘Minister Bruton’s commitment to respect for parental choice gives us great hope that Wicklow will have an Educate Together second-level school in 2019.’

The action group plans to demonstrate to the Department of Education that there is demand and support for a Educate Together second-level school in Wicklow town.

CEO of Educate Together Paul Rowe has also backed the campaign, describing it as ‘a great opportunity’ for families in the area.

‘Our second-level school in north Wicklow is going from strength to strength and I’m sure its innovation, equality-based ethos and warm and inclusive atmosphere will be replicated in a new Educate Together school in Wicklow,’ he said.

The patronage process runs until July 31 and is being overseen by the Independent New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG).

Parents and guardians can express their patronage preference online at https://patronage.education.gov.ie.