Balbriggan Educate Together Second Level Start-Up: Presentation to Balbriggan Town Council

1. Balbriggan Educate Together Second Level Start-Up: Presentation to Balbriggan Town Council September 9th 2008 Balbriggan Educate Together Secondary School Start-Up Group

2. Introductions • Parent group representative of primary school children. • Firm belief in the need for an Educate Together secondary school in Balbriggan to promote community integration and a sense of local identity. • “It is generally accepted that schools are a key element in the integration of an incoming community” Saturday, September 8, 2007 Irish Times Balbriggan Educate Together Secondary School Start-Up Group

3. Educate Together Second Level School in Balbriggan • Annually 100 students from two Educate Together primary schools in Balbriggan (in addition to numerous other local primary schools). • Potential to ease students’ transition from primary to post-primary schooling through a closer blending; not just of ethos but also of curriculum and teaching methodologies. www.educatetogether.ie/2_campaigns/secondlevelet.html Balbriggan Educate Together Secondary School Start-Up Group

4. Profile of Educational Needs in Balbriggan • Cllr Gertie Shields said that Balbriggan’s schools are ‘bursting at the seams’ and will soon have to turn away children from outlying areas. Friday October 18 2002 Fingal Independent Balbriggan Educate Together Secondary School Start-Up Group

5. Profile of Educational Needs in Balbriggan • Between 2,040 and 2,318 extra pupil places are required at post primary level. DES Draft Area Development Plan 2007 (see pack) • Need for more school places for boys in town schools. • Need to provide for pupils of Balscadden and Balrothery schools, who now lack progression options. • We must also provide for the growing religious diversity within Balbriggan. Balbriggan Educate Together Secondary School Start-Up Group

6. Educate Together Second-Level Survey in Balbriggan • Parents in Balbriggan ETNS and Bracken ETNS surveyed in Spring 2008. • 96 per cent approval for an ET second-level schools. • Parents in St.George’s National School are currently being surveyed. Preliminary response of 100 per cent positive • More surveys to be conducted in local schools and community groups. Balbriggan Educate Together Secondary School Start-Up Group

7. Summary of Main Points • Two new schools needed to complement existing provision in the town and address urgent need for more secondary school places. • The Educate Together ethos is best suited to serve the needs of our rapidly-growing, multi-cultural town – “No Child an Outsider” Balbriggan Educate Together Secondary School Start-Up Group

8. What can the Town Council do? • Support the ET application for patronage at second level. • Support local campaign for an ET secondary school in Stephenstown. Balbriggan Educate Together Secondary School Start-Up Group

9. Conclusion • “Future generations will measure our success as a nation on the capacity of our education system to integrate students from different cultures and different ethnic backgrounds in a school learning environment.” Michael Moriarty (General Secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association) Friday, September 7, 2007 Irish Times Balbriggan Educate Together Secondary School Start-Up Group