What is Educate Together?

Educate Together is the patron body of the growing network of schools in Ireland that are run according to the Educate Together Charter. It is an independent NGO that runs schools that guarantee equality of access and esteem to children “irrespective of their social, cultural or religious background”, are learner centred in their approach to education and are run as participatory democracies, with respectful partnership between parents, pupils and teachers.

For over 35 years Educate Together has been working to establish inspirational schools for children in Ireland. Schools that teach to the highest standards of education through an ethos that guarantees every child equality of esteem, regardless of their social, cultural or religious background. These principles of equality have been the foundation for every Educate Together school that has opened since the Dalkey School Project was established in 1978.

From that first school, which brought new thinking to Irish education, the Educate Together network has grown. The growth in the Educate Together school network continues to be driven by parental demand. Demand for places in established Educate Together schools continues to be high while many thousands of parents in other parts of the country have expressed interest in an Educate Together school for their communities. In addition to opening and operating primary schools, Educate Together has campaigned successfully for a new model of second-level education. The first Educate Together second-level schools opened in 2014.

Mission and Values

Equality-based

All children have equal access to the school and no one religion or worldview is given priority over another within the school.

Co-educational

All children are encouraged to explore their full range of abilities and are provided with equal opportunities regardless of their gender or identity.

Child-centred

Our child-centred approach means that we put children at the heart of all policies and practices and involve them in decision-making where appropriate.

Democratically-run

We run schools on a democratic basis, encouraging active participation by parents and students in the daily life of the school whilst positively affirming the professional role of the teachers.

Educate Together’s Charter

The Educate Together Charter describes schools that guarantee equality of access and esteem to children irrespective of their social, cultural or religious background, are learner centred in their approach to education and are run as participatory democracies, with respectful partnership between parents, pupils and staff. Enshrined in the Educate Together Charter is an obligation to put our students at the centre of everything we do. These values are reflected in Educate Together’s mottos:

Learn Together to Live Together

No Child an Outsider

Educate Together’s Vision

Educate Together is working towards an Ireland in which all people have access to an excellent education that is inclusive of all, irrespective of belief system, race, ethnicity, class, culture, gender, language and ability.

Educate Together’s Mission

Educate Together is an agent for change in the Irish State education system seeking to ensure that parents have the choice of an education based on the inclusive intercultural values of respect for difference and justice and equality for all. In Educate Together schools, every child will learn in an inclusive, democratic, co-educational setting that is committed to enabling and supporting each child to achieve their full potential while at the same time preparing them to become caring and active members of a culturally diverse society.