‘10 Years On’ - 2008 - 2018 - PowerPoint Presentation

‘10 Years On’ - 2008 - 2018 ETBI Conference 2018

The Vision for Community National Schools in 2007 “the new schools will be open to children of all religions and none. They will be inter-denominational in character, aiming to provide for religious education and faith formation during the school day for each of the main faith groups represented. A general ethics programme will also be available for children whose parents opt for that and the schools will operate through an ethos of inclusiveness and respect for all beliefs, both religious and non-religious." (Mary Hanifin , TD, Dec. 2007)

The Beginning The Minister as PatronSingle Managers appointed VECs as patrons in waiting – supported the schools Multidenominational, inclusive schools – open enrolment policies, diversity celebrated Goodness Me! Goodness You! at the heart of the ethos of a CNS – story-based, multidenominational programme in line with the Minister’s vision

The Growth of the CNS Model

The Growth of the CNS model

Living out the ethos of a CNS CNS schools attracted diverse communities Excellent practices developed in the schools in dealing with diversityMostly established in new communities – central role in creating communities CNS Management Group & GMGY Network – Sharing experiences and best practice e.g. anti-racism policy, equality policy CNS schools thrived in the areas they served

Education and Training Boards as Patrons Patronage of schools transferred to ETBs in 2016 Single manager – Establishment of Boards of ManagementAppointment of an Educational Policy and Development Officer in ETBICommunity National Schools as State schools in a complex system of private patronage ETBs providing supports to CNSs – Educational, IT, Finance, Buildings, HR/IR

The Challenge Some excellent practices in the various schools in the absence of an overall framework Variety of experiences of living out the vision of ‘faith formation’ within the school day Belief Specific Teaching Sacramental Preparation Difficult to describe the model as a whole Negative media attention

Working through the Challenges Development of GMGY Senior Curriculum – BST no longer included Development of a CNS ‘Patron’s Framework’ – teasing out our core values – clarity and consistency paramount Trinity Research Praised the level of religious/belief literacy of the children attending CNS Attributed the high level of inter-racial and inter-faith friendships to the child- centred approach to RE Recommended the discontinuation of Belief Specific Teaching Recommended Sacramental Preparation to move to outside the school day ETBI held a ‘think-in’ in June 2016 to further discuss issues with principals, GMGY co-ordinators, Patrons Irish Episcopal Conference wrote to ETBI expressing concern over the amount of time being spent on sacramental preparation

Community National Schools in 2018 Interim Patron’s Framework expressing the core values of the model and how it should be lived out was finalised Revised Goodness Me! Goodness You! Programme from Junior Infants to 6th Class launching in October 2018 Sacramental Preparation actively facilitated outside the school day No Belief Specific Teaching during the school day

Community National Schools in 2018 Almost 4000 children attending Community National SchoolsGrowing the model New Schools Reconfiguration Early Movers ‘Becoming a Community National School: A step by step guide’ launching in October

Links with ETB Post-Primary Schools Recognition of need for clarity and consistency in relation to core values and characteristic spirit in ETB post-primary schoolsETBI Religion and Diversity Task Group Currently a Core Values Review being carried out across ETB schoolsDevelopment of a Patron’s Framework CNS framework will mirror this to ensure consistency amongst schools under the patronage of ETBs