Board of Education (R.O.I.)23 May 11

Parental Values and Attitudes Schools Survey (Republic of Ireland)

Parental Values and Attitudes Schools Survey 2011 to be presented at the National Forum on School Patronage in June 2011

To all Primary School Principals in Church of Ireland and Protestant Primary Schools:

As you will be aware, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, T.D., has announced the establishment of a National Forum on School Patronage. The Board of Education intends to make a submission to that Forum and has also been invited to present its views, in person, before the Forum in late June of this year.

The Board is very anxious that in making its presentation to the National Forum, it would have the most accurate and reliable information available to demonstrate the importance of our schools being under Church of Ireland patronage. It is especially important that the Board’s representatives are able to demonstrate parental choice, values and attitudes in relation to the schools.

To gather this information a survey is currently being compiled and will be distributed to all Church of Ireland Schools from Tuesday the 24th May 2011. It will be aimed at the parents of pupils in Junior Infants and Sixth class.

This survey is being conducted through the Church of Ireland Primary School Management Association and the Church of Ireland College of Education and the Board of Education is very grateful to both organisations.

We hope primary schools will support this collaborative action to make the best possible presentation for our schools at the National Forum on School Patronage by returning the surveys speedily. The Board, CIPSMA and the College of Education are very aware that this is probably the busiest time in the school year and we recognise that we are asking a ‘favour’ of school staff and parents. However, the future patronage of our schools is an issue of major importance to our community. 

Regards,
Church of Ireland
Board of Education RoI

Church of Ireland College of Education
The Church of Ireland Primary School Management Association