Temple_Carraig_Admissions

Contrary to what some people seem to believe, the COI did not “win” this school.

Based on the numbers, it would not have been possible for the COI to establish a viable school within the perameters laid out by the Dept of Education.

As the COI population in the Greystones area is just above 10% , considerable support would have to be garnered from the rest of the community if a bid was to be successful.

A campaign was run “selling” a new school based on the success of East Glendalough but with the crucial difference that it would not be a “Protestant School for Protestant children”

"Applications Received 1. Church of Ireland (COI) – English Medium, Co-Educational , Faith based and Christian ethos – ( but
Multi-denominational in that the applicant patron states that they are not proposing a Protestant school for
Protestant children, but instead a faith based school that will embrace children of all faiths and none)
(voluntary Secondary School)"

Based on this assurance, the parents of Greystones put the fate of their childrens education in the hands of the COI.

Also based on this assurance the Dept of Education granted the COI the right to manage the school on their behalf.

These promises were upheld in the 2014 Enrolment Policy.

Unfortunately it was also at this point that the cracks began to appear.

Parents of COI children living in the surrounding parishes were surprised to find that they were in Category 2. (This should not have been a surprise unless they had been led to believe otherwise).
In fact this a positive discrimination, placing them above other children living within the catchment area (but not attending one of the feeder schools) and all other non COI children from outside the catchment area.

It would appear that enrolment for 2014 was higher than anticipated and very few places were available to Category 2 applicants.

I have heard that some Category 2 applicants were so incensed by this that they contacted the Dept of Education and asked to withdraw their “signatures of support” in protest. (This is obviously hearsay and I stand to be corrected on it by someone who knows better).

Strangely it would appear as if promises were made to these parents in order to garner their support (despite the fact that they lived outside the catchment area) as is evident in the Ethos Statement but not in the original application to the Dept of Education.

"Temple Carrig Secondary School was established to provide secondary education for children in the Greystones/Delgany area and also to make some provision for children attending primary schools under Church of Ireland patronage from outside the immediate catchment area."

The real possibility that a child from a COI background would not secure a place in the school now existed and the promises made were about to be tested.

The 2015 Enrolment Policy brought significant changes, there was now a new Category 0 which guaranteed right of entry to Category 1. COI children with “active parish affiliation” plus 12 “additional” places were created for COI children from outside the catchment area.

This is obviously a significant departure from the “Not a Protestant school for Protestant children” promise made to both the parents and the Dept of Education.

This policy change has had a polarising effect on what was once a very harmonious community.

The Board of Management stance that it will only explain itself after the event and refusal to engage in discussion has not helped.

This problem is not going to fade away, it will remain a wound that is reopened every year unless a fair solution is found.

Trust has broken down and needs to be re-established if this school is to enjoy the pride of place in the community that it deserves.