Despite demographic changes in recent decades, primary schools in Ireland have remained predominantly denominational in both ownership and management.

This is according to the latest Economic and Social Research Institute report, School Sector Variation Among Primary Schools in Ireland.

The report looked at three main types of primary schools - Catholic, multi-denominational and minority faith schools - and found student intake at Catholic schools remains chiefly Catholic.

However, where Catholic schools have migrant pupils among the student body, the spread of nationalities is wider compared to the other two types of schools.

When it comes to multi-denominational schools, 50 per cent of the pupils were found to be Catholic, while this denomination makes up 30 per cent of intake at minority faith schools.

There was found to be no significant difference in students' perspectives of their school experiences across the three sectors.

Paul Rowe, Educate Together chief executive officer, noted: "This report provides an important objective background to the current debate around school patronage."

Written by Donal Walsh

Comments