Just one multi-denominational school in Kilkenny, despite demand for change

There remains just one multi-denominational primary school in Kilkenny, despite the fact that more than four in ten families here would prefer a multi-denominational education.

That’s according to a recent national survey  survey on school type preference,  as announced by the Minister  for Education and Youth. The results show 40% of parents  in religious-run schools nationally would prefer a multi- denominational primary school  and  40.6% of families in Kilkenny  would  prefer a multi-denominational education.  These numbers  contrast  with current national provision, where 95.1% of primary schools  remain  under denominational control. 

Kilkenny School Project, an Educate Together school, is  the only multi-denominational primary school in the county. This means that of the 68 primary schools in the county, only one has a multi-denominational ethos. Parents in many parts of Kilkenny have no choice other than to send their children to a denominational primary school.  

KSP was founded in 1987, making Kilkenny one of the first counties to embrace multi-denominational education.  The Educate Together national office hopes to work with more Kilkenny-based families in the future, to expand access to equality-based education around the county.    

Edward Platt, Schools Development Officer for Educate Together said: “These national results are very encouraging for the future of school choice in County Kilkenny. At Educate Together we regularly engage with families and local communities who are frustrated by the lack of multi-denominational / equality-based school places available to them.

"Now that The Department of Education has provided statistically valid data to show that over 40% of parents in Kilkenny want their child to have access to a multi-denominational school, we need to see action taken to make this a reality”.