Our Ethos
Educate Together schools are national schools, teaching the full primary curriculum. They are child-centred and focused on the best possible educational outcome for your child. Our teachers bring the curriculum to life by encouraging children to think, question and engage both with their teacher and with each other.
Our Ethical Education curriculum ‘Learn Together’ supports children’s moral and spiritual development and teaches children about different belief systems. They also learn about democracy, human rights and stewardship of our environment. This curriculum has been developed over 35 years in Irish primary schools and is an important part of making Educate Together schools welcoming and inclusive.
Citywest ETNS is one of 90 Educate Together schools nationwide, and one of around 20 in the South West Dublin / Kildare area surrounding Citywest. If you would like to know more about how Educate Together schools work in practice, just contact a school near you and go visit them!
We use the walls of our school to share our Learn Together curriculum and to display artwork done in our ethical education lessons. Please come in and have a read. We change the displays every few weeks and every class gets a chance to have their work on display. Hopefully it will give you a taste of the curriculum!
If you would like to know more about Educate Together, please go to www.educatetogether.ie.
Our Ethical Education curriculum ‘Learn Together’ supports children’s moral and spiritual development and teaches children about different belief systems. They also learn about democracy, human rights and stewardship of our environment. This curriculum has been developed over 35 years in Irish primary schools and is an important part of making Educate Together schools welcoming and inclusive.
Citywest ETNS is one of 90 Educate Together schools nationwide, and one of around 20 in the South West Dublin / Kildare area surrounding Citywest. If you would like to know more about how Educate Together schools work in practice, just contact a school near you and go visit them!
We use the walls of our school to share our Learn Together curriculum and to display artwork done in our ethical education lessons. Please come in and have a read. We change the displays every few weeks and every class gets a chance to have their work on display. Hopefully it will give you a taste of the curriculum!
If you would like to know more about Educate Together, please go to www.educatetogether.ie.
More about Educate Together
Citywest Educate Together National School is under the patronage of Educate Together.
Educate Together is the patron body to Ireland’s multi-denominational schools. Established in 1978, it now has 92 national schools and 17 second-level schools nationwide.
Ethos & Mission
Educate Together is the representative organisation for primary & secondary multi-denominational schools in Ireland. It is an independent NGO that runs and supports schools that guarantee equality of access and esteem to children "irrespective of their social, cultural or religious background". Educate Together schools are learner centred in their approach to education and are run as participatory democracies, with respectful partnership between parents, pupils and teachers. The Educate Together national office is working towards an Ireland in which all people have access to an excellent education that is inclusive of all, irrespective of belief system, ethnicity, class, culture, gender, language, sexuality, family background and ability.
For more information on Educate Together's primary schools, visit: http://www.educatetogether.ie/our-schools/primary
Curriculum
Educate Together schools teach the Learn Together Ethical Education Curriculum, rather than the religious instruction programmes taught in denominational schools. This curriculum has four strands:
School community
As of 2019, there are now 92 Educate Together primary schools in Ireland. The growth in the Educate Together school network continues to be driven by parental demand. In addition to our established schools, we have start-up groups in communities hoping to have Educate Together schools opened in their area.
To locate your nearest Educate Together school or start-up group, visit: http://www.educatetogether.ie/our-schools
Second-level
In addition to opening and operating primary schools, Educate Together has campaigned successfully for a new model of second-level education. The first Educate Together second-level schools opened in 2014 in Blanchardstown, Lucan and Drogheda.
Educate Together's approach at second-level moves away from 'teaching to the test' and towards an emphasis on the learner. Students will develop skills in creative and critical thinking, communication, teamwork, research and leadership. Teachers in an Educate Together second-level school will use the best teaching and learning methods to make students’ learning active, relevant, challenging and enjoyable.
To learn more visit http://www.educatetogether.ie/our-schools/second-level
Educate Together is the patron body to Ireland’s multi-denominational schools. Established in 1978, it now has 92 national schools and 17 second-level schools nationwide.
Ethos & Mission
Educate Together is the representative organisation for primary & secondary multi-denominational schools in Ireland. It is an independent NGO that runs and supports schools that guarantee equality of access and esteem to children "irrespective of their social, cultural or religious background". Educate Together schools are learner centred in their approach to education and are run as participatory democracies, with respectful partnership between parents, pupils and teachers. The Educate Together national office is working towards an Ireland in which all people have access to an excellent education that is inclusive of all, irrespective of belief system, ethnicity, class, culture, gender, language, sexuality, family background and ability.
For more information on Educate Together's primary schools, visit: http://www.educatetogether.ie/our-schools/primary
Curriculum
Educate Together schools teach the Learn Together Ethical Education Curriculum, rather than the religious instruction programmes taught in denominational schools. This curriculum has four strands:
- Moral and Spiritual: children learn about feelings and values, the development of conscience, choices and consequences, stillness and meditation.
- Equality and Justice: children learn about wants and needs, rights and responsibilities; the promotion of equality and the nature of democracy locally (Student Councils are encouraged), nationally and globally.
- Belief Systems: children learn about the rites and ceremonies, celebrations, key figure and beliefs and values of the six main world religions: Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism. Schools also address Atheism, Agnosticism and Humanism.
- Ethics and the Environment: children learn about appreciation and stewardship of the natural world. Educate Together schools have an ethos of respect, diversity & inclusion.
School community
As of 2019, there are now 92 Educate Together primary schools in Ireland. The growth in the Educate Together school network continues to be driven by parental demand. In addition to our established schools, we have start-up groups in communities hoping to have Educate Together schools opened in their area.
To locate your nearest Educate Together school or start-up group, visit: http://www.educatetogether.ie/our-schools
Second-level
In addition to opening and operating primary schools, Educate Together has campaigned successfully for a new model of second-level education. The first Educate Together second-level schools opened in 2014 in Blanchardstown, Lucan and Drogheda.
Educate Together's approach at second-level moves away from 'teaching to the test' and towards an emphasis on the learner. Students will develop skills in creative and critical thinking, communication, teamwork, research and leadership. Teachers in an Educate Together second-level school will use the best teaching and learning methods to make students’ learning active, relevant, challenging and enjoyable.
To learn more visit http://www.educatetogether.ie/our-schools/second-level
Survey of Parents in relation to Belief Systems
In late 2014, a committee was formed to evaluate the treatment of Belief Systems at Citywest ETNS. This committee was comprised of Massimo Fermo (Board nominee), Clara Geaney (Parent nominee) and Aoife Blood (Teacher nominee).
The committee worked to compose a survey that could be used to gauge parent opinion in relation Belief Systems. This survey was circulated to all parents and recommendations were made based upon the findings of the survey.
The committee worked to compose a survey that could be used to gauge parent opinion in relation Belief Systems. This survey was circulated to all parents and recommendations were made based upon the findings of the survey.
| recommendations.pdf |
These recommendations were shared with the Board of Management and have been effected for the academic year 2015/2016.
We welcome further feedback from the school community in relation to this document, or the teaching of Belief Systems more generally.
Please share your thoughts with us below.
We welcome further feedback from the school community in relation to this document, or the teaching of Belief Systems more generally.
Please share your thoughts with us below.