Longford parents want English-speaking, denominational, and co-ed schools, survey shows

88.4% of Longford parents whose children attend English-speaking primary schools have expressed a preference for English to remain the primary language through which classes are taught.

This was just one of the key findings from the national Primary School Survey which had invited participation from members of the public. Over 200,000 households nationwide submitted responses to the survey.

Localised results show that 70.5% of Longford parents whose kids are in denominational primary schools (meaning a school run in accordance with the ethos of a specific religion) expressed a preference for their school to remain this way.

Meanwhile, 73.3% of Longford parents whose children attend single-sex primary schools indicated a preference for their school to move a co-education system.  

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The Department of Education says it is currently continuing its detailed analysis of the survey data and is preparing finalised school-specific results for each of the participating 3,200+ primary schools nationwide.

Schools in Longford will receive their detailed reports in early May, outlining parent preferences and guidance on whether change is desired. They can decide then if they wish to be included in the first phase of any changes. 

The results in Longford appear to be in line with the preliminary results nationwide which indicated that approximately 60% of parents with children in denominational schools wished to retain that ethos, while approximately 73% of parents with kids in single‑sex primary schools favoured a move to co‑education.

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Approximately 87% of parents with children in English-speaking schools supported maintaining English as the primary language in use.

The Department of Education have today stated however that while these figures provided a national overview, it was important to note that it will be the preferences within each individual school community that will determine future direction. 

Speaking about the results of the survey - which elicited over 241,000 responses, with 200,381 being validated after checks for duplicates and eligibility - Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton said the significant volume of responses mark an important step in ensuring that parents and school communities are central in shaping the future direction of primary education. 

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“School communities have spoken, and their message is clear that parents want a central role in shaping the future of their children’s education," she said.

"We have seen an extraordinary level of engagement in the national Primary School Survey, with over 200,000 households responding, which shows a deep commitment from families, staff and Boards of Management to the direction of their local schools."

"While national trends provide us with a useful context, the most important insight is that every school community is different. The future of each school will be guided not by a one-size-fits-all approach, but by the preferences of its own parents, guardians and wider school community.”

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The minister pointed out that while in some communities, there was a strong desire to maintain existing traditions and ethos, in others, there was "a clear appetite for change," whether in relation to school type or structure.”

Minister Naughton continued, “That diversity of views must be respected and reflected. As school-specific reports issue, in the coming weeks, they will empower communities with the evidence they need to make informed decisions."

"This is about putting parents and school communities firmly at the heart of decision making for their schools.”

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