The CEO of Cork County VEC Joan Russell attended a specially convened meeting of Fermoy Town Council recently, to brief members on the matter of community national schools, a new model for primary schools under the patronage of the VEC.

It was timely, given that the national patronage survey of selected towns including Fermoy finished the week before last.

Town councillors including two members of the Cork County VEC, Tadhg O’Donovan, Vice Chairman and Pa O’Driscoll  heard that the aim of community national schools is to reflect and celebrate diversity in Ireland with the school becoming a centre of the local community and where children are encouraged and supported in living their lives to the full. High standards are the goal in teaching and learning, they were told. The ethos is one of value and respect for all students and respect for plurality of faiths and non-faiths is integral to the school’s daily routine. 

There are, as yet, no community schools in Co Cork. Six such schools have opened so far, four of them in Dublin, one in Naas and one in Navan. Three new schools are due to open next year.