The National Trustee Forum
The 3rd Annual Conference of the National Trustee Forum for Community and Comprehensive Schools was held in the Mullingar Park Hotel on the Thursday 13th May. It was attended by more than 150 delegates representing the Patrons/Trustees and the managements of all 92 Community and Comprehensive schools. The work of the Conference was particularly directed towards the practical implications of the present model of co-patronage between the Catholic Religious Trustees and the local VECs. It is fully acknowledged that this is but one part of the broader issue of the future development of the Community and Comprehensive school sector in a much changed social setting.
The Conference sessions were chaired by Monsignor Jim Cassin, Chairperson of NTF, Mr. Pat O’Connor, representative of IVEA on NTF and Dr. Ken Fennelly of the Church of Ireland Board of Education. Mr. Ciarán Flynn, General Secretary of ACCS outlined for delegates the history of the establishment of the Forum; the many issues and challenges which it has undertaken since its inception and its importance in the future development of the Community and Comprehensive schools sector.
The practical challenges of co-patronage in Community and Comprehensive schools were presented effectively by Ms. Eilis Humphreys who is the Director of the Le Chéile Trust and by Ms. Anne O’Keeffe the CEO of County Laois VEC. The substance of their presentations is outlined elsewhere in this newsletter.
Mr. Martin Hanevy, Assistant Secretary in the Department of Education and Skills made an important contribution in which he outlined the Department’s view on new models of Catholic Patronage in Community schools and of the need for a review of the Community School Deed of Trust. Fr. Michael Drumm the Executive Chairperson of the Catholic Schools Partnership continued with a presentation entitled “Mediating School Ethos in the Community and Comprehensive Schools Multi-Denominational Setting”. He presented a comprehensive analysis of multi-denominational education as understood by his own organisation and as promoted by Catholic Patrons and Trustees in Community Schools.
A frank and open question and answer session provided delegates with the opportunity to express their views and their hopes for the future of existing schools and for the further development of the Community and Comprehensive school sector. Monsignor Cassin expressed his thanks to the General Secretary and Executive of ACCS for their support in the establishment and in the continued management of the Forum.