Prior to the introduction of the so-called “Free Post Primary Education Scheme” second level education was clearly divided into two sectors. The voluntary second level schools, most of them owned by religious orders, offered academic studies to students up to Leaving Certificate level, while Vocational schools, as their name implied, offered courses which prepared students for the world of work.
During the course of the 1960's Government policy was clearly directed towards the provision of a universal system of second level education available to all children.
In 1963 Vocational schools were permitted to extend from a two-year cycle, covering the Group Certificate, to a five-year cycle, covering both the Intermediate and Leaving Certificate courses.
A number of Comprehensive schools were established to meet the needs of particular localities and circumstances. These new Comprehensives combined the subjects and courses available in Secondary schools with courses that had traditionally been taught in Vocational or Technical schools.
The State offered tuition and building grants to allow voluntary Secondary schools to expand and to meet the increased demand for second level school places. In 1967 alone an extra 18,000 pupils entered the Post-Primary scheme.
The Community school system, as we know it to-day, was the result of an initiative by Mr. Pádraigh Faulkner T.D., Minister for Education in 1970. He proposed that Community schools be established with the help of funds from the World Bank under certain conditions. The management authorities of voluntary secondary schools and vocational schools were brought together and agreed to cooperate in the running of these schools.
The first Community schools opened their doors in 1972 in Tallaght and Coolmine.
The rationale behind the Community school system was:
- To bring together in a single institution the academic style education of the traditional Secondary school and the practically orientated programme of the Vocational school. In this way pupils would be able to sample both the practical and academic in a broad general curriculum, so that each would be offered an educational structure suitable to his/her needs, abilities and interests.
- To bring second level education into the fast developing urban housing estates and to the remote rural areas where previously it was unavailable.
- To amalgamate existing small Secondary and Vocational schools so as to ensure equality of educational opportunities for both boys and girls regardless of background or social status.
- To be leaders in the area of curriculum development and change.
- To make provision for the provision of Adult and Community education facilities in their areas.
A Deed of Trust was negotiated which provided for the setting up of Boards of Management consisting of:
- Three nominees of religious authorities
- Three nominees of the VEC
- Two elected representatives of parents of pupils of the school
- Two elected representatives of the teaching staff of the school
- The Principal of the school. (non voting)
In 1975 the Principals and Vice Principals of the Community and Comprehensive schools joined together to form an association (APVC) to support one another and to advance the aims and objectives of their schools.
In the years 1980/81 APVC undertook the task of putting together a draft constitution for ACCS. An inaugural General Meeting was held in Milltown Park in the Spring of 1982 with an interim constitution. Fr. John Hughes was elected President for the year 1982/83.
The first Annual Convention in Athlone on the 22nd and 23rd April 1983 firmly established the Association's constitution and elected Mr. Tomas McKeon, Principal of Tarbert Comprehensive School, as its President. This Convention represented 56 Boards of Management, 13 of which were Comprehensive schools.
In 2003 ACS became a registered Company limited by Guarantee which offered greater legal protection to its Executive Committee and to its membership. With incorporation, ACS became known as ACCS and it also secured Charity Status from the Irish Revenue Commissioners.
The constitution was replaced by the ACCS Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The Association is established to:
- facilitate and assist Member Boards in the execution of their responsibilities,
- act as a representative and negotiating body on behalf of all member Boards or, on request, on behalf of an individual member Board.
- co-operate with, or enter into agreement with any other bodies having similar objectives on a general basis or in relation to particular issues.
- apply the funds of the Association in carrying out these functions and in defraying the expenses of management and administration
The officers and committee of the Association carried out these duties in a voluntary capacity for the first six years. In 1988 the Association established a fulltime Secretariat with Mr. Sean Moriarty as its first fulltime General Secretary, followed in 1991 by Mr. Frank Murray, in 1996 by Mr. Sean McCann and in 2006 by Mr. Ciarán Flynn.