By Staff Reporter

A diverse school patronage body says it is responding to the Minister for Education’s call to provide a greater range of choice for primary-aged pupils. 

Established in 2004, the Educational Society of Ireland (ESI) is a culturally and ethnically diverse network of parents, teachers, business people and academics that says it’s committed to promoting best practice in Irish schooling.

Beginning with home schooling programmes, the ESI is now focused on opening schools along the lines of Educate Together’s non-denominational and diverse student bodies.

The Department of Education has invited the non-profit to apply for patronage of three new State-funded primaries due to open this September, in the Goatstown/Stillorgan, Cabra/Phibsborough and Drumcondra/Marino school catchments.

And the ESI is now asking for expressions of interest for parents and guardians of children born between 2010 and 2016 who are interested in their children attending these schools.

The ESI specialises in maths confidence and competence at both primary and secondary level through the Pangea Maths Olympics, as well as language tuition for non-native speakers, and an emphasis on music and cultural pursuits.

The organisation says its core objective is to maximise the potential of pupils regardless of background, educational or intellectual ability, all within a democratically run, multicultural, multi-denominational, supportive and ethics-driven environment in which parents and guardians are encouraged to participate.

For more information and details for making expressions of interested before the 22 March cutoff, visit the website www.educationalsociety.ie or on social media at Facebook.com/EducationalSocietyIE