A Co Kildare primary school nolonger under the patronage of the Catholic church after more than 100 years could reopen this September, if a minimum of eight pupils enrol.
Following the sudden closure of Brannoxtown N.S, 12 months ago, Fine Gael TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon, is welcoming the announcement that an agreement has been reached with the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, to open the school in a multi- denominational capacity.
Spokesperson for Save our School Brannoxtown, Tracy O’Dwyer, has one child.
Her son, going into Senior Infants, attends Calverstown. She says that while she will not move him this year, next year, she will consider moving him back to Brannoxtown.
Ms O’Dwyer feels that now with the school being multi-denominational, many more parents are likely to make the decision to have their children attend again.
It is anticipated that new recruits will start at Brannoxtown or from other areas where capacity has been reached. The school has four classrooms.
She said: “It is an unfortunate time to be recruiting but we have just got confirmation. KWETB are ready to go, they have the teachers, all systems are in place, they just need the pupils.”
Deputy Martin Heydon said: “Brannoxtown National School closed in December 2017 after being open for over 133 years. The local community were devastated last year as their school face imminent closure but a number of dedicated local residents were unwilling to let that be the last of our school."
Deputy Heydon said:“A fine school extension was only opened a little over four years ago; we simply could not let a situation persist where a primary school was lost to the area."
He said:“I want to acknowledge the long legacy of education in the area that the Archdiocese has managed for many decades, and I wish the KWETB well in re-establishing what will now be a multi-denominational community national school for Brannoxtown."
He said: "This new Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process, which is underway and involves the transfer of live schools, has the potential to significantly increase patron diversity in our school system with a target of reaching 400 multi-denominational and non-denominational schools by 2030.”
Last September there were about 20 students who did not return to Brannoxtown NS, leaving the school with one teacher, Principal Dolores Burke, and under five pupils. For a time just two pupils attended the school, before it finally closed.
It is understood that in 2013, the school had 86 pupils.
Tonight's meeting at Brannoxtown N.S. takes place at 5.30pm.
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