A report on research into the communities, cultures, benefits and challenges of small primary schools in the Republic of Ireland was launched at General Synod on Friday May 13. The Small Schools: Value for Learning report by Anne Lodge and David Tuohy was launched by former president of the INTO and teaching principal of a three teacher primary school, Sean McMahon.

The study aims to address the gaps in understandings of small Irish primary schools. It provides specific insights into the culture of small schools from a range of perspectives including principals, teachers, members of boards of management, patrons, children and parents.

Launching the report, Mr McMahon spoke about what he described as the ‘assault’ on small schools and the value that small schools bring to their communities. “As a nation, post Celtic Tiger, we have become obsessed with the view that bigger is better and that is to the detriment of schools along our western seaboard and it is to the detriment of schools of minority faith groups,” he stated.

Mr McMahon observed that the urbanisation of the Irish population had had significant implications for urban and rural Ireland with urban schools at full  capacity but an ever shrinking population in rural Ireland.

He said that the recent assault on small schools, of four teachers or less, had resulted in a huge focus on the magic number on the magic day – the number of children on the role on September 30 each year.

“We need to get the government not to focus only on the value for money but the value for learning,” he stated. “We need informed debate and informed debate is what has been generated through studies such as this. We need academic research speaking with the people involved and that is the value of this report.”

Dr Anne Lodge, Principal of the Church of Ireland College of Education and one of the authors of the report thanked Synod for allowing report to be launched. She also thanked Dr David Touhy for his help in carrying out the research. She paid tribute to all the schools who responded and highlighted the unprecedented response rate of 86 percent.

“The voices of the children and parents in this report made it abundantly clear that they love their schools, the community in which they learn. There is a very positive story to tell about our small schools and we have to get out and start telling it. We often talk only of the challenges and threats to our small schools so let’s celebrate the really positive stories from small schools,” Dr Lodge said.

She thanked the Board of Education, the Church of Ireland Primary School Management Association, the Board of Governors of CICE and DCU for enabling the important story of small schools to be told. She added that schools were also wonderful opportunities for mission and growth.

Among the key findings of the report were that children were very positive about their experiences of their schools. They focused on the positive relationships, enjoyment of life and learning and their sense of belonging. Parents said they chose the schools because of high academic standards, religious patronage and their desire to have their children in a small school. Teachers were aware of the value of their schools to the local faith community and the caring environment and friendly atmosphere. They also spoke of the challenge of an overcrowded curriculum and a sense of isolation from colleagues. Boards of Management noted challenges in accessing resources. Principals reported supportive staff in their small schools but also reported stress in balancing teaching and administrative roles.