The Iona Institute hosted a conference last week on the future of denominational schools in light of Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s Forum on the same topic.

The three speakers were the Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Richard Clarke; the Chair of the Catholic schools Partnership, Fr Michael Drumm; and Mr Henk Vos of VGS an organisation which supports boards and directors of Christian schools in the Netherlands.

Bishop Clarke told the conference that cuts to the education budget were disproportionately impacting Church of Ireland schools. He  said that the cuts were targeting smaller schools, and that many Church of Ireland schools would end up being non-viable if the cuts were implemented.

Fr Drumm said that some of the preliminary recommendations of the Forum could have the effect of badly undermining the ethos and identity of denominational schools.  (The text of Fr Drumm’s talk can be found here).

Meanwhile, Mr Vos explained how in the Netherlands two-thirds of primary schools are Church-run and State-funded and enjoy a high degree of autonomy. The result, he said, was quality schools and a high degree of parental satisfaction.

Link to audios of the talks plus questions and answers can be found below. The chairman for the day was Dr John Murray of Mater Dei Institute.

Bishop Richard Clarke’s talk can be heard here

Fr Michael Drumm’s talk can be heard here

Henk Vos’s talk can be heard here

Part one of the question and answer session can be heard here

Part two of the question and answer session can be heard here