Schools ignoring results of flawed survey Denominational schools, where a majority of parents told the primary school survey they wanted a change of ethos, are now telling parents there will be no change. Atheist Ireland said last December, and again in April, that the survey was a misleading and harmful distraction from the task of having schools that respect equally the freedom of religion or belief of all students, parents, and teachers. These recent revelations vindicate this. Some schools have said they will remain denominational, despite majorities of parents wanting a change. So the survey question was misleading, the process ignored human rights, and now schools are ignoring the flawed outcome anyway. The survey question was misleading First look at the survey itself, which closed last December. The survey misleadingly implied that there was an option to choose non-religious schools, when in reality the choice was between two different types of religious schools (denominational and multi-denominational). The survey used the misleading question “Would you prefer your primary school to operate under a denominational (religious) patron or to operate under a multi-denominational (non-religious) patron?” But multi-denominational is not the same as non-religious. The relevant issue is not the religious makeup of the patron body, but the ethos of the school. Multi-denominational schools can have a Catholic chaplain, religious worship, their own religion and ethics courses, and celebrate religious festivals. The process ignored human rights More importantly, the survey process itself harmfully implied that your child’s human right to an objective, critical, and pluralistic education is subject to surveys of your family’s neighbours. Secular state-funded schools based on human rights should be the default in any neighbourhood. Any local child should have equal access, and have their rights respected, regardless of anybody’s religious or nonreligious beliefs. These state-funded schools should teach objectively about all religions and beliefs, without promoting either religion or atheism. The UN has repeatedly told Ireland to open such schools. Schools are ignoring the outcome anyway Now schools are ignoring even the flawed outcome of this flawed survey. Schools where a majority of parents told the survey they wanted a change of ethos are telling parents there will be no change. The Department told schools to consult with school stakeholders, but the Patron body takes the final decision. And parents are reporting difficulties in getting parents’ associations, parents’ reps on school management boards, and the National Parents Council to support their concerns. Changing these schools to multidenominational wouldn’t have solved the problem anyway. It would have given some nonreligious or minority faith parents some relief from the worst of the discrimination they face. But there would still be no non-denominational schools. And most nonreligious or minority faith parents, with children in other schools, would be told that their children’s human right to an objective, critical, and pluralistic education is subject to what most of their neighbours believe. Atheist Ireland expected this outcome. But we will continue to campaign for a secular state education system that respects human rights, regardless of the religious or non-religious beliefs of parents, children, staff, or board members. atheist.ie/2026/10/schools-i…