Education survey shows clear preferences among Mayo school communities

Parents and school communities across Mayo have played a significant role in shaping the future of primary education, with strong participation recorded in a major national survey.

The nationwide Primary School Survey, led by Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth, received responses from more than 200,000 households, alongside high levels of engagement from school staff and Boards of Management.

In Mayo, the results show a clear preference among parents for maintaining existing school structures. According to the findings, 66.3% of parents in denominational primary schools in the county want to retain those principles.

There was also strong support for maintaining English as the main language of instruction, with 85.8% of parents backing its continued use in primary schools.

Minister Naughton welcomed the high level of engagement, describing it as a clear signal that families want a central role in decisions about their children’s education.

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“School communities have spoken, and their message is clear — parents want to be at the heart of shaping the future of their local schools,” she said.

While national trends show a mix of views — including growing support for co-education in single-sex schools — the Minister emphasised that decisions will ultimately be made at individual school level.

“The most important insight is that every school community is different,” she said. “The future of each school will be guided by the preferences of its own parents and community.”

More than 3,200 primary schools across the country took part in the survey, and detailed, school-specific reports are now being prepared. These will be shared with schools in the coming weeks to help guide future planning and decision-making.

The Department of Education said the findings will support schools in considering potential changes to values or structure, while ensuring that any decisions are based on clear evidence from their own communities.

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In Mayo, where there are no single-sex primary schools included in the survey, the focus is expected to remain on maintaining current models while responding to local needs.

The department has also confirmed that further consultations will take place on how best to support pupils in denominational schools whose parents opt them out of religious instruction, to promote more inclusive practices.

The next phase of the process will see schools, parents and patrons review their individual results and consider what changes, if any, are appropriate for their communities.