New home for Trim Educate Together NS
Trim Educate Together NShas moved into the former TIDE building at the Maudlins, Trim, after the Department of Education signed a three-year lease on the property.
Since the school opened its doors four years ago, it has been accommodated in the clubhouse at the former Glebe Golf Course on the Kildalkey Road but had outgrown the premises and earlier today (Tuesday) pupils returned to school after their summer break to their new school building at the Maudlins.
While the arrangement is a temporary one, the Department of Education has signed a three year lease and there is room to allow for future growth in numbers.
Principal Karen Reilly said the new building was “ideal” with beautiful, spacious classrooms, that are larger than those in most new build schools at over 80sq.m. They also have a very large playground, parking and there is a childcare centre next door.
Ms Reilly explained that the building had been converted to provide five large classrooms and there would also be room to provide further rooms as needed.
This year, 17 new junior infants started in the school. The school has hoped to have a higher number but the Department’s shock decision to cap intake at at half stream earlier this year meant numbers were restricted to just 13 and while this cap was subsequently lifted on appeal, many parents who didn’t get a place for their child, had taken up places elsewhere.
Ms Reilly said this had impeded their numbers as parents had taken places in other schools when they couldn’t offer them a place.
The school opened in 2014 in temporary accommodation but the Department of Education’s long-term plan had been for its permanent home to be in the former St Mary’s Convent School building on Patrick Street which was transferred to the Department as part of the Residential Institutions redress scheme.
While it is a central location, the size of the property is limited and there is very little scope for expansion, and would not be large enough to accommodate a full stream school. The preferred option for parents is for a purpose built school to be provided so that the school can grown in line with demand and not be restricted by the premises.
Ms Reilly said she does not know what the Department's plans are in relation to the old school building on Patrick Street. For now, she said they are very happy with their new location, which has room to allow the school grow further.