Among the 66,911 students who received their Leaving Certificate results last week are the first cohort of students to graduate from Mater Dei Academy, Ireland’s only independent Catholic school. Founded by parents in Cork in 2020 with the vision of providing independent Catholic education in the classical tradition without Government support, the school opened with just 12 students in September 2020. Today, there are over 60 students enrolled, not including visiting international students from similar schools in France and Spain.
The Principal of Mater Dei Academy, Ms Honor O’Brien, said: “What struck me most when I first came to the school was the happy, smiling faces of the students. I immediately felt welcome. There was nothing artificial or fake about the joy that I could see. For me, this joy is fundamental to living out our Christian faith in a school environment. Every day has its challenges, but when you begin with a common understanding of what is good, what is true, and what is beautiful, it is a tremendous platform for growth.”
Many parents agree. Joady Sinnott, whose child is a student at the school, says that “one element of the school that attracted us from the very beginning was the classical curriculum. Our child is flourishing. He has teachers of faith teaching him and his fellow students are proud of their faith. But it’s also fun and supportive. As parents, we are very much included in the educational process and the process of helping the school grow and develop.”
Opportunities
As a registered examination centre, the school now provides students with the same CAO opportunities through the Leaving Certificate as State-run schools. At junior cycle, however, Mater Dei Academy takes an entirely different approach, adapted from the growing classical education movement in the United States. There is no Junior Certificate in the school. Instead, students take a four-year programme which includes subjects such as Philosophy and Theology, as well as Latin and French. All students study Art and Music with a distinctly Irish emphasis, while creativity and critical thinking are stressed across the curriculum, with opportunities for debate and discussion on a range of topics.
The Academy also launched an online programme, Mater Dei Education, to support homeschooling families seeking an alternative to American homeschooling”
In 2022, the school became only the second Cambridge International school in Ireland, offering IGCSE qualifications. However, Ms O’Brien rejects any accusation of elitism in the school’s curriculum. “It’s important that we allow every child the opportunity to ask questions. There is a difference between training for work and education for life. Of course, there is a need for skills like accounting. But we should not confuse training with the formation of the human person. Every student benefits from learning how to think for themselves. Our approach isn’t just a wonderful stepping stone to the Leaving Certificate but helps form and educate the whole human person; body, mind and spirit.”
In 2022, the Academy also launched an online programme, Mater Dei Education, to support homeschooling families seeking an alternative to American homeschooling curricula. The programme also provides additional income to the Academy, helping to reduce the costs of attending the school. This year, parents are asked to contribute €4,500, though significant concessions are available. The online learning programme now extends from junior infants to fourth year, mirroring the academic programme at the Academy. It has proven popular with homeschoolers, some of whom have moved to Cork to complete their studies at the school.
Challenges
The school’s early years were not without challenges. The global pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the national shortage of qualified teachers have all posed difficulties, while a significant portion of the school’s running costs still comes from donors who share its vision. However, Ms O’Brien is positive about the future. “I have worked in education for almost 30 years and this is the most exciting project that I have seen. Young people are always searching for the Truth. The school’s role is to provide them with an environment where that search is supported by teachers who can inspire, subjects which challenge, and to allow God to act.”
Pádraig Cantillon-Murphy is a co-founder and chair of the board of trustees of Mater Dei Academy. He is Professor of Biomedical Engineering at University College Cork and a graduate of UCC and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
