Mater Dei Academy is an independent Catholic secondary school in Cork, Ireland. As of 2024, it had 50 students enrolled, and was based in the Farranferris Education and Training Campus. The academy, which is funded by a Catholic foundation based in Virginia in the United States, also runs a home-schooling initiative known as "Mater Dei Education". The independent and private school, which is run by parents, is not subject to inspection by the Department of Education, and the volunteers that teach in the school are not required to hold any teaching qualifications.
| Mater Dei Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
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Farranferris Education and Training Campus, Redemption Road, Cork Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 51°54′42″N 8°28′40″W / 51.91177°N 8.47778°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent |
| Motto | Latin: Vias tuas Domine demonstra mihi (Lord teach me thy ways) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 2020 |
| Principal | Geraldine Heffernan |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Enrolment | 50[1] (2024) |
| Website | materdeiacademy.ie |
Background
editFounded on 6 January 2020, the school opened in September 2020 and had 12 students in its first scholastic year.[2] The school, which is parent-run,[3] was originally based at St. Mary's Dominican Church and Priory on Popes Quay, Cork.[2] In 2022, it moved to the Farranferris Education and Training Campus at the site of the former St Finbarr's College.[4] The campus is also "home to a number of [other] education projects".[5]
The school, being independent, does not receive Irish Government funding.[6] It is funded by donations, including from the Saints and Scholars Foundation which is based in Front Royal, Virginia, USA.[7][8] The Saints and Scholars Foundation, which describes the school as its main project,[8] is associated with the American religious conservative political activist Connie Marshner.[1][9] According to its founder, Mater Dei has also received some support from the Diocese of Cork and Ross and the Dominican Order in Cork.[10]
Mater Dei Academy is not subject to governance or inspection by the Department of Education, and the volunteers who teach at the school are not required to hold teaching qualifications.[6] It is registered, under the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS), by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla).[11]
In April 2023, Geraldine Heffernan was appointed principal of the school.[12]
Curriculum
editMater Dei's students take courses in theology, philosophy, the Irish language, English, Latin, mathematics, science, history and culture, geography, music, and art.[5] At the Junior Cycle, the school follows the programme and takes the examinations of the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (Cambridge IGCSE). Mater Dei is one of two recognised Cambridge schools in Ireland.[13] According to its website, students from the Mater Dei Academy can "sit the Irish Leaving Certificate examination as external candidates".[14]
Alongside the academy, a home-schooling initiative was also established in 2020. This "Mater Dei Education" initiative was created to support parents who educate their primary-aged children at home.[15] It provides lesson plans, learning resources, and also produces textbooks.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b "The ultra-Catholic Cork school you might not know exists". Irish Examiner. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Our Story". materdeiacademy.ie. Mater Dei Academy, Cork.
- ^ "'Unapologetically Catholic' parent-run private school is seeking move to Cork's Pope's Quay". Irish Examiner. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ "Mater Dei Academy Celebrates Third Anniversary". Diocese of Cork and Ross. 7 March 2023.
- ^ a b Heatherington, Kimberley (17 March 2023). "Lay Catholics, Dominicans work for long-term revival of Ireland's ancient faith". Catholic Communications, Diocese of Springfield.
- ^ a b "Almost 60 independent schools in Ireland are not subject to regular rules or inspections. Who are they?". Irish Times. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
Students at Mater Dei Academy are taught by Catholic volunteers who are not required to hold any teaching qualifications
- ^ "Getting Back to Irish Roots: Catholic Classical School Launches". National Catholic Register. 17 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Our Projects". saintsandscholars.us. Saints and Scholars Foundation. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
Currently Our Major Project is Supporting Mater Dei Academy in Cork Ireland
- ^ "Saints and Scholars Foundation". guidestar.org. Candid. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ A Push to Revive Catholic Education & the Catholic Faith in Ireland | EWTN News Nightly. EWTN. 28 June 2023. 5 minutes in. Retrieved 27 September 2024 – via youtube.com.
- ^ "Details of Independent Schools". tusla.ie. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ "Geraldine Heffernan Named Principal of Mater Dei Academy". saintsandscholars.us. Saints and Scholars Foundation. 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Find a Cambridge school - Ireland". Cambridge Assessment International Education. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "Examinations". materdeiacademy.ie. Mater Dei Academy. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "About Mater Dei Education". materdeieducation.ie.
- ^ "Mater Dei History - Classical Home Education in Dublin". homeeducation.ie.