The Role of the Patron

The patron is the person recognised as such by the Minister of Education and Science. He/she has ultimate responsibility for the school. The Patron delegates responsibility to the Board of Management, which is accountable to him/her. Regular contact is maintained between the Board and the Patron on a number of specified issues, eg the appointment of the Board; the appointment, suspension or dismissal of teachers, finance, and school ethos. The Patron is entitled to request reports or documentation from the school at any time, eg information regarding enrolments. The Secretary of the Diocesan Board of Education is a regular link between the school and the Patron. However, the Board is always free to make direct contact with the Patron. The Patron is invited to any significant event in the life of the school, eg the opening a new school or extension.

The Patron of St Patrick's National School is the Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough, the Most Reverend Dr John Neill. He formally blessed the school’s recent extension during a visit in 2007.

 

The Role of the Trustees

The trustees are the persons nominated by the patron as trustees of the school. They are parties who hold the lease of the school premises and they undertake that the buildings shall continue to be used as a National School for the term of the lease, and guarantee that the premises and contents are insured against fire and tempest. (ref Constitution of Boards of Management, Article 2(b))

Trustees do not play an active role in the life of the school, except in special circumstances such as the building of an extension, or the addition or disposal of the school site.

The current Trustees of St Patrick's National School are Ms E Franklin, The Venerable EJ Swann and the Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Board of Education.