Galway Educate Together Secondary School: Features & Info

If you’re looking for an equality-based secondary school in Galway, Galway Educate Together Secondary School offers something different from the traditional model. Opened in August 2019, this co-educational school puts student voice and democratic values at the centre of daily life. With around 350 students and a principal leading a growing community, parents have a newer public option to consider for their child’s secondary education.

Principal: Sarah Molloy · Roll Number: 68347V · School Type: Co-educational, Equality Based · Funding: Free · Level: Post Primary Secondary

What is an educate together secondary school?

The Educate Together network runs schools across Ireland with a specific mission: multi-denominational, co-educational, child-centred, and democratically run. The “Learn Together” curriculum covers ethics, equality, and environmental stewardship alongside the standard Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert subjects. Parents choosing this model are typically looking for an alternative to schools with a strong religious ethos, and they want their children in an environment where all backgrounds feel equally at home.

“Each student will be encouraged to reach their potential in a happy, safe and inclusive environment where they are engaged in and excited about their learning.” — Galway ETSS Mission Statement, Official school website

Galway Educate Together Secondary School applies this ethos directly. According to the school’s official site, the mission centres on a happy, safe, and inclusive environment where students feel engaged and excited about learning. Wellbeing, resilience, student voice, and active citizenship appear in their stated priorities, and those aren’t just words—the admissions policy and daily practice show this in concrete ways.

Five distinct ethos areas shape daily school life at Educate Together schools: the moral, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social development of every student. For Galway families, this means a school that has built its culture around inclusion from the ground up rather than retrofitting it.

Who is the principal of Galway educate together secondary school?

The principal of Galway City & Oranmore Educate Together Secondary School is Sarah Molloy, as listed on the official Gov.ie Department of Education page for the school. Her first name appears consistently across official records, though the full surname is not listed in the publicly available government listing.

This matters because school leadership shapes culture, and for a school founded in 2019, having a named principal who appears across official documentation gives parents a concrete point of contact. The principal is the person families will deal with directly for admissions queries and serious concerns.

It is worth noting that the affiliated primary school, Galway Educate Together National School, has a different principal: Francis Duggan, who has led GETNS since it was founded in 1994. The two schools share an ethos but operate independently with separate leadership.

Is Educate Together a private school?

Galway Educate Together Secondary School is not a private school. It receives state funding as a free, non-fee-paying secondary school listed on the Department of Education’s official registry. Parents do not pay tuition, and the school does not operate on a selective or private admission model.

The school also does not participate in the DEIS programme, which is Ireland’s support scheme for schools serving disadvantaged communities. This means GETSS operates without the additional resources that DEIS status would bring, but it also means the school’s intake reflects the general Galway population rather than a targeted disadvantaged area.

For parents comparing options, this is straightforward: GETSS is a free, state-funded school with a specific ethos. You do not pay for the multi-denominational, democratic model—the government funds it the same way it funds any other public secondary school.

Is Educate Together a special school?

Galway Educate Together Secondary School is not a special school, but it has taken significant steps to serve students with autism. The school has established two special classes for autistic students, with approval from the Minister for Education. These classes operate alongside the mainstream intake rather than replacing it.

According to the school’s 2025 admissions policy, eligibility for the autism special classes requires students to reach 12 years of age by 1 January in their first year of second-level education. The school cooperates with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for provision and support within these classes.

However, the admissions policy also makes clear that the school may refuse admission to the special classes if a student does not meet the formal autism criteria outlined in the Education Act 1998. Parents seeking a place in these classes should review the full criteria before applying—the school cannot accommodate every learner who might benefit from the setting.

“Health and Wellbeing is always priority in Galway Educate Together Secondary School and during this time when anxieties are high because of Covid 19, the staff and teachers are trying to support their students and their families.” — Parent feedback, Educate Together blog

Parent feedback from the early years of the school praised how staff and teachers supported students and families during the COVID-19 remote learning period, mentioning continuity of routine and teacher availability. Forum discussions comparing Educate Together schools to traditional schools often highlight the inclusive ethos as a strength.

What is the best school in Galway?

There is no single definitive ranking that declares one Galway secondary school “the best.” The Irish school system does not publish performance league tables in the way some other countries do, and what constitutes “best” depends on what families value most—academic results, pastoral support, ethos, class size, or specific provision for additional needs.

Galway Educate Together Secondary School occupies a specific position in that landscape. As a school founded in 2019, it does not have years of exam results or inspection reports to point to for comparison. Its strength lies in its ethos, its approach to student wellbeing, and its dedicated autism provision.

For parents researching options, the practical question is not which school is theoretically the best, but which school is the best fit for their specific child. GETSS offers a clearly defined alternative for families who want multi-denominational, democratic schooling with strong inclusion values. That is a different question from which school produces the highest Leaving Cert points, and families should separate those criteria when comparing.

For parents evaluating secondary school options in Galway, the choice often comes down to fit rather than a simple ranking. Galway Educate Together Secondary School offers a clearly defined alternative for families who want a multi-denominational, democratic model backed by a national network. The 2025 admissions policy gives concrete criteria for its autism special classes, and the school is contactable for specific questions about eligibility. For families prioritising inclusion, student voice, and a structured equality-based ethos, this is a public option worth investigating directly.