It is one of the best known fee-paying schools in the State. But over the past three years, there has been a slow drip of negative publicity for the Catholic University School in Dublin. Teachers are unhappy, some parents uneasy, management fearful and the union tight-lipped, writes LOUISE HOLDEN
THESE days, most fee-paying schools in Dublin have long waiting lists for enrolment. So why has the prestigious Catholic University School on Leeson Street taken out a half-page ad in a national newspaper, angling for students?
CUS is run by the Marist Fathers and has always maintained high academic standards. The all-boys school featured in the Irish Timestop-25 university feeder schools in Dublin and has high transfer rates to third level. South Dublin's apparent love affair with private education, combined with the school's select location and impressive results, should guarantee its numbers in perpetuity. But by promoting itself in the national press (a half-page commercial report in The Irish Timeslast month was followed by a two-pager in the Irish Independentlast Saturday), CUS may be issuing a cry for help.
Over the past three years, there has been a slow drip of negative intelligence from the Dublin school. Teachers are unhappy, parents uneasy, management fearful and the union tight-lipped. Industrial-relations problems at the school have been worsening gradually, and last month, staff took their displeasure into the streets, protesting outside the Marist Fathers residence in Milltown.
The public record of events at the school is unsettling. In 2005, Paul Kiernan, an art teacher at CUS, brought a wages claim against the Department of Education. He told an Employment Appeals Tribunal hearing that he was not permitted to return to work at CUS after a period of sick leave, which began in August 2001, and that he had not been paid since July 2002.
CUS had withdrawn from a hearing the previous November upon learning that Kiernan would make allegations of bullying and harassment against the school. The teacher's bullying claims were already the subject of an internal hearing at the school, management claimed.
On the May 5th 2005, school management told the tribunal hearing that Kiernan "went berserk" in the staff room in 2001, allegedly "frothing at the mouth" after a row with principal Martin Daly. It was after this incident that Kiernan stopped teaching at the school. Kiernan said that despite clearance from his doctors, he was not permitted to return to teaching at CUS after the incident. The claim was eventually settled outside the tribunal.
The year following the tribunal hearing, school management alleged that another teacher in the school, Pierce Dillon, was disrespectful to the school secretary. Last month, the board of management elected to suspend Dillon for a week for misconduct - a decision that landed the school in the High Court. However, Dillon's application to appeal his suspension was overturned.
IT IS AT least one parent's view that the bad publicity surrounding the school is impacting negatively on students. "There are plenty of unhappy teachers at the school," one parent told The Irish Times. "It's especially tough for those with boys doing the Leaving Cert. Parents are afraid to jump about in case they sink the boat."
Management practices at the school have been criticised by the Department of Education. A Whole School Evaluation (WSE) report published earlier this year by the department is withering, placing the blame squarely at the feet of the managers.
It states: "Senior management exerts a rigorous control . . . "There is a lack of shared commitment among staff members to the organisation arrangements in the school. Staff and management relations have been strained in recent years . . . These difficulties relate mainly to communication and management matters."
"Overall," the report continues, "the lack of communication and trust in the school has led to tension and a less than favourable working environment. Morale among all staff is reportedly extremely low and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency by school management." The report goes on to urge CUS management to bring in external mediators to settle problems at the school. This has not happened yet.
John White general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) which represents both Dillon and Kiernan, issued a brief statement on the matter, but would be drawn no further. "A Whole School Evaluation Report on the school recommended that an external mediation process be implemented. We would like to see that implementation process begin as soon as possible."
Some sources suggest that the school's principal, Fr Martin Daly, is not comfortable dealing with industrialrelations problems and would rather take an old-school approach to leadership. While it may rub some teachers up the wrong way, his reportedly authoritative style is part of a strategy.
Daly, and his vice-principal Kevin Jennings, are at pains to justify this strategy; part of last month's half-page commercial report in The Irish Times was concerned with defending Daly's leadership style.
"Our school principal, Fr Martin Daly, is a management consultant, counsellor and psychotherapist," Jennings said in the piece. "This gives him a particular view, language and vision for the school, so that there is a very strong emphasis on some of the values that would be characteristic of the business community, particularly the importance of accountability and performance. We think that is unique."
Fr Daly denies that the recommendations of the Whole School Evaluation have not been implemented. "While we acknowledge and agree with the comments in the WSE that there have been issues between a small number of staff and management at the school, you will understand that it would be inappropriate for any further comment on these elements of the WSE while the ASTI is pursuing a High Court action against the school and while the of board of management is dealing with issues in respect of two individual teachers."
"The board of management has welcomed recommendations and suggestions from the report and these have been addressed. We particularly found that the WSE sharpened our focus on the need for inter-departmental planning and whole school planning. The board of management is currently addressing the recommendation relating to processes for improving communication between management and staff," said Daly.
Fr Daly also insists that enrolment at the school has not felt the impact of recent negative publicity. "Today, CUS has the highest numbers of pupils in its history. Applications are currently being taken for 2017. For the first time in the history of the school, there are two junior infants classes in the primary school and the pre-school is full."
Daly expresses confidence in the future of the school - he has been reappointed as principal for a further six years.
Glory days at CUS
The troubled 140-year-old Marist Fathers College boasts a long a successful history of schooling in Dublin. Its recent problems belie the school's considerable achievements.
Academic record:CUS was founded as a feeder school for Cardinal John Henry Newman's Catholic university in the 1850s. In the latest Irish Times university feeder school report, the school had an 87 per cent transfer rate to degree courses at third level. The school was placed in the top 25 university feeder schools in Dublin city and county.
Sports record:The school excels in cricket - CUS has won the Senior Leinster Cup in Cricket for three out of the last four years.
Famous former pupils:Olympic athlete Ronnie Delaney, Booker Prize-nominated author Sebastian Barry, writer and producer Graham Linehan and Irish cricket ace Eoin Morgan.
Structures:CUS has an active parents association and a board of management chaired by the Commission of Taxation chairman, Frank Daly.
Future plans:A €2.5 million extension has just been completed - "the fourth significant building project in the last 10 years", according to the school.
The Society of Mary (the Marist patrons of the school) has agreed to fund the provision of a new sports pavilion at a cost of approximately €2 million and CUS has plans to build a four-storey structure with an AstroTurf pitch on the top floor at a cost of €7m.
Students:Currently, the junior school has 150 pupils (20 of whom are in co-ed pre-school), with 460 students at secondary level.
Fees:€3,800 per annum.
