The future of Catholic schools

This week’s guest on EDUCATION NATION Jonathan Tiernan, CEO of the Jesuit Education Trust provides a clear-eyed assessment of what lies ahead for Catholic schools should we fail to capitalise on the opportunities before us or if we do not respond adequately to the challenges of the next ten years. He suggests that “the concept of schools that are culturally Catholic but not intentionally Catholic could become the dominant reality… There may be a religious name over the door but little indication that a Catholic ethos is being lived out”. In the interview Jonathan calls for courage and urges everyone involved in Catholic education to embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Energy

Jonathan points to recently published research including The Grace Report which he believes “said the quiet bit out loud”.  The report published in 2024 pointed to a significant decline in personal faith and religiosity across all levels in the school system. Johnathan notes that we still have very committed leaders in our schools and praises the “discretionary effort”, the energy, enthusiasm and graft that Principals and Deputies choose to contribute beyond what is contractually required. If that goodwill were to be lost, then the schools simply could not function. Quoting again from the Grace Report however, Jonathan highlights how many of these energetic and enthusiastic school leaders, although generally supportive and committed, report that they feel ill equipped to stand in front of their staff to speak about matters of Ethos and Faith. The report argues that “there is an urgent need for Patrons and Trustees to address formation and faith development opportunities for school leaders.”

Jonathan doesn’t think that we can “train” school leaders as such. He reflects on how “…sitting in a hotel listening to a presenter going through slides may help build knowledge and understanding of skills… but when it comes to the preparation of school leaders, this approach falls far short”. I recall a former colleague of mine who used to say, “Power corrupts, PowerPoint corrupts absolutely!” (Don’t worry, you don’t have to take notes, we will circulate the slides later !)

Jonathan is correct. When it comes to Catholic school leadership, what is needed is a far more immersive, interpersonal, relational approach where a ‘faith-life’ can be nourished. Training is of course important, even essential, to help leaders to develop their knowledge and to learn how to execute parts of their job more efficiently and effectively. But it is only through formation that we can help to shape a person’s leadership growth, clarify and deepen their own unique vision, develop a commitment to their core values, and ultimately develop their character. Training can improve what you do, Formation changes who you are.

He speaks of a dramatic career decision as he turned his back on the permanent and pensionable role of the national schoolteacher to dip his toe into the corporate world”

Throughout the conversation we get an insight into Jonathan’s life, and the various experiences that shaped his career choices. It is a ‘formative journey’ which ultimately brought him to be the first CEO of the Jesuit Education Trust. He looks back fondly on his school days in Boyle in Co. Roscommon and his decision to opt for St Patrick’s Drumcondra after leaving Cert. as an almost accidental one. Before leaving St Pat’s he emersed himself in student politics, ultimately leading a campaign against the recognition of a new online training platform which offered what Jonathan believed would ultimately cheapen the experience of aspiring teachers offering no more than a ‘yellow-pack’ pathway to a primary teaching qualification.

Jonathan points to his time teaching in a predominantly Hispanic school in Arizona and later in two schools in Dublin as times when he first began to feel “an itch” for Catholic education. He speaks of a dramatic career decision as he turned his back on the permanent and pensionable role of the national schoolteacher to dip his toe into the corporate world. He worked for three years with the Ryan-family funded, ‘One Foundation’, an initiative Jonathan describes as an experience in “venture-philanthropy”. The three years spent with the One Foundation was like a mini-MBA for the young primary school teacher, an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of strategic planning, project funding and financial projections and performance reviews.

Desire

Throughout his journey, Jonathan says he could feel a strong desire to return to Catholic education. “I was a hurler on the ditch…and I wanted to get back on the pitch”. The first steps on the road back to the pitch would come in the form of a role as a strategy analyst with Foiroige.  During his 5 years with Foroige the itch and draw towards Catholic education only grew and would lead him to join the team from Notre Dame University working in leadership development and research in Catholic education in Dublin.

In the final section of the interview, we turn to Jonathan’s more recent role as CEO with the Jesuit Education Trust and to zoom in on his work with Jesuit Principals and schools on the Internal Ignatian Review, a framework for whole school self- evaluation for Ethos. He sees the IIR as a work in progress which could offer an opportunity for the Trust and school Boards of Management and school leaders to reflect on, to affirm and to celebrate the work of the school leadership and staff in the area of Characteristic Spirit and Ethos. Through a process of reflection and discernment he hopes that the IIR will create a ‘north star’ to guide future planning for each school and Board of Management.

Questions around accountability and how Patrons and Trustees can be confident, proactive and supportive in ensuring that a Catholic Ethos is truly being lived out in their schools are hot topics for Catholic schools. They are among the most significant challenges we need to face up to if we are to shape a brighter future. Many Patrons and Trustees have already worked on or are working on initiatives like the IIR. But there is a long way to go.

We need to get this right to counter the emergence of the CINO, the Catholic In Name Only school as an all-too-common phenomenon. As Jonathan puts it, “there may be a religious name over the door but little indication that a Catholic ethos is being lived out’. A positive, affirmative and honest approach to the whole school self-evaluation of Ethos and Characteristic spirit is needed.