Pictures: Cork school opens its doors to boys for the first time 

A Cork secondary school has opened its doors to boys for the first time in more than 65 years.

Established in 1958, St Patrick’s College on Gardiner’s Hill has served as a secondary school for girls since its inception.

It shares a campus with St Patrick’s Infants School, St Patrick’s Girls Primary School, and St Patrick’s Boys Primary School.

Principal Brian Cronin said that the decision to open the doors of the secondary school to male students was made following requests from parents and faculty to further progress the school’s offerings.

This week, St Patrick’s College welcomed 16 boys for the first time into their first-year intake for the 2024/2025 academic year.

Speaking to The Echo about the decision, Mr Cronin said they wanted the school to be inclusive.

“It’s about progression, really,” he said.

“The tradition was that we catered to girls, but increasingly over the last four or five years, we had conversations with parents on campus about taking boys and girls together, becoming a co-educational school.

“Parents felt that there was a convenience element in it, so from that point of view, it’s brilliant.

“We had conversations with staff as well about trying to progress the school to make it meaningful for people in the 21st century, and a lot of the staff felt that a co-ed school is what was required.

“I just felt that after covid, after we came back, it was the right time to have that conversation,” he said.

“We’re now fully committed to taking in boys, and it’s fantastic to see boys and girls in the school together.

“We wanted to be inclusive, and it’s great that we can do that now.

“Our school patron, Bishop Fintan Gavin, and the diocese were fully supportive of an inclusive Catholic secondary school here on campus.”

There are also some further changes at St Patrick’s College this academic year, with three new special needs assistants added to the staff.

The school is now also offering three new subject options, namely technology, technical graphics, and art.

“It’s fantastic to have these three new subjects for students,” said Mr Cronin.

“It’s a great week for the school, to welcome boys on campus, and to bring new subjects.

“Like I said, it’s about providing 21st-century education and 21st-century learning.

“One parent said to me that the school campus is now complete, and I thought that was a very nice comment.”