Note the use of words to convay the dual "subtle" message that mixed sex gender schools are "progressively modern" plus Catholic schools providing education is "bad" thats so on message for the "Progressive Ireland" branding
gender-neutral toilets, and in a Christian Brothers school no less.
different picture at single-sex schools nearby
Ivy and her parents are not religious, but the fact that Coláiste Éamann Rís is a Catholic school "wasn’t a huge issue", Sam said.
"It just had that sort of hands-on progressive feel to it. We liked the fact that it had recently changed from single-sex to mixed. That was a big leap to take."
Ivy reckons a girls-only school "would get a bit boring. I get along with both genders".
And this little gem
Is it ignoring that where parents have a choice of a local mixed sex school or no school they pick a mixed sex school. But where parents have a choice some still pick a single sex school.
While the majority of schools in towns and rural areas are now mixed, in these settled urban areas the old style single-sex religious run schools still prevail - the old Christian Brother, Loreto, Mercy and Presentation schools that this generation of teenagers’ parents, grandparents and great-grandparents attended.
The school is being given additional funding allocated as it is providing educational support in an economically deprived area and/or its providing support for children from other countries who may not have had the educational opportunities Irish children have. One thing that most "non-nationals" have in common is the drive to see their children obtain the best education they can. (Parents have suffered the economic effects of not having recognised qualifications.) That and the engagement displayed by the teaching staff would make the school very attractive option.