By Michelle Crean

A small school which faced certain closure five years ago is now thriving and hoping to add a third teacher this September.

Two Mile Community National School, a State, co-educational, multi-denominational school opened in August 2017 with just nine pupils. Currently there's 40 pupils with plans to increase to 53 this coming September which would see a new teacher added to the staff.

Located on the site of the old Cahooreigh NS, a five minute drive from Killarney on the road between Madam’s Hill and Ballyhar, it is run under the patronage of Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB).

The move to open the school came after the Bishop of Kerry agreed to transfer the patronage of the old Cahooreigh National School to the State-run ETB. It serves the local community as well as the wider Killarney area.

Like all primary schools, Two Mile CNS follows the Primary School Curriculum as laid down by the Department of Education, Principal Catherine Barry explained.

"What distinguishes the school from other primary schools is the ethos or characteristic spirit which is underpinned by the core values of Excellence in Education, Care, Equality, Community and Respect," she told the Killarney Advertiser.

Described as a happy welcoming place, children of all religions attend and learn about diversity from each other under the new model of learning.

In terms of the education provided, the pupils experience all subjects and strands of the curriculum as they would in any other primary school.

However, in place of religious education, the children engage with the 'Goodness Me Goodness You' programme (GMGY); a multi-belief and values curriculum which enables children to encounter identity education, values education, philosophy and multi-denominational religious education. GMGY contributes to the holistic development of the child and as such aims to enable every child to realise their potential as a unique individual.

"We have Catholic children, some with no religion, Muslim, Hindu, and we teach about all religions. The children's experience is brought in to it. We try to find links between them and they learn from each other. We also do philosophy for children and Community National Schools are the only ones doing that. The programme underpins the ethos of the school. It's really interesting. It encourages them to look at things from other peoples' point of view and that has a knock on affect."

Catherine is keen to add that Two Mile CNS is like any other primary school - the only difference is the ethos.

"We'll facilitate any religion. Any group that wants to organise religion classes, we would facilitate that. We aim to provide the highest standards of teaching and learning, where children are guided to become lifelong learners," Catherine said.

"Children experience a very caring, child-centred environment which respects diversity and equality. Society is more diverse now than ever and Two Mile CNS provides a multi-denominational option for parents of children in the Killarney area. It's the way forward."