The Patron's Programme in Catholic Schools (2026)

DES Approved (EPV days) Online Summer Course

Thank you for your interest in our Online Summer Course!

The Patron's Programme in Catholic Schools is a Summer Course for primary school teachers which offers 3 EPV days for those who complete it.

This course is offered entirely online in an asynchronous fashion although there will be some opportunity to engage with staff synchronously at various times, for those who wish to. The course commences on Wednesday July 1st and content is available until July 10th. In accordance with DES requirements, participants are expected to spend at least 20 hours engaging with the course content (both online and in other self verifiable ways). Assessment forms part of the course. Participants may access the course content at a time that suits them. Regular support is available from the tutors delivering the course.

The course tutors are DCU Institute of Education staff who are affiliated to the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education - Dr David Kennedy, Vivek da Silva and Dr Cora O'Farrell.

The course consists of five modules addressing a range of content including that which is mandated by the DES for summer course approval.

Module 1 considers the Patron's Programme in general and its place as a curricular area within the Primary Curriculum Framework, 2023.

Module 2 addresses the Catholic Preschool and Primary Religious Education Curriculum for Ireland (CPPRECI) - its Aims. Defining Features, Principles, Skills of Religious Literacy, Strands/Strand Units. Assessment will also be addressed in this module.

Module 3 focuses on the Grow in Love programme with a particular emphasis on its digital resources.

Module 4 incorporates the required DES emphasis during summer courses on School Self Evaluation, and draws on the Catholic Education Partnership's Understanding and Living the Ethos in a Catholic Primary School. The module also pays particular attention to Wellbeing and the importance of attention to Spiritual Wellbeing. It also offers participants an experience of Godly Play.

Module 5 looks at the area of Sacramental Education and the distinct roles of home school and parish with regards to Sacramental Celebration.