A two-year research project has been launched to support small rural schools.

The project will encourage the clustering of these schools in local groups, which will enable them to collaborate and identify common challenges, and come up with solutions.

A small school is one with four mainstream teachers, or fewer, according to the Department of Education.

In Ireland, 44%of all primary schools – around 1,360 – are considered 'small', and are attended by 14.2% of all students.

Six project clusters will be formed - two in Galway, and one in each of Donegal, Kerry, Wicklow and Waterford, consisting of between three and five schools per cluster.

This project is being developed by a working group of school-management bodies and teachers’ unions with the Department for Education.

The clusters will be supported by part-time local coordinators sponsored by the education partners, working with a national coordinator under the guidance of a steering group.

All existing scheduled staffing levels will be secured for the duration of the project. For example, if enrolment levels fall, scheduled teaching-post numbers in the schools involved will not be reduced, according to the Department of Education.

The project will result in an evaluation and a final report, including analysis of scalability of actions undertaken.

Some examples of innovative approaches that may be taken by the clusters in the research project include:

Participating schools have been communicated with and the project will commence in the new school year.