Accommodating all applicants? School choice and the regulation of enrolment in Ireland

Abstract

The politics of access are a central issue when considering education as both a process and product of socio‐demographic stratification. This article undertakes a two‐fold investigation of school choice in Ireland, first using data gathered during 2009–2010 as part of the Galway Education Survey (GES) to examine school choice practices on the ground. We then localize these findings in the discursive context of three Department of Education and Skills documents—the Audit of School Enrolment Policies by the Regional Offices Service (2007), the Letter to Education Partners on Enrolment Audit Follow‐up (2008), and the Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment (2011). The analysis highlights the inequality of access for migrant students that exists as a result of current school enrolment practice and discusses the potential for developing future arrangements that support inclusive, transparent, and fair enrolment policies.