The Education Act 1998 states: “it shall be the duty of a Board to manage the school on behalf of the Patron (Trustees)”. The Trustees are the legal owners of the school which the Board of Management has been appointed to manage. The Trustees of Loreto College, Swords are the Loreto Education Trust Board.
According to the Articles of Management of Voluntary Secondary Schools “The school shall be conducted in accordance with the religious and educational philosophy of the Trustees”. The Board of Management is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that the curriculum of the school is in accordance with the religious and educational criteria defined by the Trustees.
The Board must act in accordance with any Act of the Oireachtas relating to the operation of the school.
The functions of the Board must be performed collectively. Individual members have no power to act on behalf of, or in the name of, the Board. The Board, however may authorise the Chairperson and/or another member, to act on its behalf, for a specified period of time in respect of a particular function or functions. The Principal acts as Secretary to the Board and is entitled to attend and speak at meetings but does not have a vote.