Moving to Dublin with 2 Teenagers - advice please!

[jennymalaysia]

Hi there amazing mumsnetters. We have finally taken the plunge. We are escaping the Brexit craziness and moving back to the best city in the world. Dublin! My 12 year old is sorted. Blackrock first year 2020. My 14 year old daughter is more of a problem. We will be living in Monkstown. She really wants a mixed school. She will be going into transition year. I am worried about her making friends. So think a school that has turnover would be good. St Andrews first choice but seems nigh on impossible to get into. I'm trying for Conleths which may have some space. Is conleths a good school for the situation? She wants to be a doctor and actually probably has a chance given her determination and smarts. Want to give her the best chance. Advice please. Thanks so much jenny

Thanks bluefargo that's really good to hear. Ann shephard is the CEO and the head is now a man whose name I can't pronounce! I was thinking the small school could help a newbie not get lost in the crowd. DD is sporty but not super competitive at sport. She just enjoys it.

That makes sense she is probably close to retirement now! Had a quick look at the website and there does seem to be more sports than there was in my day!

Have you visited the schools to see which one your daughter likes?

For mixed I've also heard great things about Sandford Park in ranelagh?

Hi bluefargo one of my big things is for dd to make friends. We will live in monkstown. I'm thinking ranelagh may be a bit far but I will defo have a look. Its a big ask!! Néed her to make friends. Ideally close by. And give her the best chance to get into med school as she seems determined. But need to get her out of insanely high pressured environment in the UK. It's affecting her mental health not surprisingly. Hard to make the right choices.!!!! Thanks all for your advice.

Dd is adamant she does not want to visit schools. I think she is embarrassed. She has seen 2 girls schools. I will keep trying to persuade her!

Hi all just an update. I managed to get my DD into St Andrews. We did a visit and think it will be a great school for her. We also visited conleths and loved it but were attracted to St. Andrews as 20 people join in transition year which DD will be joining and so we hope that will be a way to make friends. We've got a to do list with about 100 things on it before the August move and it is all a bit intimidating. Now it's real I'm having doubts. I hope we have made the right decision. Watch this space.

I think Andrews will suit your dd really well. My dd has lots of friends there who love it. She is actually in the same year as your dd so maybe their paths will cross 😂 Good luck with the move!

My friend's dc were in Andrews and loved it.
I hope your dd will too.

I’m in Mount Merrion with boys in Blackrock and Girls in Alex. Having had the DC previously in selective Coed English schools the academic pressure here is comparably non existent.

The DC are expected to work hard but it is nothing like U.K.

I was very reluctant to go the single sex path when we arrived but it’s been absolutely fantastic for all my DC

Andrews is a great school, well done!

Sounds like a great outcome for you. Andrew's has an excellent reputation and is a good location for you.