Private school entry - Ireland

[Charbead49]

Have had a few threads on relocating from the UK

I have 3 small DC, one will be primary age next September.

I would like them to attend private secondary but how do you go about entry? Are there specific feeder primary schools or call you just apply and it's about space and money?

Do you have to have a link to the school?

Thanks for any Intel

An outdated view in opinion. What are the right people? Please do tell.

This is about facilities, helping my children settle to Ireland in an environment that they are used to that has time for them. I also do not subscribe to the religious ethos of many of the primaries.

Unhelpful on this thread to cast dispersion on those who choose this way

@Charbead49

An outdated view in opinion. What are the right people? Please do tell.

This is about facilities, helping my children settle to Ireland in an environment that they are used to that has time for them. I also do not subscribe to the religious ethos of many of the primaries.

Unhelpful on this thread to cast dispersion on those who choose this way

This was for @theleafandnotthetree

@Charbead49

An outdated view in opinion. What are the right people? Please do tell.

This is about facilities, helping my children settle to Ireland in an environment that they are used to that has time for them. I also do not subscribe to the religious ethos of many of the primaries.

Unhelpful on this thread to cast dispersion on those who choose this way

I'm not casting aspersions so much as reflecting my own observations of most situations I know of where children attend private school. It is a massive signifier of social class and aspiration for most (not all and not in all scenarios) - why else would people pay for it in a school system which with few exceptions, there is little educational advantage in it? And I think you know exactly what I mean by the right people, I am hardly saying anything radical here. You have made up your mind about paying for private school but there may be other people reading who get the impression that Ireland is similar to the UK and that private school is in some way 'necessary'. Happily, it really isn't and all the better for it. I'm just trying to save people money and help ensure we don't go down the route of a very stratified education system.

It is interesting though to see that the people who are planning to move to Ireland from the UK posting in craicnet are generally looking for help in getting into private schools.

@Charbead49
Welcome to Ireland!

I'm guessing the UK also has people who think they can decide better than you what is right for your children. I'm guessing also that there are fierce generalisations made about why parents choose a particular school or type of school, and of course generalisations about "all fee-paying schools" and "all state schools". I'm guessing also that in the UK there are as few people who have experience of both systems as there are here.

Prompted by your comment on religion, most of the private schools (with a couple of exceptions) also have a religious ethos. How that plays out in practice will vary though.

@PleasantBirthday

There's genuinely no need to waste money on a private school if you're in Clontarf.

Agreed. There’s also the state Church of Ireland options if you’re CoE/Anglican/other Protestant faiths, again excellent schools.