Private schools versus state sandyford / Dundrum / Stillorgan

[Cyanchicken]

Hi there

Our daughter is going into sixth class next year and we are thinking about schools. Very very Slight preference for mixed than single sex - we could afford private but happy to go with non fee paying either.

Any recommendations for academic, artistic not overly sporty (but would like her to have team sport options). Are the fee paying likes of loreto foxrock that much better than raphaelas for example? We are in a feeder school for raphaelas.

What are the educate together secondary schools like in stepaside or dundrum?

raphaelas has a great reputation and is probably the best option if you don’t want to go fee paying.
What does your daughter want and where are her friends planning on going, because the advice I was given is that they need to be happy with where they are going to make settling in easier.
The ET secondary school will probably need a couple more leaving cert classes before it can fully establish its reputation.

The ET in Stepaside is in a fairly rough area AFAIK, the one in Goatstown is just a few years old but have heard great things. They won't have a permanent building for a decade imo.

I love ET in general though.

Have you looked at Wesley?

We're open to private but would probably only pay it for mixed as raphaelas is a good single sex option.

We won't get into Wesley I don't think as not church of Ireland / Protestant. I would definitely consider it if they got in - I've heard great for music / choir / hockey etc. is it good for academics?

Most of her friends will probably go to raphaelas id say. Seems a bit of a no brainer and she'll be able to cycle.