School advice for family relocating to Dublin

[sarahnovember]

We are an American family relocating to Dublin next summer (already based in Europe). I know the rental situation is a mess, but I'm more concerned with school placement for our three boys in grades 3, 6 (junior) and 2 (senior) next year. We are not religious and I'm curious about the Educate Together curriculum. Are some better than others? Which are considered top locations? Would gladly welcome any other advice on the best private schools (ideally mixed). Many thanks!

Interesting that the schools have advised that and I'd imagine the Austrian curriculum will be closer match to the Irish. Might be worthwhile having a look at the 1st year text books and doing your own research on that or perhaps with their current teacher to reassure yourself and your child.

One non academic aspect mentioned above to consider is your children's social maturity particularly for the child going into 2nd year secondary school. A 12 year old who is at a normal 12 year old maturity level socially with other children may struggle to create relationships with children a year or more older. All the kids will be a full calendar year younger than their peers

Just FYI - if the number of years of schooling bothers you then there is the opportunity to skip 4th year / transition year in secondary school and go straight into 5th from 3rd.

There will be children with spring birthdays in those years although they will be very much at the younger end of the class. If you are very confident that your children can manage the social side of things you could go ahead. I think your younger children will be ok but I would be wary about the eldest. There are advantages in starting first year rather than second year it is the year when children move from primary into secondary schools and everyone is in the same boat in terms of a school transition. The schools are focussed on getting everyone used to the new system and friendship groups are not yet fully set up.

As an aside, first year is one of the hardest years to get into and there can be a lot of competition for places. It would probably be easier for a school to find a place in second year which may be why they are considering it.

Schools-wise I would focus on the secondary school first as there are fewer of them. If you are looking for mixed schools in those areas and don’t mind fee paying you should look at Sandford Park (I think it’s non denominational but not sure), The High School, Stratford College, Wesley College, St Conleth’s. St Conleth’s also has a junior school attached which may be a bonus as you can enrol your younger children there. If you are willing to consider single-sex the choice is much wider, a relic of our historical education system unfortunately. I would then start looking at primary schools in the surrounding areas.

St Columbia’s is also worth a look.

This link might be helpful in terms of looking for school names. Take the league table ‘rankings’ with a pinch of salt - they use very narrow criteria and are not necessarily indicative of schools which will suit your child.

Have you looked at KH? They might do the IB now
I went to school in Switzerland and in Dublin,
We lived in Malahide which is north Dublin

The IB would be easiest if you think you'll move again. The MYP and EYP offerings may be not as good in Ireland though

Have you looked at North Dublin at all like Howth and Malahide?

I've shared our children's birthdates with several schools and they have confirmed 3rd & 5th Classes for our younger boys and 2nd Year for our oldest.

In Irish schools the final decision regarding age is down to parents, within a certain window at least. So some children in a class may be a year or more younger than others. However, all the teachers I know would advise having your child on the older side, rather than younger side, of the class age range - and that's for Irish children, not for ones moving country. It's for social reasons as much as academic ones.

The answers you got from the schools might depend on how you framed the question. What I mean is, did you say to them that you wanted your child to start in 2nd year etc - in which case they'd accept that - or did you actually ask them which class they thought most suitable?

I've been sharing our current classes along with birthdates and asking schools to advise the proper Irish equivalent. Some have put them clearly at the next level in line with the Austrian system while others have warned they would be among the youngest. It seems very specific to each school, and as said, more of a personal preference. I sense it's going to come down to where we can find openings in our preferred locations (already quite a challenge).

How long are you going to be in Ireland? If you're going to be there long enough for your eldest to go the whole way through secondary then I would start her in first year. It would be easier for her to sit Junior Cert without having missed a third of the program.

I think the schools that are warning you they would be among the youngest in the class are basically telling you move them down a year! Irish people often say things indirectly. It's normal to me but I have an Australian friend who was completely flummoxed by this when she moved here😀

Well, maybe I have that wrong but if a teacher warned me that DC would be one of the youngest in, say, 3rd class, I think the very obvious next question is 'would he be better off in 2nd so?' 'Would that be a better fit?'

I can't really comment much since I only have experience with one school but if you are on facebook there are some local parents group (I am on one called Dublin 6/6w mums and beyond) where this subject is discussed a lot, and you can search past posts.

I agree NS level most schools are equally good especially in the areas you are talking about.

There is a new Educate together secondary in Harolds Cross, maybe that is not full yet? My friend sends there and seems happy.

I spoke to a mum with kids in Nord Anglia and she was NOT over happy with it (can't remember why) so definitely get some first hand experience.

My kids went to private schools in Dublin 6. St Mary's College, High School and Alex
High School was the best for me probably but impossible to get into now as it is mixed which has become v popular. Sandford too is hugely popular but its a bit "my pronouns are.." so not personally for me.
Boys v happy in Marys- they have a junior school too. I probably wouldn't opt for it if they are not sporty but that would be the same with all the boys private schools. It wouldn't apply to High School or Sandford though.

Can I recommend that you look for schools that are reasonably close together or on decent public transport for the secondary school pupil so they can get to/from your home to school while you bring the primary school pupils to school? We don't have a school transport system like the US so if your parents don't bring you to school or your don't walk or cycle (again, distances can be difficult), you're on public transport and it can be hit and miss depending on the area that you are planning to move to.

Have a look at John Scottus in D4. Both my kids have recently been through it. It’s a lovely little school. Very small classes, they provide lunch and snacks, offer afterschool clubs. It’s a non-religious school and they do a lot of meditation/philosophy. It’s a school with a lot of expats so places are often becoming available all year round.

When you have a better idea on the schools maybe ask the age range. So for example my eldest is 15 shortly, he is in third year (Junior Cycle) he is one of the youngest - there is a lot his peers late 15 and indeed 16 -unusual but becoming more common given the later age start.

I would be wary of putting a 13 year old in with lads 15/16 there is a big social step and even from a physicality aspect - rugby etc they may be at a disadvantage - just something to consider.

Friends of mine who have entered the Irish education system from abroad have found the social aspect as being the hardest - especially as teens. There are a lot of connections made in first year, most schools tend to have specific programmes to get the teens to mix and engage with each other.

Wishing you all an easy move and happiness to the children I am sure they will be fine.

Has John Scottus not moved to Wicklow?

OP you mention private schools and Educate Together. Educate Together are all non fee paying.

One school I haven’t seen mentioned is Stratford College in Rathgar. It is a Jewish ethos school but most students are not Jewish. It would have lots of expats and may be easier to get a place in than done if the others mentioned.

As you are coming from Austria I would start with St Kilians first and then ring around others.

@ChimneyPot the secondary school has moved to Wicklow yep but the primary is in D4.

www.johnscottus.ie/old-conna-primary/

Highly recommend John scottus, on the boarder of d18/Wicklow

They have preschool , primary and secondary on campus
A lot of expats send there children here so places generally become available each year

They also have a secondary school in ballsbridge but I’d imagine handier to have them all on the one campus

They are fee paying but this includes snacks and a hot lunch

They also have a secondary school in ballsbridge but I’d imagine handier to have them all on the one campus

It's another primary in Ballsbridge (D4) not a secondary, isn't it? Primary and secondary in the second location further out.

@Grassisbluer only primary in D4 yes. Such a shame the secondary school is so far from us! We absolutely loved JS.

Where will you and your DH be working OP? You don't want to end up having to do a school run that's tricky traffic wise.

The John Scottus campus on Old Conna is absolutely gorgeous. DS went to summer camp there when he was little (when it was the previous school Aravon) and there is loads of fabulous outdoor space with mature forest. It's quite a long way out though, and even if you were living in Dublin 18 it would depend on which bit you were coming from as to how easy it would be to access. eg living in Kilternan and going via the back roads would be no problem, but living in Foxrock and trying to take the M50/N11 and come off at Bray would probably be hideous.

A lot will depend on where you live OP and whether or not you are available for drop offs and pick ups. In the area you have mentioned I think killians would be a good option and not too much of a culture shock for your DC.

If you can afford it , fee paying schools are not extortionate, however educationally they are not all that different to non fee paying schools . I wouldn’t worry too much about the primary school, they are all very similar, but I would tailor a secondary for your eldest - some private schools are very big and sports focused.

On the north side of the city, Sutton park would meet your requirements - mixed, junior, senior and very international

@Grassisbluer sorry yes! Primary in d4 and primary /secondary in old conna

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar you can come off at rathmicheal, no need to come off at bray .

There is also a shuttle bus service which is used for the secondary school

I know someone who sent her kids to St Kilians (7-10 years ago) and they loved it. Great community, friendly atmosphere, obv quite a few families who were German/Austrian or with strong links to Germanic Europe, though there were also Irish families who were there for the bilingual exposure. My friend was in this camp.

I also had musical neighbours as a child who sent their boys there purely because they loved Bach. This was decades ago. The boys are both barristers now.

It would be ideally located if you end up on the south side. If your kids already speak some German it would be an easy transition from the language pov.

Hi, not sure if someone else has already mentioned this but Rathdown School has recently gone co-ed and so might be worth having a look at.