too early to look at secondary schools? (ireland)

[aoibhacado]

dd1 is 7 and in second class. here in ireland there tend to be long (2-4 year) waiting lists on secondary school. (secondary school starts at twelve or thirteen years old.) im not signing her up for anything yet, just browsing through websites of different schools. is it too early to send applications?

It depends - if you’re looking at fee paying schools, then yes, some operate lists depending on date of application (points for siblings/parent past pupil etc). But I’m in a large midlands town no fee paying), secondary schools have open nights, all 6th class pupils invited, and then you enrol. No early applications. If it’s oversubscribed, I’m not sure of the criteria - probably siblings, religion (if religious school) and catchment area - maybe age. I know for national schools here, it’s catchment area and then they are sorted by age - so a June born child who will be 5 starting will get a place ahead of a January born who would be 4 starting. There should be admission policies on all their websites.

oh and some have feeder schools - should be in the admission policy

Waiting lists are being phased out, so best to keep an eye on the application process for the schools you fancy. And apply to a few. Lots round me have moved to a lottery based system which is fair, but hard to plan for.

Waiting lists are banned from 2025 onwards in Ireland. No school will accept applications for 2027 September intake now.

@WomBat55 @turkeyboots @Dox9 thank you all! me and my dp have decided not to send applications yet, but we are browsing different school websites and weighing options.

Waiting lists don't exist for the schools I know locally (both state and fee paying). Students apply early in 6th class. Places go first to siblings, then children of staff, children of past pupils, children from feeder schools (local schools in the area) and so on. It varies a bit from school to school. If the school is oversubscribed, the final pupils will be chosen using a lottery system.

No school is allowed a weighting list here any more. Everyone applies generally in the September of 6th class depending on the schools own entry criteria