South Side Schools

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movingagain

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Good morning,

Trying to return to Ireland but its proving to be quite difficult. I have a 12 year old Daughter and a 6 year old boy. I have had seven refusals for north side Dublin schools for my 12 year old, She is due to start first year. Can anyone recommend good secondary schools south side for her , one which does not require a one to two year application process, then I will try and get my son into a school within that area.
 
Where are you likely to be working? Where are you hoping to live, or has that already been decided?

Rather than just try a scattergun approach North Side or South Side you should check out the travel options to and from the schools from your home.

For public transport check this www.a-b.ie
 
I believe there's a specific issue for secondary schools this year, namely the birth rate in 2000/2001.

My son was born in 2000 and has a place for secondary school for August. The class sizes for his year in national school were each over 30. For other years, the class sizes are nearer 25.

What you experienced on the north side may be repeated south of the river.
 
Northside school

Where will you be living? Do you want single sex school or co-ed?
I think you need to clarify these things. May be able to give you help/ advice but need more info.
 
I had hoped to send her to a co ed School but They too were some of the refusals which I got North Side. We were going to move back to Ireland and then look for a job, we were basing our move really on where we can get the kids into good schools.
 
Isn't there a requirement that a school within the encatchment area of where you're living has to take your child? As in a child can't be left without a school to go to?
 
They have just said ,we are very sorry but there is no places left, one school was really helpful and give me a list of other schools to try but they were also full:(.
 
Perhaps ask that question on www.rollercoaster.ie but I think there has to be a school that takes them... as in that legally they're obliged to be at school and therefore one school has to accept them.
 
burmo said:
Isn't there a requirement that a school within the encatchment area of where you're living has to take your child? As in a child can't be left without a school to go to?
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Those are two very different questions. It is correct that a school must be found for each child. But there is no obligation on any one particular school to take all children in the catchment area who want to attend - otherwise the 'good' schools would be filled past capacity and less good schools would be below capacity.
burmo said:
Perhaps ask that question on www.rollercoaster.ie but I think there has to be a school that takes them... as in that legally they're obliged to be at school and therefore one school has to accept them.
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Again, yes a place will be found but the OP is looking for guidance on 'good schools' where her child might get in - not just 'is there anywhere in Dublin where we'll find a place'.

It's a tough one though. Pretty much all good schools are over-subscribed and will have all September places allocated by now. Many people who have been planning/trying for several years will have been disappointed. And Tarfhead's point is valid too - there is quite a bulge of children coming through at that age. The best option for the OP may be just to pick an area, rent somewhere and then start discussions with the schools and/or department of education to see what school(s) can be found to take her daughter - and then rent closer to the school where she gets in.

It is often easier to get into a school in 2nd year (there are invariably kids moving) so changing schools then might be another option if the school for 1st year is not suitable.
 
I had addresses North side for each school which I tried but it did not make a difference. I have received an e mail from one school which has a place, it is Rockford Manor in Blackrock. Does anyone know anything about this school? I have an address which I can use until we get set up in Kilmacud.
 
If you're likely to be in Kilmacud would you consider St Raphaela's a cousin of mine went there and really liked it, not sure what it's reputation is like now (or even if it is fee paying or not). No idea on waiting list.
 
Dear All,
Thank you so much for the help so far, but I need some more :(. I have been told from a few people that when moving from a different country esp with a girl. It is best to introduce her to a co ed school as there are less clicks etc and that she will have a better chance of fitting in. Although my daughter considers herself as being a true Irish girl, the reality is her schooling has been in an international system. Can you please also suggest Co Ed schools if you know of any.Obviously if there is no co eds which have place for her we will take an all girl school. Thank you so much once again...
 
dereko1969 said:
If you're likely to be in Kilmacud would you consider St Raphaela's a cousin of mine went there and really liked it, not sure what it's reputation is like now (or even if it is fee paying or not). No idea on waiting list.
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None fee-paying, Great reputation, but well-oversubscribed.

There is even a long waiting list for places in 2014.
 
movingagain said:
Dear All,
Thank you so much for the help so far, but I need some more :(. I have been told from a few people that when moving from a different country esp with a girl. It is best to introduce her to a co ed school as there are less clicks etc and that she will have a better chance of fitting in. Although my daughter considers herself as being a true Irish girl, the reality is her schooling has been in an international system. Can you please also suggest Co Ed schools if you know of any.Obviously if there is no co eds which have place for her we will take an all girl school. Thank you so much once again...
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I know a few co-eds where you will get a place this year, but their academic reputation is not great. ( St Tiernans and Ballinteer Community School, both in Dundrum/Ballinteer).

All schools with a strong reputation offer places for 1st when the kids are in 5th class ( 18 months before school starts) and if over-subscribed have a waiting list.

One other good school that you should try is This post will be deleted if not edited immediately and Mary college in Goatstown. Its non fee paying girls school with a good reputation.

One of the best co-ed schools on the south side is Wesley, but it is fee paying and as far as I know has a long waiting list. You might be lucky, though if a lot of the people of the waiting list have found that the fees are too much and cant take up the place. Its about €6K per year.
 
As far as I am aware, Our Lady's Grove Clonskeagh (aka This post will be deleted if not edited immediately and Mary) has allocated all places for 1st years for 2013...Same with Wesley..
 
emeralds said:
As far as I am aware, Our Lady's Grove Clonskeagh (aka This post will be deleted if not edited immediately and Mary) has allocated all places for 1st years for 2013...Same with Wesley..
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Yes, I know. Both schools have actually already allocated all / most places for 2014.

The OP is going to have to start contacting schools and see if there is a waiting list, how long it is and what the chances of cancellations are.
 
Oh Dear:(. The schools which I have had refusals from told me they had extensive waiting lists and there would be no hope of a place for her and advised that I look else where. I find it remarkable. I am so glad we have not bought a house on the assumption it would be no problem to get the kids into schools. What do people do when they own houses in Malahide for example ,what do they do if they are like us trying to return and there are no places in Malahide Swords or Portmarnock. As these are some of the areas which I tried.
 
I think the unpalatable reality is that you are now looking for 'any' school rather than a 'good'/popular school. As mentioned above, most/all 'good'/popular schools will have their places filled for September this year and, in fairness, can't be expected to keep a few places for possible newcomers if they have actual applicants on a waiting list - and things are particularly bad now because of the baby boom in the late 1990s/early 2000s. If fee-paying is not an option, you should probably just apply to every school in areas that you would consider living - then if any of them have spaces (and I expect some will), ask here or on rollercoaster.ie for peoples' views on which is best/least worst. It's not a great selection process but it is probably what needs to be done. The Department of Education has a school-finder at http://www.education.ie/en/find-a-school which will help you find all the schools in each area. Good luck!
 
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