Schools in D15

nicnac · 20-02-2014 12:20pm

So, if a child is registered in third class but is outside the catchment area would there be any chance of a place?

Rosser · 20-02-2014 12:40pm

Yes, if there are places following the feeder schools (always some), the other normal criteria is met and the parents want to pay the fees!

December2012 · 20-02-2014 1:01pm

Could any poster give me an indication of fees for Mount Sackville and whether you feel what's included is value for money.

MammaZita · 20-02-2014 1:09pm

December2012 wrote: »

Could any poster give me an indication of fees for Mount Sackville and whether you feel what's included is value for money.

€3.5k pa as far as I recall.

Rosser · 20-02-2014 1:12pm

€4,200 p/a and we find it very worthwhile. Parents are very much included in the running of the school, the ethos is strong and the skills of each child are nurtured.

December2012 · 20-02-2014 1:20pm

Rosser wrote: »

€4,200 p/a and we find it very worthwhile. Parents are very much included in the running of the school, the ethos is strong and the skills of each child are nurtured.

Are there any clubs, sports, extra skills included in the fees?

Rosser · 20-02-2014 1:28pm

There're lots of extra curricular activities, sporting, educational and musical but as with all things there are always extras to pay!!

Take a look at their website which list a lot of what's available.

MammaZita · 20-02-2014 3:42pm

The academic results for Mount Sackville aren't great for a fee paying school though are they?

December2012 · 20-02-2014 3:54pm

I did but it doesn't list a lot. I mean all schools have computer labs, home ec rooms and art rooms.

Maybe looking on the laptop will be better than on the phone.

So, what do the fees pay for then, if you still pay for the extra curriculars?

Rosser · 20-02-2014 4:42pm

Not sure that's exactly the case but as I mentioned earlier we are more than happy with the school and find the standard of teaching to be excellent, our girls are doing well as are their friends.

The education is rounded with a good social / moral leaning which interests me more than the obsessive points race.

If I had any concerns I'd move them.

MammaZita · 20-02-2014 5:03pm

Rosser wrote: »

Not sure that's exactly the case but as I mentioned earlier we are more than happy with the school and find the standard of teaching to be excellent, our girls are doing well as are their friends.

The education is rounded with a good social / moral leaning which interests me more than the obsessive points race.

If I had any concerns I'd move them.

Yeah but for €4,200 pa for 6 years I'd expect all of that with a decent LC at the end of it.

nicnac · 20-02-2014 6:03pm

The progression statistics for Mount Sackville are not bad at all

MammaZita · 20-02-2014 6:06pm

nicnac wrote: »

The progression statistics for Mount Sackville are not bad at all

I agree they're not bad (above average) but they're not great either.

Rosser · 20-02-2014 6:12pm

Well it's probably best you considered another school for your peace of mind, you'll just second guess your decision right through the 5 years.

I'm very comfortable that a good leaving cert will be the end product or as I already said I'd send them somewhere else.

gsilver · 31-05-2014 4:56pm

Hi,
I would greatly appreciate it if you kindly give me some feedback about this school, for Castleknock Community Collegewe are in a waiting list, we are thinking also about Blakestown Community School and Colaiste Probal Setanta. My son is 14 years old.

Thank you

gsilver · 31-05-2014 6:36pm

Hi JenStar,

We are in a same situation as you were 2 years ago, we have a chance for Luttrellstown community college, but still thinking is it the best, Coolmine Community School and Blakestown Community School have also good reputation, I will really appreciate any advice.

Thank you

beauf · 31-05-2014 7:04pm

Have you looked at their catchment policies

LoonyLovegood · 31-05-2014 11:18pm

As someone who went to CCC, I'd advise against it if your child is quiet or has been bullied. There's some fantastic teachers, but the years are quite large and it can be difficult for problems to be picked up on. Add to that they have a big focus on forcing kids into ordinary level for subjects if they're on a D grade, which is probably why they get such good exam results. I'd honestly go anywhere else. I've written elsewhere in this thread about Luttrellstown CC too.

Maryfrancis · 02-06-2014 8:53am

My own personnel experience of CCC would be very different to CTYIgirl. Regarding student welfare very experienced at picking up on student issues and dealing with same. Very positive approach.
If kids are being "forced" into ordinary level subjects can't understand how exactly the results appear to be so good.

beauf · 02-06-2014 9:36am

I assume they get higher results in lower subjects than trying for a higher level?

Where do you see results?

LoonyLovegood · 02-06-2014 3:51pm

That's exactly it. I know for this years fifth years, if they fail a summer test they have to go back in August to resit it.

Maryfrancis · 02-06-2014 8:04pm

I have never heard of 5th years having to resist exams , can't imagine teachers coming back early to deal with same, also is that not contradictory to what your saying. Surely the teachers would nt bother if the pupils were "forced" to do lower level !
Results of leaving exams are produced yearly in a league tables
In comparison to local schools CCC do very well.

Toto Wolfcastle · 02-06-2014 8:08pm

League tables only illustrate how many pupils go to third level, not including the likes of PLCs, etc. They don't illustrate how good the results are.

Maryfrancis · 02-06-2014 8:51pm

I do realise that, simply means that a high percentage of pupils must be doing higher level in order to achieve third level places !
Incidentally i don't believe the league tables are the most important part of education and role of a school.

beauf · 02-06-2014 9:11pm

Maryfrancis wrote: »

I have never heard of 5th years having to resist exams , can't imagine teachers coming back early to deal with same, also is that not contradictory to what your saying. Surely the teachers would nt bother if the pupils were "forced" to do lower level !
Results of leaving exams are produced yearly in a league tables
In comparison to local schools CCC do very well.

How do the other schools compare?

LoonyLovegood · 03-06-2014 2:35pm

I'm just telling you what I know for a fact, I have family in fifth year there right now.

exador · 05-06-2014 10:02pm

That's true about re sitting fifth year exams in the summer in CCC... Overall experience has been very good and have always found the School to be proactive.

Like all walks of life there are very good teachers and ones that are not so good.

AGC · 06-06-2014 11:51am

Do they provide re-sitting exams as an excuse to use up Croke Park hours?

gsilver · 07-06-2014 9:05am

Hi, please advise, Blakestown Community School or Luttrellstown Community College, I will appreciate, thank you very much!

ewekom · 27-07-2015 2:21pm

Hi there, post lil outdated but always will be some people looking opinions like me. I have been offered job in city and looking for house and school for daughter going to 1st class. She was going to Gaelic school in town where we live but not necessarily we are looking for same one. My main concern is there any chance to get place in some reasonable school? we're looking to rent house in walking distance to train station, or what is the best other option for traveling to dockland area? I would like to have walking distance to school as well. any suggestions pls?

beauf · 27-07-2015 5:39pm

Docklands train is the best option.

There's an Irish school in coolmine.

athtrasna · 27-07-2015 7:47pm

beauf wrote: »

Docklands train is the best option.

There's an Irish school in coolmine.

Scoil Oilibhéir is excellent but highly desirable. Difficult to get into, might be worth a call or email to see if it's a possibility.

December2012 · 27-07-2015 8:50pm

How about dunboyne? There is a Gael Scoil there and you're on the train line into docklands

BlazingSaddler · 26-09-2016 12:38pm

Hi all. I will have a child starting secondary on 2018, We are in the priority catchment area for LCC and currently attend one of the listed feeder schools. Would it be safe to assume that a place would be a given?, also have the name down for Mount Sackville (a rather expensive back up plan!) so any opinions on both schools would be appreciated. Was quite impressed with MS on the open day but dont think I could justify paying fees if there's a perfectly good community school on the doorstep.

Pat Dunne · 26-09-2016 1:26pm

BlazingSaddler wrote: »

Hi all. I will have a child started secondary on 2018, We are in the priority catchment area for LCC and currently attend one of the listed feeder schools. Would it be safe to assume that a place would be a given?, also have the name down for Mount Sackville (a rather expensive back up plan!) so any opinions on both schools would be appreciated. Was quite impressed with MS on the open day but dont think I could justify paying fees if there's a perfectly good community school on the doorstep.

Two excellent schools, basically down to which one you ultimately decide upon.

beauf · 26-09-2016 2:32pm

Factor in the iPad cost for LCC.

LoonyLovegood · 26-09-2016 9:49pm

LCC are fantastic, they got my brother diagnosed properly with his learning disabilities that the primary school said were just laziness, and they've been great ever since.

baegan · 03-10-2016 10:36pm

saw this post about primary schools in Dublin 15.
I live in harts town and my daughter will be going to school next year.
I have no idea of quality of local primary schools and don't really know anyone in the area.

-Can you recommend a good primary schools? Doesn't have to be religious or not.
- how early and how do I enroll?
Thanks

CakeZilla · 01-11-2016 1:47am

@Baegan Im not too sure on some of the primary schools in the area or how good they are but a few I know of are St.Philips, Sacred heart of jesus and scoil oilibheir. A lot of the primary are religious but i think they toned down a lot, also the last one is a irish school so they would be talking in irish for the majority.

Zaph · 01-11-2016 8:03pm

Cakezilla, I've removed your other post as it contained some very serious allegations that cannot be substantiated here. Please do not post them again on this site.

CakeZilla · 01-11-2016 9:30pm

Zaph wrote: »

Cakezilla, I've removed your other post as it contained some very serious allegations that cannot be substantiated here. Please do not post them again on this site.

Sorry about that, wont happen again

BlazingSaddler · 07-02-2017 12:18pm

Hi all, I was looking at the school league tables there for 2016 for D15. The results seem to be based on the no. of students who carry onto college/uni. but I think this can be taken with a pinch of salt, students who go to the UK are not included, or are students who go to private colleges amongst others.

Castleknock College is top at 94%, CCC 84%, Setanta 83%, Coolmine 73%, Hartstown 60%, LCC 44%, Blakestown 42%, Riversdale 34%. I'm sure there are plenty of other criteria that leave these figures with a lot to be desired. See link below but you will need a login to the independent to get access. Another school mentioned in this forum a lot but not in D15 is Mount Sackville, this scored 100%. The LCC score is raising eyebrows with me as this is where I was hoping to send my kids there but I also realise the school is still very new.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/school-league-tables/school-league-tables-how-good-is-your-school-34391423.html

beauf · 07-02-2017 12:50pm

Not every school has the same mix of kids who want to go college. Also some schools might have had different catchment profile. if you do want your kids to do to college then its obviously will be of more interest to you. If not you might be more interested in how success the school is in other areas.

Former Former · 07-02-2017 12:59pm

BlazingSaddler wrote: »

Hi all, I was looking at the school league tables there for 2016 for D15. The results seem to be based on the no. of students who carry onto college/uni. but I think this can be taken with a pinch of salt, students who go to the UK are not included, or are students who go to private colleges amongst others.

Castleknock College is top at 94%, CCC 84%, Setanta 83%, Coolmine 73%, Hartstown 60%, LCC 44%, Blakestown 42%, Riversdale 34%. I'm sure there are plenty of other criteria that leave these figures with a lot to be desired. See link below but you will need a login to the independent to get access. Another school mentioned in this forum a lot but not in D15 is Mount Sackville, this scored 100%. The LCC score is raising eyebrows with me as this is where I was hoping to send my kids!

Incredibly politically incorrect statements coming up but...

I would expect LCC's percentages to rise over the coming years. They are only in their current premises for a couple of years, prior to that they were based in the old School of Horology near the hospital and I think the only kids going there were the ones who could not get a place elsewhere. And that usually tends to be non-Irish kids who are much less likely to go on to third-level.

Now that they have a permanent premises and a clearly defined catchment area (parts of Carpenterstown and Clonsilla), I would expect the intake to be more reflective of the surrounding area and the percentage moving on to third level to be closer to that of Coolmine.

CCC has a more affluent catchment area than LCC so its figures are always going to be higher.

beauf · 07-02-2017 1:14pm

I would broadly agree with that. I know a good few very academically bright kids going to LCC and I would expect them to do very well. parents all seem very happy with the place too. Seems to attract the kids from the Educate Together which also seem a bright bunch too. I wasn't a big fan of the iPad policy though. It might suit many kids but not all.

AlanG · 07-02-2017 1:38pm

I would agree with a lot of what is said about LCC, the statistics are likely to shoot up in the coming years.

Just to note the renowned economist Steve Levitt has documented a lot of evidence that suggests there is no benefit to sending a child to a school with high 3rd level progression rates. From memory the influencing factors are home wealth, parents approach and early education. Bizarrely things like having a lot of books in the house during early childhood increases success rates significantly even though time spent actually reading the books to the child did not show a statistically significant correlation.

beauf · 07-02-2017 3:11pm

AlanG wrote: »

...suggests there is no benefit to sending a child to a school with high 3rd level progression rates. From memory the influencing factors are home wealth, parents approach and early education. Bizarrely things like having a lot of books in the house during early childhood increases success rates significantly even though time spent actually reading the books to the child did not show a statistically significant correlation.

I don't really know what is meant by success, or benefit in that. We are missing the context in which its written.

AlanG · 07-02-2017 3:35pm

beauf wrote: »

I don't really know what is meant by success, or benefit in that. We are missing the context in which its written.

Success in the context of this query and 2nd level education in general - Good grades and progress to 3rd level education.

beauf · 07-02-2017 3:41pm

Good grades and progress to 3rd level education have to be closely related to schools with a high rate of progression to 3rd level . They are mutually inclusive.

Saying there's no benefit doesn't make a lot of sense in that context. So I can only assume there was more to it than that.

Former Former · 07-02-2017 4:12pm

beauf wrote: »

Good grades and progress to 3rd level education have to be closely related to schools with a high rate of progression to 3rd level . They are mutually inclusive.

Saying there's no benefit doesn't make a lot of sense in that context. So I can only assume there was more to it than that.

The original point was that a kid from a low-income household that doesn't place much value on education and third-level is equally unlikely to progress, regardless of what school he goes to. Likewise, a kid whose parents are well-off and do emphasise the importance of learning is going to progress, even if he ends up in 'bad' school. In other words, the primary determining factor is not the school itself but the home environment.

Personally, I'd say it's a combination of both

Schools in D15

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