Secondary schools Megamerge

foxy06

What do you think are the best schools in Bray and why?

remus808

Gerards has an excellent standard of teaching! Probably the most academic school in the area. Great for sport too. Pity about the D4's!

John Mason

karmabass wrote:

Gerards has an excellent standard of teaching! Probably the most academic school in the area. Great for sport too. Pity about the D4's!

yeah, i have to go with this my friend's dad was principal there for a while and my friend went there. everyone one of her school friends are over achievers.

foxy06

Is Gerards private?

Mikeyt086

I currently go to Gerards.

Yes it is private, and it is very expensive. My parents work like mad to send me there, so i try not to waste it. And about the D4's, its more Wannabe D4's aswell which is more pathetic., not so much in the older years, but in 1st and 2nd year its rediculous!

The facilities in the school are amazing now, but only recently, and the sports programme has come on alot.

Ill be going into 6th year in 2 weeks, and as far as i know there is little to no bullying or any crap like that all down thorugh the years and from what i year from my mates (non-Gerards mates) that is strange. But good.

Ive got alot of friends going to Pres which is all boys and that sounds good aswell but i can only say what i know.

As the 2nd poster said some of the teachers are exellent. But not all. Id say if your willing to spend the money Gerards is worth it, but ive got friends who love Pres/Loreto so im sure their good also.

If your talking about Primary schools then what i said still stands for Gerards. And St.Cronins is where almost every boy in Bray goes.

Theres always Colaiste Rathin!

foxy06

ok well out of the non private schools what would people recommmend

mikedragon32

Mikeyt086 wrote:

I currently go to Gerards.

Yes it is private, and it is very expensive. My parents work like mad to send me there, so i try not to waste it. And about the D4's, its more Wannabe D4's aswell which is more pathetic., not so much in the older years, but in 1st and 2nd year its rediculous!

The facilities in the school are amazing now, but only recently, and the sports programme has come on alot.

Ill be going into 6th year in 2 weeks, and as far as i know there is little to no bullying or any crap like that all down thorugh the years and from what i year from my mates (non-Gerards mates) that is strange. But good.

Ive got alot of friends going to Pres which is all boys and that sounds good aswell but i can only say what i know.

As the 2nd poster said some of the teachers are exellent. But not all. Id say if your willing to spend the money Gerards is worth it, but ive got friends who love Pres/Loreto so im sure their good also.

If your talking about Primary schools then what i said still stands for Gerards. And St.Cronins is where almost every boy in Bray goes.

Theres always Colaiste Rathin!

Do you think your punctuation is typical of the St. Gerard's student body?

Wifey and one of my best friends both went to Gerard's and both were removed by their parents and sent to other schools. Both cited that the school is indeed full of the D4 wannabes and the standards weren't that high, education wise.

Foxy, as someone who went to a national primary school and then to a fee paying secondary, I'd say there's no need to waste your money on a private primary school.

foxy06

No I won't be doing that Mike. I have a son in St. Kevins in Greystones now but was thinking of moving him now that we are living in Bray. St. Kevins is a great school though and I would love to leave him there but its awkward trying to organise childcare and I am going to have to do that in the coming months. So really what I was looking for was a recommmendation from parents in the area or even people that went to school in Bray.

Its primary schools I'm looking at at the moment.

Creamy Goodness

best non private schools in bray are:

colaiste raithin and presentation college.

brayblue24

It has been mentioned but I have to agree. I have two boys in St. Cronan's and can't speak highly enough of it. Terrific school with and after school club if you need that. Great activities etc.

foxy06

thanks brayblue. I am thinking of sending my lad there but have come across a bit of a problem.

If I send my son there in sept next year then my youngest son will be left in Limbo as St Cronins dont take the infant classes afaik. I dont want to have one in Greystones (where the eldest son went) and then one in Bray. That would be an absolute nightmare. Where do I send my youngest son for Junior and Senior infants?

johnny_ultimate

I went to St Patrick's, St Cronan's and Pres, and I think they are all great schools - Cronans in particular, with the 'newish' (to me anyway) school and facilities, which I unfortunately only got a few months in . The Pres building is getting on a bit, and is not a place for non-sport (ie rugby) extra cirrcular activities, but I had good times there, and (some of) the teachers are excellent.

Maj

I think the little 'uns start infants in St. Patricks and then the boys are moved out to St. Cronins in 1st class.

Creamy Goodness

well this is the case, but when i was in patricks (long time ago) i was moved up to cronan's for 2nd class.

i was never in the new cronan's school so i don't know if they have the room to take the boys for 1st class now but they definitely didn't when they were in the old school.

bdo

I'm looking for views on st brendans vs pres bray, as a senior school for a boy entering 1st year.

Brendans appears smaller and more more individual but i know very little about Pres.

Any views from parents?

Thank you

farva

I went to neither, but I have mates who went to both. The guys who came from Pres, had a lot of good things to say about it and the turned out "normal" middle class lads from normal middle class backrounds. (as in not knackers/scumbags and not stuck up "D4" heads) I had unlces who went there and enjoyed it, so it seems that Pres has kept up a good reputation over the years. I've recommended Pres to my Aunt for my little cousin based on the good things that I've heard.

Brendans on the other hand would be a no-go for me! I know lads who went there and turned out fine, but hadn't much good to say about the place. I know someone who was a teacher there for a year doing their H.Dip and after hearing some of the stories that she told about the place, I was amazed at what a kip the place was. I had a mate who left the school that we were in because it was "too posh" for his liking, went to Brendans and had a ball...he was a complete wanna be scumbag. No way would I let my little cousin go there!

For the record I'm only out of school 4 years myself so I'd say that the schools havent changed much in that time frame.

Hope that helps you!

Lil' Smiler

bdo wrote: »

I'm looking for views on st brendans vs pres bray, as a senior school for a boy entering 1st year.

Brendans appears smaller and more more individual but i know very little about Pres.

Any views from parents?

Thank you

To be honest, my brother went to Brendan's wasn't fond of it at all and I wa sin Loreto so we had the Loreto / Pres relationship. Pres is very good from what i've heard but have constantly heard bad things about Brendan's.. my parents were also on the committee etc so... yeah there's my piece!

Mushy

bdo wrote: »

I'm looking for views on st brendans vs pres bray, as a senior school for a boy entering 1st year.

Brendans appears smaller and more more individual but i know very little about Pres.

Any views from parents?

Thank you

Past pupil of 4 months from Brendans here, so be warned it's a biased view:D

Yeah, the place is a bit run down now, but hey, they have permission and plans in place etc. for a totally new building(which they hope to start sometime next year, ready for 2009/2010 I think). Most of the teachers I had in there were great laugh, really good teachers. Unfortunately, some of them are nearing the end of their teaching careers, but if they still there in a while, you can be lucky to have them. The other teachers I didnt have, I got on great with most of them. Its a really down to Earth place; if you're a ****** and the teacher knows it, well then you'll hate the place. If you're sound and don't act the gob***** most of the time(come on, still kids in secondary school), you'll get on great with the teachers. All the staff will work effortlessly to help you through anything.

Now in saying that, if you want to do medicine or some other 550+ course, then it may not be what you want. If you get too big for your shoes in there, be prepared for a crash landing, cos you'll be put right back in your place. Was there for 6yrs...had a blast, got what I wanted, what more do you need?

bridgetb

heard someone that had her kids on both schools and said Pres is much better facilities, teachers grades. that's if you can get them into the school. heard waiting list is long

Witcher

im currently going to st brendans and it may not be the best school for facilities but because the school population is the smallest in bray you cant find a better school for individuality. the teachers have time for every student even troublemakers. basically everyone knows everyone and we have respect for each other. the teachers know every student in the school by name.


:cool::cool::cool:

Mushy

blay1 wrote: »

im currently going to st brendans and it may not be the best school for facilities but because the school population is the smallest in bray you cant find a better school for individuality. the teachers have time for every student even troublemakers. basically everyone knows everyone and we have respect for each other. the teachers know every student in the school by name.


:cool::cool::cool:

so very true!

happy_feet

em i went to St.Patricks, then St.Cronans and then Pres.

The way it works is that boys ad girls are mixed together in st.patricks until 1st class, and they then move to cronans which is all boys.

Cronans is also one of the main feeder schools for Pres.

Im still in Pres, and i love it! The teachers, in general are good, and considering the building is from the 60's, the facilities are good.
so yeh, Pres!

spurious

By far the most important element in academic success is the home. If your parents are supportive and have brought you up to try hard and do your best, you will do well in any school, private or not.

If paying for it makes people feel better, go ahead.

happy_feet

spurious wrote: »

By far the most important element in academic success is the home. If your parents are supportive and have brought you up to try hard and do your best, you will do well in any school, private or not.

If paying for it makes people feel better, go ahead.

i agree! loads of my friends are in a well known fee-paying school, and they all do worse in school than me and my mates. also they are always complaining about their school, particularly about how bad TY is!

Vokes

foxy06 wrote: »

thanks brayblue. I am thinking of sending my lad there but have come across a bit of a problem.

If I send my son there in sept next year then my youngest son will be left in Limbo as St Cronins dont take the infant classes afaik. I dont want to have one in Greystones (where the eldest son went) and then one in Bray. That would be an absolute nightmare. Where do I send my youngest son for Junior and Senior infants?

Does your eldest have long to go in Primary School? Might be best to leave him in St. Kevins if he has only a year or two left? and then from there to Pres, Bray.

SmashingPilot

I'm currently in 6th year in St. Brendans.

Yes, the building is slightly rundown by modern standards but plans and funding have been sorted and I love the look of the new school. They are currently trying their best their best to keep the current school in as good a condition as possible, during mid-term a new roof was put in. So it shows they want to improve the physical look of the school.

As said before, the school is small with about 350 students. In my opinion, all the teachers are great, very friendly, get to know you personally and willing to help you out as much as possible. My English and Maths teacher currently give up their free time to give extra tuition, Wednesday afternoons and Monday evenings.

As far as I'm aware their isn't any bullying that goes on and with the small numbers, everyone gets to know each other. The school is quite relaxed but if you want to achieve all the possibilities are there.

Plus, we have great sports teams.

Mushy

SmashingPilot wrote: »

I'm currently in 6th year in St. Brendans.

Yes, the building is slightly rundown by modern standards but plans and funding have been sorted and I love the look of the new school. They are currently trying their best their best to keep the current school in as good a condition as possible, during mid-term a new roof was put in. So it shows they want to improve the physical look of the school.

As said before, the school is small with about 350 students. In my opinion, all the teachers are great, very friendly, get to know you personally and willing to help you out as much as possible. My English and Maths teacher currently give up their free time to give extra tuition, Wednesday afternoons and Monday evenings.

As far as I'm aware their isn't any bullying that goes on and with the small numbers, everyone gets to know each other. The school is quite relaxed but if you want to achieve all the possibilities are there.

Plus, we have great sports teams.

Things are looking up since I left last June then! When are they supposed to be starting the building for the new school? Or do they have planning permission yet?

SmashingPilot

Mushy wrote: »

Things are looking up since I left last June then! When are they supposed to be starting the building for the new school? Or do they have planning permission yet?

I think building is supposed to start possibly this summer, not 100% on that though. All the planning permission has been sorted and you can view the plans for the new school up reception. They look really good.

Witcher

SmashingPilot wrote: »

I think building is supposed to start possibly this summer, not 100% on that though. All the planning permission has been sorted and you can view the plans for the new school up reception. They look really good.

im in TY, that bloody school will never be built

their telling us we'll have one year in the new building, my ar*se :pac:


:cool::cool::cool:

Mushy

SmashingPilot wrote: »

I think building is supposed to start possibly this summer, not 100% on that though. All the planning permission has been sorted and you can view the plans for the new school up reception. They look really good.

Oh I've seen thge plans many a time from hanging round talking to people there! Looks really good, really well laid out. I'll pay a visit back there soon, kinda need to talk to some teachers about stuff anyway.

*Starystary*

Raithin!!Its one of the best schools in my opinon!,Such a friendly, nice and warming atmosphere!:)...the teachers are more like friends then teachers! Great school!:):) to bad they dont let you skip 4th...had to leave:(

Snowdrop

Anyone got an opinion on St Killians school in Bray?

o1s1n

Snowdrop wrote: »

Anyone got an opinion on St Killians school in Bray?

I went there myself about 7 or 8 years ago. My younger sisters are currently going into 5th year. Thought it was grand at the time, but in retrospect it wasn't. There are some really great teachers and facilities, it's just the scumbag population ruins it for everyone. I knew a lot of bright kids who didn't really reach their full potential there for some reason or another.

Lil' Smiler

Yeah I'd have to agree with the above.

I was in Loreto an ha some friends in Kilians.. actually all the guys I know are from Kilians, a lovely bunch of las, not scumbags at all. They seem to have gotten on great with the teachers an apparently the staff are brilliant!

Hmmm.... thinking about schools, i must go try have a peek at the new sports hall in Loreto..which was meant to be built when I was in 1st year... 9 years ago!!

PBB

Just to confirm what other posters have said, St Patrick's take boy to end of 1st class, where they get to move up to Cronan's (much to the girls left in Patricks delight).

St Cronan's is an excellent school, with great staff (very involved) and parent's committee structure. In addition the new school has excellent facililities.

Presentation and Brendan's are both due refurbs in the near future (with I think Brendan's due to start sooner rather than later), but apart from ageing facilities they have a good rep. Wouldn't read to much into size as a larger student body means more teachers and maybe better infrastructure over time.

Junior schools and Boy's secondary are not a problem in Bray at the moment, but I've heard Loreto has gone down hill a bit - any comments ?

Lil' Smiler

Well I found in my last year in Loreto that when there was a change in Principal that it wasn't as good. many peoplw will agree and say that the duo of mr Denny & Ms Dempsey was great. ms D has now left and I've heard it's not great, many of the older teachers, who really were great have left now too

Pigwidgeon

PBB wrote: »

but I've heard Loreto has gone down hill a bit - any comments ?

totally true, i'm going into 6th year now. Had mr denny and ms dempsey as principal and vice in first year. Mr denny left and ms donagh took over, she is absolutly useless, ms dempsey was holding it all together and she left when i was in 3rd year and mrs hunt took over as vice principal.

They are ok but the school has gone terribly down hill, they focus on the wrong things ie mainly uniform rather than the important things. Basically nobody respects them.
Also, there are a lot of teachers who aren't up to scratch (i'm not just saying this because i don't work, i have to work extremely hard on my own to get the good grades because of these teachers not being able to control the class, i even got irish grinds throughout 5th year).

Although this there are some excellent teachers in the school and the facilities are getting better, we have finally gotten a sports hall over the last year and i think we'll be using it this year. There is a lot of sports and clubs in the school which are great and there isn't (in my year anyway) much bullying and i don't think there is in other years.

foxy06

o1s1n wrote: »

I went there myself about 7 or 8 years ago. My younger sisters are currently going into 5th year. Thought it was grand at the time, but in retrospect it wasn't. There are some really great teachers and facilities, it's just the scumbag population ruins it for everyone. I knew a lot of bright kids who didn't really reach their full potential there for some reason or another.

Must have been in your year o1s1n. Left there in 2000 myself. Have to say it was a great school with teachers that would spend hours after school doing leaving cert projects with students.....often didn't leave til midnight! Very dedicated staff but like you said the scumbags ruin it for everyone else.

brayblue24

foxy06 wrote: »

Must have been in your year o1s1n. Left there in 2000 myself. Have to say it was a great school with teachers that would spend hours after school doing leaving cert projects with students.....often didn't leave til midnight! Very dedicated staff but like you said the scumbags ruin it for everyone else.

Funny, when I saw your tag I had you down for a now retired footballer trying to be cryptic (but he was playing in 2000 when you left school). I'll presume that's where you got the name though!!

Lil' Smiler

kateos2 wrote: »

totally true, i'm going into 6th year now. Had mr denny and ms dempsey as principal and vice in first year. Mr denny left and ms donagh took over, she is absolutly useless, ms dempsey was holding it all together and she left when i was in 3rd year and mrs hunt took over as vice principal.

They are ok but the school has gone terribly down hill, they focus on the wrong things ie mainly uniform rather than the important things. Basically nobody respects them.
Also, there are a lot of teachers who aren't up to scratch (i'm not just saying this because i don't work, i have to work extremely hard on my own to get the good grades because of these teachers not being able to control the class, i even got irish grinds throughout 5th year).

Although this there are some excellent teachers in the school and the facilities are getting better, we have finally gotten a sports hall over the last year and i think we'll be using it this year. There is a lot of sports and clubs in the school which are great and there isn't (in my year anyway) much bullying and i don't think there is in other years.

Ah , we posted within minutes of each other and agreed!

Don't talk to me about that bloody sports hall!! Wonder whats its like!

Yeah Ms D & Ms Hunt is not a good combo for Loreto. Problem is that they are very much focused on the sports aswell and because the years are so big.. we had 150 girls in ours, so many people don't get a look in and it's kinda sad.

In general the facilities in the schools are good. Like the rooms in the new APA are great, art room, business room, home ec & labs but by god do the prefabs and the cowshed need to be gotten rid of!

I have no major complaints from my time in Loreto, I made some brilliant friends and had some brilliant teachers but our year was so mixed aswell, in ability and personalities it wasa bit odd at times!

Pigwidgeon

yeah, well i think it's finished now so for my last year should get to use it...

there are some good teachers i'll agree but there are some bad ones who have been there for many years and i can't understand how when they have no respect. in my geography class about half the class is asleep and our teacher doesn't notice, the others are either talking or working by themselves doing there own notes. its ridiculous.
The amount of bad teachers i have out weighs the good ones.

The people in my year are great though, and i agree by how mixed they are. and i would say that one of the great things about loreto is all my friends, probably not what the best thing about a school should be.

and oh yeah Lil' Smiler, did you know they turned the locker room in the cowsheads into another class this year?! crazy!

foxy06

brayblue24 wrote: »

Funny, when I saw your tag I had you down for a now retired footballer trying to be cryptic (but he was playing in 2000 when you left school). I'll presume that's where you got the name though!!

If I was a fella I would probably know who your on about!

brayblue24

foxy06 wrote: »

If I was a fella I would probably know who your on about!

LOL Answers my question. Fair enough so.

Stephen Fox used to wear the no. 6 shirt for Bray Wanderers. Nickname Foxy. Nice coincidence though.

mikedragon32

brayblue24 wrote: »

LOL Answers my question. Fair enough so.

Stephen Fox used to wear the no. 6 shirt for Bray Wanderers. Nickname Foxy. Nice coincidence though.

... and totally off topic.

Take it to PM.

The Chessplayer

foxy06 wrote: »

No I won't be doing that Mike. I have a son in St. Kevins in Greystones now but was thinking of moving him now that we are living in Bray. St. Kevins is a great school though and I would love to leave him there but its awkward trying to organise childcare and I am going to have to do that in the coming months. So really what I was looking for was a recommmendation from parents in the area or even people that went to school in Bray.

Its primary schools I'm looking at at the moment.

I'm from Bray and I went to Kevin's. Plenty of Bray heads go there. I just got the bus like everyone else, none of this childcare codology.

foxy06

Didn't know anyone else from Bray that had a child there but you give excellent points and I will give them some very careful consideration.....my six year old loves the bus and it would be even more fun for him when he is on it alone while I'm at work:rolleyes:

The Chessplayer

Well there was a rake of us back in the day Foxy, a bus full of us. I hope Wog (Master Breen) is still teaching out there with his tin whistle, singing away.

Pigwidgeon

yeah there was a few people in my class who were from bray.
ah good old master breen making everbody sing!

Uncle Joe

I only finished secondary school a month ago and went colaiste raithin but did my last 2 years in pres,so i kinda have a insight into both....

I found pres to be a far better school.Col Raithin might have been the place back in the day but its pretty much decended into a farce..all the good teachers are leaving/left,the facilities are (and look set to remain) a shambles,NO ONE speaks Irish any more,and the atmosphere was turning abit sour when i left anyway...

Pres (while not ideal),has a very good standered of teachers,Great atmosphere,and its getting new facilities even tho its current ones are not that bad and is generally better in my opinion...

Any way thats just my experiance...

Rose 69

We have just moved to Bray and are looking for a Good Primary School for my little Girl. We have heard of Aravon and Gerards. The chances of getting into the latter....Very Difficult! Aravon is a possibility. Does anyone know of this School ? What are your views?

dreamingoak

which are good bad or indifferent for my daughter? she'll be starting in 2012