I need help to choose a good primary school

Mammaitaliana

Hello,
I am looking for some objective information to help me decide which primary school in Dublin to send my child to.
My child is 3 years old and he will start school next september. My husband and I are from Italy and we've just moved in Dublin.
Only few days ago I discovered that in Ireland schools have a very long waiting list and that's the reason why you should enrol your kids at school asap! I tryed to enrol my kid in some non denominational schools, but I think it will be impossible to get a place there.
Is there anyone that can suggest a good local school in the area we live? We live in Dublin 9 (Collins Ave) so any school in Whitehall,Donnycarney, Artane or even Clontarf will be fine. Our problem is we still don't know very well the area and we don't know if the schools closest to us are good schools.
We prefer mixed schools and non-religious-oriented, but as last choice a catholic school if it is a good one will be great. I'm really looking for a sensible way to select which school would best suit my child.
Is anyone aware of any reasonably good, objective information for parents to help select a school?
All and any help, thoughts, opinions appreciated.

magneticimpulse

Mammaitaliana wrote: »

Hello,
I am looking for some objective information to help me decide which primary school in Dublin to send my child to.
My child is 3 years old and he will start school next september. My husband and I are from Italy and we've just moved in Dublin.
Only few days ago I discovered that in Ireland schools have a very long waiting list and that's the reason why you should enrol your kids at school asap! I tryed to enrol my kid in some non denominational schools, but I think it will be impossible to get a place there.
Is there anyone that can suggest a good local school in the area we live? We live in Dublin 9 (Collins Ave) so any school in Whitehall,Donnycarney, Artane or even Clontarf will be fine. Our problem is we still don't know very well the area and we don't know if the schools closest to us are good schools.
We prefer mixed schools and non-religious-oriented, but as last choice a catholic school if it is a good one will be great. I'm really looking for a sensible way to select which school would best suit my child.
Is anyone aware of any reasonably good, objective information for parents to help select a school?
All and any help, thoughts, opinions appreciated.

In Ireland it is common to just send children to the nearest local school. Usually this is the case because they do not provide bus service and it is normally difficult to drop children off to school by car and get to work in the morning rush hour traffic. Hence children go to a school within walking distance. Schools in Ireland are usually to the same standard and have equal funding (Private schools are not so common but I dont think there is a huge difference between them and state/catholic schools). Luckily there is not much difference.

Anita Blow

There's an Educate Together School in Glasnevin which you might like. It's mixed, non-religious and non-denominational.
http://www.get.ie

D4RK ONION

Anita Blow wrote: »

There's an Educate Together School in Glasnevin which you might like. It's mixed, non-religious and non-denominational.
http://www.get.ie

I think you mean "mixed, non-religious-instruction, multi-denominational". There are no non-denominated schools in Ireland.

byhookorbycrook

There are no non-denominational school in Ireland.Some Gaelscoils and all Educate together schools are multi-denominational.Most Catholic schools have a wide mix of different religions and none.

Mammaitaliana

Thanks guys fo your reply. In this days I enrolled my son to the Glasnevin school. The poblem is there are other 200 kids in the waiting list, and they will enrol only 30 in Septembe. The question is: do you know how does it work if I don't get any place in the schools I applied for? Do you know the name of the local school I should apply here in Collins Avenue West. We are close to beaumount, but also Maino and Artane?
Thanks fo your precious help

magneticimpulse

Mammaitaliana wrote: »

Thanks guys fo your reply. In this days I enrolled my son to the Glasnevin school. The poblem is there are other 200 kids in the waiting list, and they will enrol only 30 in Septembe. The question is: do you know how does it work if I don't get any place in the schools I applied for? Do you know the name of the local school I should apply here in Collins Avenue West. We are close to beaumount, but also Maino and Artane?
Thanks fo your precious help

All of these area's sound very "far" from where you actually live. Unless you want to join the 4x4 mummy run crusade in the morning. I think children should be able to walk to school. Too many children becoming obese in Ireland because they are driven everywhere. Hence it would be more healthy to send your child to a school within walking distance of your house without having to join the mummy school car run brigade

Just via google maps I see there is "Holy Child Boys National School" right at Collins Ave West...sounds like a great option for walking distance to your house. Also comes up with St. Aidens