multi / non -denominational primary school

scaryfairy

hi

We are both foreirgners and don't really know the Irish educational system. Just wondering what options we might have when it comes to finding a multi or non-denominational primary school for our son, who turned 6 months today. We live in South Dublin - Booterstown, but only renting so that might change. I have already put him on 2 educate together schools' waiting list, I guess that's the most obvious, but really don't know what else I could do? All other schools around us have a strong commitment to faith. What happens if he doesn't get into one of the educate together schools?
Basically we really really would like to find a (good) school for him where religion is not strongly represented, but failing that, we obviously would still want him to get an education. I have looked at private schools but not sure whether we could afford the cost.

many thanks.

Moonbeam

Educate together schools are probably your only public option .

Miss Lockhart

Are there any community national schools in the area or due start up in the area?

Moonbeam

Do more then 3 of them exist ?

dambarude

Moonbeam wrote: »

Do more then 3 of them exist ?

There are five currently, with another due to open in September.

Moonbeam

That is great news :-)

scaryfairy

dambarude wrote: »

There are five currently, with another due to open in September.

is there any in South Dublin? I googled it but couldn't find

many thanks
sf

Miss Lockhart

That really depends on your definition of South Dublin, which is a very broad term.

There is one in Citywest and one opening in Lucan this year.

scaryfairy

and what happens if we don't get a place in one of the educate together etc schools- would the local national schools have to accept him or sth? They are mostly catholic, and there is a Ch. of Ireland one as well (I think). He is an Irish citizen - don't know if it matters

byhookorbycrook

No school has to accept any chid ,hence the mad scramble for school places in many areas.

scaryfairy

ouch! I guess we better start saving - just in case. and get on private schools' waiting lists...

Moonbeam

There are not so many private primary schools.
The primary Montessori are definitely worth looking at .

huskerdu

scaryfairy wrote: »

ouch! I guess we better start saving - just in case. and get on private schools' waiting lists...

I dont know of any private schools in South Dublin which are not faith based.

If your children are going to end up in a faith based school, there is no obvious advantage to a fee paying school, unless you find one that you particularly like.

My children are not catholic and attend a Catholic primary school and there are a number of non-Catholics in the school. You do need to find out about all the local schools, what their enrollment policies are, talk to them about their expriences of non-Catholic pupils and you will find out very quickly if you are comfortable with the school and start getting application forms in for schools that you like.

Good luck.

scaryfairy

hi many thanks for this - I will follow your advice re talking to the schools, although it is a biggish issue for us. Plus I don't really want my son to be (one of the) only one(s) not to do confirmation or attend prayers or sth, in one word I don't want him to be the odd one out.

I think the St Andrews college primary school is multi-denominational (fees probably way too steep for us), and so is the German school in Clonskeagh (it would be very handy for us). In the German school apparently there is no rush to pre-enrol, so will just try to attend their open day in Oct. The Jewish school in Rathgar, is a national school and if you are not of the Jewish faith, it seems to me that it is basically religion-free. So he is going on their pre-enrolment list, too.
That's all I could find so far. The local Montessori school that goes up to 12 declares itself catholic, so it's not really for us.