Deciding on secondary school

P_Fitz

I've a son who's in fourth class in a protestant primary school. We're trying to decide whether or not to send him to a private secondary school. The school wants a non refundable deposit of €500 in the new year but we don't know whether or not we'll be able to afford sending him. Does anybody know what the typical grants are for sending kids to private protestant secondary schools?

I've no great desire to send him to a private or protestant school but there's a shortage of secondary schools in our area and the only one with places is a bit dodgy.

lazygal

There is no grant system for secondary schools. There is the option of a free place in a non feepaying school so if you choose to go private you pay. The school may have some provisions for scholarships or fee payment plans.

P_Fitz

There definitely is for private protestant schools but i don't know how much or how it's calculated. The grant comes from the church and other private groups.

lazygal

P_Fitz wrote: »

There definitely is for private protestant schools but i don't know how much or how it's calculated. The grant comes from the church and other private groups.

It's a private arrangement though. There's no state grant for fee paying schools.

braddun

what area are you in

evolving_doors

Ring and ask in school reception.

P_Fitz

Armelodie wrote: »

Ring and ask in school reception.

They say it's up to the people who give the grant and it's on a case by case basis. So i'd like to know how much i could expect to get. The €500 deposit is nonrefundable so if i put that down and couldn't afford to send them when the time comes that money would go down the drain.

braddun wrote: »

what area are you in

Firhouse, Dublin.

Thanks for the replies.

seavill

I read online somewhere of a school somewhere recently which had a €50 non refundable deposit and there was uproar locally, €500 is steep for anyone

huskerdu

seavill wrote: »

I read online somewhere of a school somewhere recently which had a €50 non refundable deposit and there was uproar locally, €500 is steep for anyone

The fees are likely to be between €4000 and €6000 per year. The €500 is an advance on the first year fees. If you catn afford the 500, you cant aford the fees so cannot accept the place.

I sympathise with the OP, but the school is making sure that those who accept places can afford it and are not going to opt out at the last minute when they have already turned down others.

seavill

That's fine ensure a large deposit to make sure they have the funds but keeping it when the child does not get a place is disgraceful.

If the patents pull out last min keep a portion as a fine, I've no problem with that but If the school turns down a child and still keeps their money that is not on.

Not all patents that send their kids to a private school are loaded. Some struggle to pay the fees but still manage it for the same of their kids

huskerdu

seavill wrote: »

That's fine ensure a large deposit to make sure they have the funds but keeping it when the child does not get a place is disgraceful.

If the patents pull out last min keep a portion as a fine, I've no problem with that but If the school turns down a child and still keeps their money that is not on.

Not all patents that send their kids to a private school are loaded. Some struggle to pay the fees but still manage it for the same of their kids

You misunderstand.
The €500 is a deposit to secure a place that you have been offered.

seavill

How do you know that or did I miss something

huskerdu

seavill wrote: »

How do you know that or did I miss something

The OP said deposit, not application fee. That usually needs to secure a place, not to place an application.
The child is in fourth class which is when places in secondary schools are offered.

Millem

Hi OP, the amount of fees you pay depend on your income. There is a form that you fill out that you need to get signed by your reverand to verify that you are a church goer. The Reverend in our (school) parish is very strict and has refused to sign it for non church goers. The Reverend in St Maelruain's is really nice I bet he could advise you? Ring the school as I am sure they have a bursar who deals with this question the whole time.

To give you an idea on fees....one year a friend paid €500 for the high school and another year she had to pay €1200 (her income went up).

Here is a little bit of info (first paragraph) on the block grant and where to apply. (Ignore the fact it's from Newtown school). http://www.newtownschool.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Fee-Assistance-1.pdf

I agree with you that school places are hard to get in the area. Would you consider macdara's? I know a few teachers who have kids in it at the mo, I am guessing templeogue college is out as they are literally measuring as the crow flies the distance from the school gate to your house!!

Millem

lazygal wrote: »

It's a private arrangement though. There's no state grant for fee paying schools.

It comes from the government because Protestants are considered a minority group. You can only get it if you are a Protestant going to a Protestant school. A huge proportion (majority) of students in Protestant fee paying schools down the country receive this grant but in Dublin schools the number is lower, probably because a lot of students aren't Protestant or have high incomes.