National Schools in Booterstown

Sligo1

Hi all,

Anyone know of good National/Primary Schools in the Booterstown, Dublin catchment area?

scaryfairy

Following! We live in this area, and there is a catholic boys and a catholic girls school within 2-10 min walk from us + 2 private schools but didn't really investigate how good/bad they are.
For various reasons we preenroled our son with the 3 closest ET school for 2017.
Somebody who used to teach at the Blackrock Co I primary school said it's lovely - small etc. We wouldn't get a chance to get in but might be worth a try. Depending where you live in Booterstown, it's an easy walk or a bit of drive..

Sligo1

Thanks. Exploring all avenues at the moment. We would be near the dart on the opposite side of the road. Have a 2yo girl and 3 yo not. Would be great to send them to the same primary!

RentDayBlues

There's carysfort national school, aside from St. Andrews it's the closest mixed school. There's Scoil San Treasa in mount merrion but its heavily over subscribed. St.Marys in Donnybrook is another option but you've got to factor traffic.

The feedback I've had on the girls and boys school in Booterstown has been positive, the girls school expanded this year to take in extra junior infants.

scaryfairy

Wonder whether the new Irish school will be
http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/en/southdub/
Must be coeducational (?)
St Andrews looks good but found the fees too high for us.
The German school is coed, and not too far by car or bike, and heard a lot of good things about it.

Sligo1

RentDayBlues wrote: »

There's carysfort national school, aside from St. Andrews it's the closest mixed school. There's Scoil San Treasa in mount merrion but its heavily over subscribed. St.Marys in Donnybrook is another option but you've got to factor traffic.

The feedback I've had on the girls and boys school in Booterstown has been positive, the girls school expanded this year to take in extra junior infants.

Is St. Mary's in Donnybrook not Donnybrook catchment area? I didn't think Booterstown was in that catchment and St Mary's Donnybrook is usually oversubscribed?

Millem

Sligo I heard the st Mary's Belmont BOM have been doing late night house calls to double check on "residents"!!!!! Lol lol

The other poster is talking about a totally different school! St Mary's booterstown. They have girls school mercy convent, just off booterstown avenue.
Carysfort is oversubscribed with their own catchment area. They had even brought in an end of jan/start of feb birthday cut off for sept 2016. I know of one sibling (not in catchment) who didn't get a place for next year carysfort is a fab school. As is holly park but again had its own catchment in foxrock.

There are loads of private junior schools around.....

Sligo1

Millem wrote: »

Sligo I heard the st Mary's Belmont BOM have been doing late night house calls to double check on "residents"!!!!! Lol lol

The other poster is talking about a totally different school! St Mary's booterstown. They have girls school mercy convent, just off booterstown avenue.
Carysfort is oversubscribed with their own catchment area. They had even brought in an end of jan/start of feb birthday cut off for sept 2016. I know of one sibling (not in catchment) who didn't get a place for next year carysfort is a fab school. As is holly park but again had its own catchment in foxrock.

There are loads of private junior schools around.....

Lol lol as if they are doing house checks! Hahahaha. That's ridiculous.

Yea I know there is a st Mary's in Booterstown, but the other poster said donnybrook which I'm pretty sure is oversubscribed most years.

Currently looking at a couple of private primary's but a few of my friends says the national primary's are just as Good and would be great to save a few quid!

RentDayBlues

Sligo1 wrote: »

Lol lol as if they are doing house checks! Hahahaha. That's ridiculous.

Yea I know there is a st Mary's in Booterstown, but the other poster said donnybrook which I'm pretty sure is oversubscribed most years.

Currently looking at a couple of private primary's but a few of my friends says the national primary's are just as Good and would be great to save a few quid!

Yep, Marys in Donnybrook take from outside the parish, if they have space! Enrolment is October of the preceeding year

Millem

Sligo1 wrote: »

Lol lol as if they are doing house checks! Hahahaha. That's ridiculous.

Yea I know there is a st Mary's in Booterstown, but the other poster said donnybrook which I'm pretty sure is oversubscribed most years.

Currently looking at a couple of private primary's but a few of my friends says the national primary's are just as Good and would be great to save a few quid!

Yes they are doing house checks!!!! Couldnt believe it myself but people are using parents' addresses! They called around 8.30 to a friend of a friend looking for the "registered owner of the house" and had a clip board with a big list of names and addresses.

In fairness though if you buy a house on a certain road to get into a catchment of a certain school it would be very annoying if you didn't get in and people telling lies get a place!

A good friend of mine is using her granny's address (as in children's' great granny) for one school and her friend's address for another school.

we have to produce gas/electricity bill within a timeframe and again for any subsequent children.

I am sure st Mary's and mercy are grand. Don't know anything about them tbh.
Handy to have both schools close to house.

Sligo1

RentDayBlues wrote: »

Yep, Marys in Donnybrook take from outside the parish, if they have space! Enrolment is October of the preceeding year

Thanks. Do you know if they often take from outside or are they usually full?

Sligo1

Millem wrote: »

Yes they are doing house checks!!!! Couldnt believe it myself but people are using parents' addresses! They called around 8.30 to a friend of a friend looking for the "registered owner of the house" and had a clip board with a big list of names and addresses.

In fairness though if you buy a house on a certain road to get into a catchment of a certain school it would be very annoying if you didn't get in and people telling lies get a place!

A good friend of mine is using her granny's address (as in children's' great granny) for one school and her friend's address for another school.

we have to produce gas/electricity bill within a timeframe and again for any subsequent children.

I am sure st Mary's and mercy are grand. Don't know anything about them tbh.
Handy to have both schools close to house.

Yes I agree but I'd say while a lot of people buy a house with one of the priorities to get a good catchment area for school the majority of people want to live in that area anyway tho. I doubt the only reason people buy is due to a school they want. That would just be silly if they are not 100% certain they will get in anyway. That's taking a bit of a silly risk tbh. If they are certain to get in tho that's fair enough.

RentDayBlues

Sligo1 wrote: »

Thanks. Do you know if they often take from outside or are they usually full?

Sadly not in recent years, they are oversubscribed.

Sligo1

RentDayBlues wrote: »

Sadly not in recent years, they are oversubscribed.

Yes was thinking that. Thanks

Millem

Sligo this is why you need to look at each individual schools' admission policy.

Where I teach where you live does not come into it. You could live next door but not get in! We were sale agreed on two houses 1 house not in parish but only meters away (as the crow flies), the other was in parish. If we weren't thinking about kids other house would be better as closer to shops and buses but they have no parish school!

Sligo1

Does anyone know if there is an app or a website where you can find out exactly which roads/streets/areas are in specific catchment areas? Thanks

lazygal

Sligo1 wrote: »

Does anyone know if there is an app or a website where you can find out exactly which roads/streets/areas are in specific catchment areas? Thanks

There isn't. You have to check each school individually. And catchment areas can come down to being on the wrong side of the road.

Sligo1

lazygal wrote: »

There isn't. You have to check each school individually. And catchment areas can come down to being on the wrong side of the road.

I rang up one school and they couldn't tell me the exact area!? They said it was a particular pariah. But I can't seem to get a list of streets or areas for that parish??

lazygal

Sligo1 wrote: »

I rang up one school and they couldn't tell me the exact area!? They said it was a particular pariah. But I can't seem to get a list of streets or areas for that parish??

Schools have to publish this (well they do, but my experience of this whole palavar about enrolment policies has not been good thus far) so throw it back at them to tell you exact boundaries, and get it in writing. That area can be tricky for places-we were thinking of moving there but the school situation ruled it out for us. There's a lot of people putting down grandparents' addresses too.

RentDayBlues

If its parishes that mark the boundaries then the dublin diocese website has a map

Millem

Sligo check and see if parish church has website. Sometimes they have it on there.
Lazygal that's exactly like that here. The houses look the same as ours....same design and bricks but different parish! Lazygal have you any new/upcoming community national schools in your area? My friend is raving about one in her area.

Sligo1

We were to have a new educate together in my current local area but gaelschoil ended up winning it. I think it will be opening in the next year or so. Was meant to be this sept.

scaryfairy

did you talk to St Andrews? when I last spoke to them it sounded as if they had a waiting list already but that it is not necessarily meaning no spaces as people move etc... they were a bit fuzzy about it.

Sligo1

scaryfairy wrote: »

did you talk to St Andrews? when I last spoke to them it sounded as if they had a waiting list already but that it is not necessarily meaning no spaces as people move etc... they were a bit fuzzy about it.

O no . That was one we were gonna check out. Booterstown was never really on our radar so I've never looked at schools in the area. But now I really need to get my act together don't I! Will have to look into it all the next week.

Millem

Sligo1 wrote: »

We were to have a new educate together in my current local area but gaelschoil ended up winning it. I think it will be opening in the next year or so. Was meant to be this sept.

Sligo it's a multi demominational Gaelscoil. It's opening in sept 2016. 30 names already signed up. They will have 2 classes. They are using map as catchment. 1st is Irish speakers, then siblings, then catchment area etc.There was an info meeting last Wednesday in stillorgan park hotel. No premises yet but jobs have been advertised.

Sligo1

Millem wrote: »

Sligo it's a multi demominational Gaelscoil. It's opening in sept 2016. 30 names already signed up. They will have 2 classes. They are using map as catchment. 1st is Irish speakers, then siblings, then catchment area etc.There was an info meeting last Wednesday in stillorgan park hotel. No premises yet but jobs have been advertised.

How did you find out the enrolment criteria? I can't find it online?

lazygal

Millem wrote: »

Sligo check and see if parish church has website. Sometimes they have it on there.
Lazygal that's exactly like that here. The houses look the same as ours....same design and bricks but different parish! Lazygal have you any new/upcoming community national schools in your area? My friend is raving about one in her area.

I'd run a mile from any community national school. Goodness me, goodness you is a terrible programme and then there's the segregation for indoctrination. Awful model.

tuisginideach

Sligo1 wrote: »

Currently looking at a couple of private primary's but a few of my friends says the national primary's are just as Good and would be great to save a few quid!

'Just as good'? What are your criteria?

Mine (in terms of officialdom) are:
1. Qualified teachers
2 Run under 'direction' of Dept of Educ & Science
3 Socially mixed
4 Staff are properly contracted and remunerated
5 School is open to inspection by Dept

That's why I sent mine to a National School.

Millem

Sligo1 wrote: »

How did you find out the enrolment criteria? I can't find it online?

I am in contact with a guy from foras who sends me all the new info on schools.

I would predict it will be very easy to get in to for the first year as its a gamble no premises etc. Catchment looked quite big. Stillorgan, dundrum, goatstown, kilmacud, windy arbour. Maybe balally? Can't remember. The majority of people who signed up are not in catchment.

Millem

lazygal wrote: »

I'd run a mile from any community national school. Goodness me, goodness you is a terrible programme and then there's the segregation for indoctrination. Awful model.

Don't know anything about them except her child was on waiting list for one. She said the school is excellent. She had a place in educate together but was holding out for this community national school. She is quite religious but her religion is very rare. I had never heard of it (her religion) before.

lazygal

Millem wrote: »

Don't know anything about them except her child was on waiting list for one. She said the school is excellent. She had a place in educate together but was holding out for this community national school. She is quite religious but her religion is very rare. I had never heard of it (her religion) before.

As someone raising children without religion community national schools are not suitable for our family. I can't get past segregation of children because of religion.

Sligo1

tuisginideach wrote: »

'Just as good'? What are your criteria?

Mine (in terms of officialdom) are:
1. Qualified teachers
2 Run under 'direction' of Dept of Educ & Science
3 Socially mixed
4 Staff are properly contracted and remunerated
5 School is open to inspection by Dept

That's why I sent mine to a National School.

Grades and subject choice would be pretty high up on my list for secondary anyway.... Primary, would prefer mixed and good facilities a must. Also good range of subjects from maths and science to music and drama.

Millem

lazygal wrote: »

As someone raising children without religion community national schools are not suitable for our family. I can't get past segregation of children because of religion.

I think the main reason is the principal. He's actually younger than me, but is excellent according to her he is a real educationalist apparently! The one in question seems to have a lower pupil teacher ratio for some reason. I don't know what they will do for religion. She is not a Christian.
Lazygal what will you do? Hope for an educate together?

tuisginideach

Sligo1 wrote: »

Grades and subject choice would be pretty high up on my list for secondary anyway.... Primary, would prefer mixed and good facilities a must. Also good range of subjects from maths and science to music and drama.

You missed the point of my post. I was referring to a comment that national schools were 'as good as' private junior schools. I was explaining why I would not choose a private junior school - teachers in private junior schools need not be qualified, schools are not under the 'direction' of the Dept of Ed & Science, the clientele is rarely socially mixed, teachers are not necessarily paid and contracted as they would be in the state system and as school is not under the Dept, there may not be any inspection/overview/oversight system in place etc etc etc

scaryfairy

Sligo1 wrote: »

O no . That was one we were gonna check out. Booterstown was never really on our radar so I've never looked at schools in the area. But now I really need to get my act together don't I! Will have to look into it all the next week.

Yeah best to talk to them. They have a pre enrolment form so at least you can get on the list. I still find it hard to believe that places go so fast for a private school but there you go. Booterstown is just lovely so don't even think of another place!
If we had any connections to Irish I would definitely consider the new primary school. Lot of work went into it. Friend of mine campaigned for ET and they put up a good fight but obviously lot of interest in gaelic stuff... then your kids could go to the Irish secondary school up the road, that another friend's kids attend and doing very well.

Sligo1

tuisginideach wrote: »

You missed the point of my post. I was referring to a comment that national schools were 'as good as' private junior schools. I was explaining why I would not choose a private junior school - teachers in private junior schools need not be qualified, schools are not under the 'direction' of the Dept of Ed & Science, the clientele is rarely socially mixed, teachers are not necessarily paid and contracted as they would be in the state system and as school is not under the Dept, there may not be any inspection/overview/oversight system in place etc etc etc

Apologies if you have taken my statement a bit personally. there are many many public schools better than a lot of private schools. But in my personal opinion a lot of private schools will gain higher grades than public. I think this can actually be determined aswell. This is just my opinion and I will happily send my kids to a good public school as I know there are many. There are also a lot of schools I will not send my children too for which I won't lost reasons here. I did not mean to cause offence and this thread is not meant to cause any sort of debate about which type of school is better. But I'm pretty sure if you lived in many specific areas of Dublin (which I won't name) and weren't in the catchment for decent public schools... I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be sending your kids to them.... Hence why it may be easier to get a good private school as the majority of the time catchment area is not their first enrolment criteria.

Sligo1

scaryfairy wrote: »

Yeah best to talk to them. They have a pre enrolment form so at least you can get on the list. I still find it hard to believe that places go so fast for a private school but there you go. Booterstown is just lovely so don't even think of another place!
If we had any connections to Irish I would definitely consider the new primary school. Lot of work went into it. Friend of mine campaigned for ET and they put up a good fight but obviously lot of interest in gaelic stuff... then your kids could go to the Irish secondary school up the road, that another friend's kids attend and doing very well.

Yes we sent out our expression of interest ages ago so prob would've been quite high up on the list for the school of it was ET. But I didn't know anything about the Irish School. Just heard a few weeks ago ET wasn't going ahead. My husbands Irish is ok and his mum is able to speak fluent Irish. But I wouldn't have a word of it as was born in New Zealand so was exempt from it at school here.

scaryfairy

Sligo1 wrote: »

Yes we sent out our expression of interest ages ago so prob would've been quite high up on the list for the school of it was ET. But I didn't know anything about the Irish School. Just heard a few weeks ago ET wasn't going ahead. My husbands Irish is ok and his mum is able to speak fluent Irish. But I wouldn't have a word of it as was born in New Zealand so was exempt from it at school here.

well good luck. We might be crazy but very seriously thinking of the German school (also oversubscribed apparently) even though we have close to 0 German. Location would be super handy for us. The French school would be great, too, as we both speak some French but there the kids must be French speakers themselves.
My friends' son got into the Balinteer ET, which is really Dundrum, although that might be a bit of stretch every morning from Booterstown...

Sligo1

scaryfairy wrote: »

well good luck. We might be crazy but very seriously thinking of the German school (also oversubscribed apparently) even though we have close to 0 German. Location would be super handy for us. The French school would be great, too, as we both speak some French but there the kids must be French speakers themselves.
My friends' son got into the Balinteer ET, which is really Dundrum, although that might be a bit of stretch every morning from Booterstown...

The German school is meant to be great! My dad was from Austria and had fluent German. I did German and French in school but wouldn't have an awful lot. Can't believe German school is oversubscribed! It's currently a 5 minute walk from our house. Lots of people where we live now send their children there.

Things really have changed a lot in these schools. It was very easy to get a place in them a year or 2 ago!

lazygal

Millem wrote: »

I think the main reason is the principal. He's actually younger than me, but is excellent according to her he is a real educationalist apparently! The one in question seems to have a lower pupil teacher ratio for some reason. I don't know what they will do for religion. She is not a Christian.
Lazygal what will you do? Hope for an educate together?

Yes educate together is probably the best of a bad lot. I'm not keen on these spiritual programmes that schools push on children, I'd prefer proper secular schools. These community national schools are just religious schools with a bit of spiritual woo thrown into the mix. The whole background and ethos of CNSs just doesn't sit well with me.

Millem

Scary fairy kids don't need to be French speakers if they start at age 3. The judge it by Jan-Dec. My guy a January child so would go at 3 and nearly 8 months. This was our first choice when I was pregnant and hadn't bought house so put our guy's name down. So handy for me for work location and hours. Kids would be fluent by age 7. His friend is sept baby so had her info night last year as she would start at 2! My friend ruled it out as the majority of kids are French. She didn't feel confident with her level of French and felt she just wouldn't have a clue what's going in with her daughter's education. There are onLY around 4/28 kids in year who are non French speakers. Kids don't learn to read until something like 2nd class which turned her off. They were doing ECCE but won't be next year. I suspect it's something to do with qualifications. Kids are coming from all over which she felt she would be a taxi for play dates.

The man from foras didn't say they would check if you are bringing your child up as an Irish speaker. I reckon though they will do an interview like scoil lorcain child and parent separately. I can't see it how it could be feeder for colaiste Eoin or iosogain as they are so full. But it could be feeder for new Gaelcolaiste in rathfarnham.

scaryfairy

Millem wrote: »

Scary fairy kids don't need to be French speakers if they start at age 3. The judge it by Jan-Dec. My guy a January child so would go at 3 and nearly 8 months. This was our first choice when I was pregnant and hadn't bought house so put our guy's name down. So handy for me for work location and hours. Kids would be fluent by age 7. His friend is sept baby so had her info night last year as she would start at 2! My friend ruled it out as the majority of kids are French. She didn't feel confident with her level of French and felt she just wouldn't have a clue what's going in with her daughter's education. There are onLY around 4/28 kids in year who are non French speakers. Kids don't learn to read until something like 2nd class which turned her off. They were doing ECCE but won't be next year. I suspect it's something to do with qualifications. Kids are coming from all over which she felt she would be a taxi for play dates.

The man from foras didn't say they would check if you are bringing your child up as an Irish speaker. I reckon though they will do an interview like scoil lorcain child and parent separately. I can't see it how it could be feeder for colaiste Eoin or iosogain as they are so full. But it could be feeder for new Gaelcolaiste in rathfarnham.

Wow that's crazy, even if you go to an Irish primary school, you couldn't get into the local gaelic secondary? Rathfarnam seems really far. At least from us
Re French school - I think we ruled it out as the maternelle & primaire I thought were in Foxrock which wouldn't suit us at all but maybe I missed something!

scaryfairy

Sligo1 wrote: »

The German school is meant to be great! My dad was from Austria and had fluent German. I did German and French in school but wouldn't have an awful lot. Can't believe German school is oversubscribed! It's currently a 5 minute walk from our house. Lots of people where we live now send their children there.

Things really have changed a lot in these schools. It was very easy to get a place in them a year or 2 ago!

That's brilliant, thanks, good to know - so far only heard good things about it.
I thought maybe I got it wrong but I have just reread the Principal's response to my query regarding 2017 enrolment and she did write " We do have a waiting list and it would be advisable for you to get him on the list as soon as is possible." When I first spoke to them 3 years ago it didn't sound like an issue at all, but I suppose the economy is picking up. Or sth.

Millem

Yes scaryfairy The French primary school is in foxrock, holly park. The secondary is on euro campus with killians.

The Irish secondary school in rathfarmhan is in old loreto boarding school building in rathfarmhan. Building is meant to be lovely. Numbers were very small last year, don't know about September. Kids are using iPads not books. Foras are campaigning for a new gaelscoil for dun laoighàire catchment. I don't see how Colaiste eoin and iosogan will be able to include stillorgan and dun laoghaire high up enough to actually get a place. unless they they can double the size of the school! The children could get in under other categories eg has a sibling etc. stillorgan one will have 60 kids so I presume dun laoighàire will be the same. Scoil lorcain has 60. There are a few others on their enrollment policy after offering places to English schools. At the minute they do take a small number of local English speaking primary schools, I think they do it as a lottery for those kids. I am sure they have their enrollment policy online.
Scoil lorcain is first school they offer places to. (After siblings, teachers' children etc).

I don't know where the building will be for stillorgan gaelscoil it could end up in sandyford or balally! There was a campaign for educate together in Terenure, I think they have found a building..........in greenhills! I don't think that's even the same postcode!

Sligo1

Will the Irish School not be in Goatstown? That's where the ET school was meant to be...

tuisginideach

Similarly, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh was to be in Dundrum but I heard the VEC refused to give up their premises and so it is now in - as you rightly say - the beautiful old Loreto building in Rathfarnham.

Millem

Sligo1 wrote: »

Will the Irish School not be in Goatstown? That's where the ET school was meant to be...

There is no building yet. It is for stillorgan/goatstown/windy arbour/kilmacud/Dundrum/sandyford. On map they have those new postcodes so hard to figure out. Think balally is it in. After they saw the majority of people interested where from outside the catchment they put Irish speakers and siblings on the enrolment policy before catchment area. Catchment will only be used if school is full. Foras were looking for suggestions for enrollment policy from perspective parents before the policy was written. Parents emailed suggestions.
The reality is school opening in September they need a premises. permanent site needs to be big enough for 160 students plus a naoinra plus staff.I have no idea where it will be, but judging on talk of ET Terenure in Greenhills God only knows! There must not be any suitable sites in Terenure.

tuisginideach

Sligo1 wrote: »

Will the Irish School not be in Goatstown? That's where the ET school was meant to be...

'ET School wasn't 'meant ' to be anywhere - Dept asked patron bodies to submit expressions of interest and both ET and Gaelscoileanna submitted expressions of interest. Then Dept chose.

scaryfairy

Millem wrote: »

There is no building yet. It is for stillorgan/goatstown/windy arbour/kilmacud/Dundrum/sandyford. On map they have those new postcodes so hard to figure out. Think balally is it in. After they saw the majority of people interested where from outside the catchment they put Irish speakers and siblings on the enrolment policy before catchment area. Catchment will only be used if school is full. Foras were looking for suggestions for enrollment policy from perspective parents before the policy was written. Parents emailed suggestions.
The reality is school opening in September they need a premises. permanent site needs to be big enough for 160 students plus a naoinra plus staff.I have no idea where it will be, but judging on talk of ET Terenure in Greenhills God only knows! There must not be any suitable sites in Terenure.

Was talking to a mum from my son's creche and she seemed to think it was going to be next to The Goat.

Sligo1

scaryfairy wrote: »

Was talking to a mum from my son's creche and she seemed to think it was going to be next to The Goat.

Yes that's exactly what I heard aswell!!!

Millem

scaryfairy wrote: »

Was talking to a mum from my son's creche and she seemed to think it was going to be next to The Goat.

No idea. Principal was hired, was vice p in maynooth. There is a meeting with her coming up so I am sure all shall be revealed........
Never noticed a site big enough beside goat?