Educate Together Dublin 15

sflynn6

I am considering sending my child to an Educate Together school within the Dublin 15 area. I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts on any of these schools - Castleknock ET, Castaheeny ET and Hansfield ET. Are they any good? Especially the Castleknock one as it would be our closest one. Or are there other primary schools in the area that are good? I live in Coolmine and don't mind traveling to school. Thanks in advance for your replies.

evolving_doors

Try the D15 forum aswell http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=993

zyraaisha

Most ET schools are oversubscribed. My children were in 400+ in the waiting list for Castleknock ET. I guess the best thing to do is check if they have places. My son just started JI in Scoil Choilm CNS in Porterstown Road, which is multi denomination and so far so good.

byhookorbycrook

How do you mean "good?" What makes a school better than an other (not having a go, Op, but it's handy to know your priorities in a school, so that people can recommend based on that)
Have you checked the WSE- whole school evaluation- reports on those schools on the DES website?

If you are considering any school. you should check their enrollment policy immediately, as some schools offer places on a first come/ first served basis.

sflynn6

Thanks for the replies so far.... that dublin 15 forum is very good in general .. even to know its there is great. As regards what I mean by "good schools" , I didn't mean anything really. This is our 1st child going so we don't know where to start. To be honest we have put her name down in a few schools because that seems to be the system ( with some schools anyway) and others we go the september before and hope she gets a place. The whole process seems farcical to me. Schools would be better off knowing their numbers in advance I would think but maybe there are reasons I don't knows well.
I will check out this WSE website - Thanks again.

byhookorbycrook

Presuming if you want ET, you don't want a religious ethos school?Also presuming you want mixed? ET are not the only multi-denominational type of school, there are some Gaelscoileanna that are multi-d, the new "community national schools" are also multi-denom.
Some other things to consider: are things like after school care, facilities such as plenty outdoor space, do you want a school where there is a mix of experienced and younger teachers, participation in competitive sports, good SEN provision and so on. I'd have a look around the various school websites (bearing in mind that most school will showcase their "good points") and then in a fortnight or so when the junior infants have settled in and the principal might have time to meet you, make an appointment to see them. All things being equal, an ineffective principal will make or break a school. Take note of the "feel" of the school, is it brightly decorated with children's work?If you see children in the corridor, are they (reasonably) well behaved and mannerly? Best of luck !

AlanG

zyraaisha wrote: »

Most ET schools are oversubscribed. My children were in 400+ in the waiting list for Castleknock ET.

Not sure about Castleknock ET but many make a special effort to have long waiting lists by accepting kids on from birth and having a first come first served basis while more professional schools have a shorter application period. Often kids on ET lists are there as a back up and the parents have no intention of sending the kid. I know one person who was over 350 in balmayne ET and got offered a place 2 weeks later.
Not sure why they do this but it does sound good for the ET management to be able to say they have massive over subscription.

sflynn6

Hi again, with two small babies I'm not checking this very often... So I apologise for the delay in replying sometimes. ET seems the way to go for us since we are not going down the baptism route. But this scoil colm is nearby as well. I have her name down in all the local ET as well. Its just which one really. I have heard people who are very high on the list in Castleknock still getting offered places.

byhookorbycrook

If you aren't getting baptized, does that mean you don't want a Catholic school at all? The majority of Catholic schools don't look for a baptism cert to admit the child.
If you want the non Catholic route, this Gaelscoil is inter-denom, which is also worth considering
https://www.gaelscoilanchuilinn.ie/raiteas-fise-eiteas/

Their WSE report is linked to their site.

sflynn6

I'm not compeletly against a catholic ethos school but I'm not really in favour. A lot of time would be wasted on religious teaching that she would be left out of and of course theres the whole communion thing. The irish schools seem a little elitist to me ( I could be wrong about that) but she did not go to an irish play school so that is sort of ruled out.

byhookorbycrook

Gaelscoileanna certainly aren't "elite" in most places and not having being to an Irish pre-school doesn't have to mean she doesn't go to an Irish medium school.

Whichever school you choose has to spend 2.5 hours on religion, in religious ethos schools, this usually means faith formation, in mulit-d schools it is teaching about religions.,so the time is the same wherever she goes. The school above seems to do all sacramental prep. outside of school hours.