Schools around Athenry

detoxkid

Hi there - we have just moved to athenry town and our eldest is due to start school in September. We have her name down for scoil craoi naofa and the gaelscoil. We are also considering Esker national school. We both work full time 20 minutes outside of athenry so an after-school is a key part of the consideration - which rules the likes of lisheenkyle out. Neither of us are from the area and we are really missing local knowledge. I'd really appreciate recent feedback on any of these schools please?

randomname2005

Hi Detoxkid
Our youngest is down for the gaelscoil as we would be quite anti-religion in school, and the gaelscoil is multi denominational, if that is a consideration for you. There should be an open night for the gaelscoil coming up soon.

I can't comment on the others.

Best wishes
RN

km79

detoxkid wrote: »

Hi there - we have just moved to athenry town and our eldest is due to start school in September. We have her name down for scoil craoi naofa and the gaelscoil. We are also considering Esker national school. We both work full time 20 minutes outside of athenry so an after-school is a key part of the consideration - which rules the likes of lisheenkyle out. Neither of us are from the area and we are really missing local knowledge. I'd really appreciate recent feedback on any of these schools please?

It might not be that simple op
Schools like Esker, carnaun, lisheenkyle and Newcastle are very popular with people who live in the town but do not want their children to go to either of the school you mentioned........so they cater to their own local residents first . May not have spaces after that. Just something to bear in mind.

What side of Athenry are you living ? Esker is a nice spin out . Carnaun is a lovely school not that far out from the town so would not be surprised if the local creches do a pick up \drop off for after school as well . Newcastle again is a good bit out so prob no point .

In terms of the schools mentioned..........there are negatives to both .........Gaelscoil currently operating out of prefabs and will not have it's own school building for a while yet. Obviously it's an all Irish school which has its own pros and cons

Scoil Croi Naofa would be a large primary school with a diverse ethinc mix reflecting athenry's diversifying population ! 2 important points to note .
1. Girls will stay in Scoil Croi Naofa (on the Pres site in town ) for their entire primary education. However boys move to the boys school down by the playground after Senior Infants (or second class not sure ).
2. Scoil Croi Naofa(and boys school) is the primary feeder school for Pres Athenry. Students' who complete ALL of their primary education in the school will be virtually guaranteed entry to Pres Athenry. As you are not local and did not attend Pres Athenry yourself then given the current oversubscription every year your children would most likely not get a place in this secondary school. But there is also the Vocational school and Gaelscoil (temporary accommodation at the moment )

Hope this helps.
Feel free to post/pm with any more questions. It is a tough decision and we were in a similar situation 15 years ago

randomname2005

km79 wrote: »

It might not be that simple op

In terms of the schools mentioned..........there are negatives to both
.........Gaelscoil currently operating out of prefabs and will not have it's own school building for a while yet. Obviously it's an all Irish school which has its own pros and cons

I understand that there is talk of moving the gaelscoil to the old pres site but not sure about this. I will try to find out more.

km79 wrote: »

Scoil Croi Naofa would be a large primary school with a diverse ethinc mix reflecting athenry's diversifying population !

And the gaelscoil is a smaller primary school with a diverse ethnic mix, reflecting Athenry's diversifying population.

km79 wrote: »

2 important points to note .
1. Girls will stay in Scoil Croi Naofa (on the Pres site in town ) for their entire primary education. However boys move to the boys school down by the playground after Senior Infants (or second class not sure ).

...

Is this still the same given the new Pres site?

km79

[quote="randomname2005;109953296"


Is this still the same given the new Pres site?[/quote]

Still the same as still oversubscribed

randomname2005

km79 wrote: »

Still the same as still oversubscribed

Still splitting the boys and girls with the girls being in town and the boys down by the playground?

km79

randomname2005 wrote: »

Still splitting the boys and girls with the girls being in town and the boys down by the playground?

Yes

randomname2005

km79 wrote: »

Yes

Strange that they have a new building but still use the old. Wonder what the reason for that is.

km79

randomname2005 wrote: »

Strange that they have a new building but still use the old. Wonder what the reason for that is.

The primary school does not have a new building ?