thejuggler wrote: » Why not consider Ballincollig? Good schools, sense of community, frequent bus services. Its a fairly leafy suburb these days. (Oh and its part of the city now since the boundary extension in May this year)
Slipperydodger wrote: » Blackrock is for me the nicest part of Cork city being so close to the city centre and some lovely walks while being close to the pairc. I can also see it boom in the coming years.
pwurple wrote: » Blackrock / Ballinlough has more schools as far as I know than mount oval, because it is an older more established area. Most children in the area walk to school. Beaumont boys and girls, crab lane, eglantine, st anthonys, st michaels, ursulines, school of the divine child, scoil an croise naofa. The schools in rochestowns are the educate together and scoil naofa padraig. That's it I think. A lot of people have to drive them somewhere else if they live in rochestown, like douglas or carrigaline probably?
cantalach wrote: » Cork city proper is crap for co-ed schools. Ashton College is one co-ed option but they give priority to non-Catholic kids which might put you at a disadvantage depending on your background. Colláiste an Phiarssigh is another co-ed but unlikely to suit kids whose primary schooling has been in English. The girls schools *perceived* to be best are probably Scoil Mhuire, St. Angela's, and Regina Mundi. The first two of these are in the city centre but secondary school kids can get the bus which would make where you love less important. Think letter B: Blackrock, Ballintemple, Beaumont, Ballinlough, Boreenmanna, Blackrock Road. All adjoining each other and good places to love.
HillFarmer wrote: » I'm now checking out Regina Mundy. Location looks good, but looking at G maps not sure there is much playground space in the school but can't have everything.
cantalach wrote: » You did say secondary school right? Not really following how playground space is terribly relevant tbh. Even in 1st year they don't "play" at break time. They just stand around trying to look cool. Regina Mundi is a small school with an ambiguous admission policy, at least it did when we were shopping for a girls secondary school 7 years ago. Officially they take girls from the surrounding area. But at an information night the principal refused to define what "surrounding area" meant. One suspects it depends on where precisely in the surrounding area you live, and possibly what Mammy and Daddy do for a living too. One other thing to consider when choosing a girls school is that some of them have poor subject choices for girls interested in STEM careers (again, keep in mind that my info is 7 years old!). For example, one of the top girls schools didn't offer higher level physics at all. So when meeting principals be sure to ask about subject choices and don't just assume, if that is important to you.
kub wrote: » Sorry but we have a child attending Regina Mundi, with another to follow. We are very happy with the school and cannot agree with your experience or indeed your reference to a child parents occupation.
cantalach wrote: » As I said, my experience was 7 years ago. The Department of Education has since issued rules requiring schools to have much clearer admission policies. Perhaps that has made all the difference. By the way, on a question of language, you can't agree or disagree with another person's experience because that is their experience. You may not be able to relate to it. I'll assume that's what you meant. Mom and Dad's job did have something to do with it at that time. Our daughter did not get in, despite us living 400 metres from the school entrance, but her classmate living miles away whose dad was a CEO did. Neither of that girl's parents had any family connection with the school or no other basis on which to establish a right of admission. Ask yourself the question: why do *comparatively* few girls from off the South Douglas Road attend RM and so many girls from Maryborough, R'town Road, etc.? That's not coincidence or chance. But with all that said, please keep in mind my original response above. I did actually mention RM as an option the OP should consider. It's s good school.
kub wrote: » So your advice to the OP so is, to live in the Maryborough/ Rochestown area if the OP wishes to send their child to Regina Mundi.
cantalach wrote: » No, my advice to the OP in the first reply was pretty clear: Blackrock, Ballintemple, Beaumont, Ballinlough, Boreenmanna, etc. Unless you know for certain where your kids are going to be going to school, there's no point trying to live close to any one particular school. Personally, I think 13 is high time to be learning how to use public transport. Our second child got the bus from day 1 in secondary. But I completely respect OP's concern about that.
kub wrote: » Apologies, you did indeed. My point is, am I correct in understanding your point with regard to Regina Mundi is that kids from Maryborough/ Rochestown have a better chance of attending that school than other areas ?
