10 Best Private Schools in Dublin 2023

Welcome to our guide on the best private schools in Dublin for 2022. We understand that selecting a school for your child can be an overwhelming process, as parents want their children to receive the best education possible.

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That’s why we have put together this comprehensive resource containing all the information you need to decide which of Dublin's private schools is right for your family.

In this article, we will review some of Dublin's top-rated private schools, discussing their unique features and advantages so you can decide which one offers your child the most appropriate learning environment. We will also provide key statistics from each school and address common questions regarding admissions criteria, tuition costs and other essential factors.

We know that choosing a school is a major financial and emotional commitment, so it is important to do thorough research before making any decisions. Our goal with this article is to help parents by providing detailed information about some of Dublin's most respected independent schools so they can make an educated choice when selecting educational opportunities for their children.

Get Ready to Be Amazed at How Great These Top Rated Dublin Private Schools Are!

Nord Anglia International School Dublin

Nord Anglia International School is located in Leopardstown, Dublin 18, and is the only school in Ireland that delivers the IB curriculum in full, for students between the ages of 3 and 18 years. 

Nord Anglia has state-of-the-art facilities and advanced technology such as iPads, laptops, drones and 3D printers to encourage a future-driven education. This in combination with an average class size of 22 students and more than 45 nationalities attending the school, creates a unique and diverse learning experience that many other students aren’t exposed to. Furthermore, certain activities are designed in collaboration with MIT and Juilliard to provide the best-specialised education in those areas such as music, drama and culture.

Fit with a sports suite, design engineering labs, a dance studio, a recording studio, an AstroTurf, science labs and interactive technology in every class, students are able to explore and are encouraged to take risks and apply their learning to the real world. 

Belvedere College SJ

Belvedere College is a Catholic school that has a wide and rich history dating all the way back to 1832, which at the time only had a total of 51 students. 

Being under the trusteeship of the Society of Jesus, their mission is to provide all students with an education that not only promotes academic excellence but also spiritual growth and the pursuit of justice, keeping in line with a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. They value community, the Jesuit tradition, justice and the Magis. 

Their curriculum is specifically tailored to meet the above values and keeping within the mission of Belvedere College. All staff, tutor groups and Pastoral Care programmes, support the boys to achieve their full potential and to grow as an individual from young boys to men. They have a wide range of subjects that are offered to the students ranging from the arts, to maths and science, to home economics, to religious studies, to business studies as well as a variety of languages to choose from. 

And keeping balance within the students' lives, Belvedere College has a great number of sports to choose from including, but not limited to, badminton, cricket, swimming, cross country and basketball. And as a student, if you’d like to further your education in the community service sort of sense, Belvedere College offers 3 different pilgrimage options that allow you to extend your helping hand ro individuals in need, with fellow like-minded individuals. 

As a parent, you always want to ensure that your kids get the best education possible. You can volunteer to participate in the many activities during the academic year via the Parents’ Association.

Wesley College Dublin

Located in Ballinteer, Dublin 16, Wesley College was founded in 1845 for the Methodist Community in Ireland. It is currently a Co-education facility and boarding school with over 900 students. While Wesley College gives priority to students from Protestant denominations, they do accept students from all faiths fostering that community spirit.

Their aim is to provide a caring environment for all students and to develop their academic curiosity. To achieve this, Wesley College offers a diverse range of curricular and extracurricular activities to develop this curiosity and instil independent learning. Furthermore, the school aims to develop a strong moral and ethical code based on good Christian principles. This is done by holding daily assemblies and through their religious curriculum that promotes tolerance of all traditions. 

The curriculum of Wesley College consists of a preparatory class (equivalent to sixth class in primary school), a junior cycle programme (3-year course leading to junior cycle examination) and a senior cycle programme (4th/ transitional year preparation for the Leaving Certificate Examination). Each programme with the exception of the Preparatory Programme consists of core subjects and the choice of 2 additional subjects. A wide range of subjects is available to the students from, languages, music, maths, geography, history, religious education, biology, forensic science and so much more that will allow you to structure your curriculum to meet your future career goals. 

And to balance out the academic side of things, they offer a wide range of sports and extracurricular activities that include but are not limited to, choirs, book clubs, debating, hockey, rugby, badminton and soccer. 

If you want your child to have a well-rounded and well-balanced life, you are already halfway to meeting Wesley College’s ethos. With brilliant sports and academic facilities, Wesley College may just be the place for you.

Rathdown School

Rathdown School is a coed school located in Gleneagery, Dublin. This school was founded in 1973 through the merging of 4 Dublin Girls’ Schools with each being set up from within the Church of Ireland. It was primarily an all-girls school up until changes were made. They will now be seeing the first enrolment of make students in the year 2023.

They will now accept boys and girls from the ages of 3 years (pre-school) to 18 years of age (Leaving Certificate Level), from Dublin, across Ireland and internationally. It’s conveniently located near Dublin City, surrounding cities and the Dublin Airport. 

The school is conveniently divided into a Junior School and a Senior School. So if your child is already enrolled in Junior School, they will automatically have a spot in Senior School. Your child will enter Junior School at 4 years of age up until they are 12 years old, and from here they attend Senior School up until they are 18 years old and ready to leave school. The 4th year of Senior School, also known as the Transitional Year, provides students with opportunities to volunteer, take part in cultural trips and develop general life and work skills. 

The school offers financial aid for those parents who have some financial difficulties via bursaries. They also offer discounts for those students who already have siblings at the school, as well as an SEC Grant Application for financial aid for Protestant families. With small classes of about 24 students and over 21 subjects to choose from, in combination with a choice of 9 sports to choose from as well as extracurricular activities, you may find the balance you seek for your child at Rathdown.

Willow Park School

Located in Blackrock, Dublin, Willow Park School, and is a day and boarding school for boys.

Willow Park was founded in 1935 by the Spiritan Fathers and is, therefore, a Catholic school committed to following the Spiritan Ethos. Willow Park understands how hard the transition from primary to secondary school is and aims to make this transition easier for its students by providing them with unique opportunities to adapt to new subjects and different teachers in a manner that considers the specific needs of their age group.

They value a strong sense of community, which is evident in their curriculum. They have a wide range of subjects to choose from, such as digital media, history, art, French, religion, science and many others. Students can participate in a limited number of activities, but this allows them to foster a greater sense of belonging and teamwork that Willow Park greatly values.

The subject's choices, combined with their available activities, ensure that the students are confident, creative and equipped to deal with the world outside the classroom.

Castle Park School

Castle Park School is located in Dalkey, Dublin. Castle Park School is a private independent primary school with over one hundred years of experience in educating boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 12 years old. Despite the ethos of the school being founded upon interdenominational Christian beliefs, children of all backgrounds and faiths are welcome. 

The school is divided into 2 larger groups, the early years and prep. From a young age, all kids are introduced to teachers who are all specialists in their field of teaching and are therefore able to provide the in-depth knowledge that these students need. From an Olympic-sized sports hall, a science laboratory, a fully equipped robotics centre, an extensive art and design studio, and so many more facilities for your kids to experience, this may just be the perfect place to get the education your child needs.

Castle Park School makes use of the SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) curriculum which ensures that not only are your kid's academic needs taken care of but also their social and emotional health and well-being. With healthy lunches provided every day and at least 3 outings to educational venues every year, multiple concerts and plays, a variety of sports and daily day care services, your child will have everything they need.

St. Columba's College

St. Columba’s College was founded in 1843 by Rev. William Sewell and has been in communion with the Church of Ireland ever since its foundation. Despite this, St. Columba’s College accepts children of other faiths as well. 

Located in Whitechurch, Dublin 16, the school has seen some major developments in recent years including a library, a 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, and a science block. Being a boarding school means that all students need access to whatever they need on campus. And this is exactly what they will receive, including but not limited to, internet connection, the college library, nurses, laundry facilities and healthy wholesome meals. 

All students benefit from small classroom sizes of approximately 12 to 14 students per class allowing for individual attention. St. Columba’s College also has 6 days of compulsory sport for all pupils so that their academic life is balanced out by keeping them physically and emotionally healthy. Furthermore, this compulsory sport participation promotes a sense of inclusivity and solidarity that is much needed when boarding. 

With sports such as hockey, golf, badminton, archery, and supervised classes such as spin and dance fitness, all managed by specialist coaches, all students will be nurtured and guided through their journey. 

International School of Dublin

The International School of Dublin is located in Synge Street, Ireland and is a relatively newer school, only being established in 2007. It is the first accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World Primary School in Ireland. 

The IB offers education for individuals between the ages of 3 and 19 in four consecutive programmes. The IB curriculum provides students with a unique school experience that many other students aren’t privy to. Students learn how to cope with college-level work, are more confident, and learn how to take responsibility for their own learning by being curious and adapting well to new situations.

Previous students aren’t shy in sharing their praise for the school- many indicate that they appreciate the teaching methods used as they are taught more for the experience and application to life rather than for testing purposes, which in itself makes the learning process more enjoyable. 

The International School of Dublin takes pride in their unique methods. They believe that children not only learn inside the school but outside as well, which is why students regularly participate in field trips relevant to topics they are interested in. 

If you are looking for a unique but authentic education for your child, The International School of Dublin may just be the place you are looking for. 

St. Kilian's German School

St. Kilian’s German School is located in Clonskeagh, Dublin. It is a Co-educational German/Irish school that accepts students between the ages of 4 and 18 years. 

St. Kilian’s initially started as a Sunday school in 1952 but has seen serious growth and development over the past 70 years. The school is divided into kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school. Due to the German roots and funding by the German government, the German language plays an important role in the school curriculum, but German is not the only language that students will be exposed to throughout their school career. 

To counter their focus on academics, St. Kilian’s has a wide range of sports and extracurricular activities for the students to choose from, including but not limited to, art classes, choir, board game hour, chess, debating, drama, film club, hockey, soccer and tennis. And if your child has so many interests that they just don’t know what to do, St. Kilian’s offers what they call, multisport, where students can participate in a variety of sports so that they get the opportunity to explore their interests. 

St. Andrew's College

St. Andrew's College is an amazing school committed to providing exceptional education and well-being for students of all ages. It is located in Booterstown, Dublin and provides a great environment with plenty of outdoor activities. The teachers are genuinely passionate about their work, developing strong relationships with the students so that they can better understand them and foster a positive learning atmosphere. They also take extra care to make sure each student’s health and safety are taken into consideration at all times; from checkups when sick or injured, to fun social interactions during periods such as lockdown when physical meet-ups won't be possible due to COVID restrictions!

The values of the school go beyond academics; St Andrew’s promotes respect towards others and self-confidence building through extracurricular activities such as sports training or musical arts. This not only creates future citizens but it encourages creativity in an interdisciplinary manner creating confident individuals who will strive professionally to work together globally on important matters of our current day world problems successfully integrating environmental solutions while helping each other accomplish projects ethically limiting punishment but fostering problem-solving skills instead hoping solutions rise up intuitively producing successful long-lasting outcomes pointing family like bonds over any kind of regionality impossible to breach.

In conclusion, St Andrew’s College has been quite outstanding in creating strong relationships between students and faculty while promoting academic excellence reflecting modern ethics brought forth by global changes impacting us every single day – no matter where one comes from – ensuring we will be ready for this everchanging world coming generations after ours have created! An excellent choice for those looking for more than just stellar track records!

Selecting a private school in Dublin: How to pick the best one for your kid

When choosing a private school for your child in Dublin, the decision can be daunting. With so many schools available and each offering something different, how do you know which is best for your family?

Here are some tips on what to look for when choosing a private school in Dublin.

First of all, consider the location. Private schools often have campuses around Dublin that may be more convenient than others, depending on where you live. You'll also want to look at the size and type of school – will your child feel comfortable in an intimate campus setting, or would they prefer a larger campus with plenty of activities and resources? It's important to visit potential schools before making any decisions, as this gives you an idea of the atmosphere and whether it's suitable for your kid.

Is another factor worth considering is curriculum – what kind of teaching style does the school employ? Do teachers focus more on academic excellence, or are there opportunities for creative exploration too? Does the learning environment offer enough support from qualified staff members who understand individual needs? Finally, check out other amenities such as sports facilities, libraries, music rooms and extra-curricular activities. Knowing what’s available will help determine whether these aspects match your child's interests.

The quality of education should always come first, but having access to additional resources can make life easier (and sometimes even more enjoyable) for both parents and kids alike!

Overall, selecting a private school in Dublin doesn't have to be complicated; follow these steps above while keeping budget limitations in mind, too – then you're sure to find an educational establishment that best fits all requirements!

How do private schools in Dublin compare to public schooling options?

The topic of private schooling vs public schooling has been a long-standing debate. It's an important decision for parents to make and the stakes are high! Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions that parents can make to set their children up for success. Dublin, in particular, offers many different options for both private and public schools.

When looking at private versus public schools in Dublin, there are several factors to consider: academic excellence, cost of tuition, availability of resources & facilities, as well as extracurricular activities offered by each institution.

• Private schools often provide more advanced curriculums than their counterparts; however, they also come with higher fees due to their exclusive nature – meaning only those who can afford them have access.
• Public Schools offer free education paid for by taxes but may not be as academically rigorous or offer as many extra-curricular activities compared to private ones – although there may still be plenty available depending on where you live!

Furthermore, when deciding between private and public institutions in Dublin, it’s important to note that each school has its own culture and values, which should be considered before making your choice.

For example, if religious beliefs play an integral part in your family life, then selecting a faith-based school would be beneficial, whereas secularism might take precedence over other qualities within another household setting. Additionally, if location matters more than quality, attending local state-funded establishments could be easier logistically speaking too!

Ultimately the decision boils down to what works best for your child(ren)’s educational needs – whether it’s excelling academically or receiving additional support such as Special Education Needs provision (SEN).

With careful deliberation, families can thoroughly assess all facets associated with both types of schooling options before committing long-term because this decision ultimately affects future prospects such as college admissions or job opportunities later down the line too!

What are the pros and cons of choosing a Private School in Dublin?

Selecting A Private School In Dublin is an important decision for parents. There are many advantages and disadvantages, but by understanding the key features of each, you can make an informed choice about which school will best suit your child’s needs.

One of the significant benefits of attending a private school in Dublin is that they typically have smaller class sizes than public schools, which allows teachers to be more attentive and offer personalized instruction. They also tend to provide outstanding facilities that include modern technology, such as computers, labs, and other specialized equipment for learning experiences. Additionally, students at these schools often receive additional support services such as tutoring or counselling due to their higher tuition costs.

On the downside, private schools in Dublin can be expensive compared with public schools; some may require entrance exams or interviews before admission, and they may not always offer extracurricular activities like sports teams or clubs found at most public institutions. Furthermore, because of their emphasis on academic excellence, there may be fewer opportunities for social interaction among peers than in larger classrooms, where students can form friendships more easily outside of the classroom setting.

Finally, it's important to remember that no matter what type of school you choose- public or private- it should ultimately align with your family’s values regarding education so that you can ensure your child receives the best possible educational experience available within your means.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dublin is home to some of the best private schools in the world. This vibrant city has something for everyone from traditional and religious schools to those offering a comprehensive curriculum for students with special needs. These schools provide an excellent education and offer students a great learning environment. With its diverse educational options, Dublin allows parents to select the perfect school for their children.

The most important thing when selecting a school is finding one that meets your child's individual needs and provides them with quality instruction and support. Location, cost, student-teacher ratio, extracurricular activities and academic rigour should all be considered when selecting.

To sum up, countless private schools in Dublin can help your child reach their full potential academically while providing ample opportunities to expand their horizons socially and emotionally. We encourage you to explore our list of recommended private schools in Dublin so you can find one that suits your family’s specific needs!

FAQs about Private Schools in Dublin