The school system in Dublin is very similar to the rest of the United Kingdom. In Dublin, children tend to start school aged 4 or 5 but legally do not need to until they are aged 6. Furthermore, education is mandatory for children until the age of 16. If you have children and are considering a move to Dublin or have already secured a new tax job in Dublin through Kingpin, here is our blog on education in Dublin to help you organise a school for your child.
Is education free in Dublin?
Regardless of their parents’ visa status, public schooling is available by law to any child living in Dublin and it is free.
Below are a list of some of the most popular schools in Dublin where you may consider sending your child to.
Public Schools in Dublin
St Gabriel’s Primary School
Location: Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
This Catholic primary school is attended by children aged 4 to 12 and offers an extensive range of extra-curricular activities. St Gabriel’s focuses on the academic, spiritual, moral, and physical development of its pupils.
St. Patrick’s National School
Location: Diswellstown Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15
This school encourages and helps all of its pupils build their confidence, concept of responsibility, and promotes gender equity amongst all teachers and pupils. Whilst St. Patrick’s is a Catholic school, recognition is given to all other faiths and none.
The Guardian Angels’ National School
Location: Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Established in 1970, the Guardian Angels’ National School has been around for over 50 years, providing education and a range of facilities to pupils. The school is enriched by children from many different cultural backgrounds. For children where English is not their first language, Guardian Angels’ offers additional support as well as English language tuition.
International Schools in Dublin
International School of Dublin (ISD)
Location: Synge Street, D08 PW64, Ireland
ISD describes itself as “culturally diverse, private, not for profit school that is co-educational and non-denominational”. This schools aims to establish and encourage a love for learning amongst its pupils. The class sizes tend to be small and are guided by internationally-experienced staff meaning your child will receive the attention and engagement they need to develop.
The school’s website has very informative FAQs page https://internationalschooldublin.ie/admissions/admissions-faqs/
Nord Anglia International School
Location: South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18
Nord Anglia is the world’s leading premium international schools organisation with 79 international day and boarding schools across 31 countries. NAIS Dublin is Ireland’s first and only school to offer the IB curriculum to pupils aged 3 up to 18. Click to find out more about NAIS Dublin’s tuition fees.
Although it may seem as though there are plenty of schools to select from, it is important to note that many of Dublin’s schools are full therefore finding the right one for you can sometimes be quite difficult. With that said, Kingpin are on hand to help you with the job application side of things, allowing you more time to explore the excellent possibilities for your child. We recommend that you enquire about schooling before moving to Dublin, and give yourself as much time as possible to do so.