TOP-12 private schools in Ireland to get secondary education for international students

Nowadays, the best private schools in Ireland for children, as well as public educational institutions offer high-quality educational services to those wishing from all over the world. With a sufficiently high quality of education in Ireland, not inferior to secondary school education in the UK, Switzerland and other countries, the cost of education in the best private schools in Ireland is much more affordable. Centuries-old educational traditions have been formed in Ireland today, combined with technological achievements in the field of education; this symbiosis has been successfully introduced into schools in Ireland. Irish schools offer classes in the main compulsory subjects, as well as in a number of subjects for students to choose from.

Irish system of secondary education is similar to many European ones and consists of three main blocks:

• Primary school
• Secondary school
• High school.

In some educational institutions, there is an additional year between the cycles of secondary school – Transition Year.

The first educational stage, the junior school, accepts children aged 6 to 12 years. During this period, students are required to study mathematics, English and the national – Irish. Additionally, students attend music classes, art classes, sports classes.

The second stage – junior secondary school, lasting for three years, is designed for students aged 13 to 16 years. During this period, the range of academic disciplines becomes wider and reaches 10 subjects. At the end of this stage, the student can go to the Transition Year – a year when the student himself determines the list of subjects studied and his interests. In some schools, the transition year is mandatory, in others – the right to choose remains with the child.

Studying on these two stages of education constitute a mandatory educational minimum for Irish citizens. At the end of these two stages, children take the Junior Certificate exam – according to its results, they are enrolled in a senior secondary school.

Senior Secondary School is a two–year program aimed at preparing for admission to higher education. During this period, the student studies 6-8 subjects: English and mathematics are mandatory among them, the student chooses all other disciplines based on his future plans. At the end of their studies, students take an exam and, with good scores, receive a Leaving Certificate (LCE). LCE is an analogue of the British A-level and is recognized by all English-speaking countries. The graduates can apply to universities in Ireland, as well as American, Australian or English universities.

In total, there are more than 800 schools in Ireland, of which about 20% are private. The public schools accept international students, but according to Irish law, a child under the age of 18 must have a guardian -an Irish citizen. If a student enters a private school in Ireland, the educational institution assumes guardianship. In addition, public schools for the most part appeared only in the 60s of the twentieth century and are significantly inferior to private ones in many respects.

Private schools in Ireland are educational institutions with a long history, proven teaching methods and excellent technical base. School campuses are full-fledged campuses with academic buildings, canteens, libraries, open/closed sports facilities and dormitories where students live under the constant supervision of staff. In Ireland, there are both separate educational institutions and private boarding schools of mixed type.

The foreign students aged 12 years old can enrol in English schools in Ireland. Although, many international students from other countries are limited only to the last 2 classes to prepare for admission to university. At any age, private schools offer students a surprisingly extensive program. Students study biology, physics, chemistry, geography, history, drawing, music, physical education, economics, basic accounting, art, etc. Special attention is paid to the harmonious development of the child: all schoolchildren are necessarily engaged in some kind of sport, as well as artistic or musical arts.

The requirements for the international students, wishing to enter the prestigious private school in Ireland, may vary depending on the chosen educational institution. As a rule, the package of documents includes:

• A statement with estimates for the last 2 years. At least 40% of the ratings should be "excellent".
• Recommendations from teachers of mathematics and English.
• A cover letter about why the student wants to study at this particular school.
• English language test results. The requirements depend on the school and the age of the student.
• History of vaccinations and medical card.

It will also be useful to attach to the package of documents all the achievements and awards for the sports and creative achievements of the child. Some schools may ask to be interviewed via Skype, to take additional tests in mathematics or other disciplines.

Please note that documents must be submitted in advance. As a rule, most schools accept applications until January.

The cost of studying in private boarding schools is democratic: on average, they are 20-30% lower than in neighbouring Great Britain or top US schools. At the same time, the technical and material equipment of schools and the quality of education in general often exceeds English and American. A year of study with accommodation and meals will cost about 10 000 – 15 000 €.