A visit to a private school, St gerards, Dublin

What is notable about the school St Gerard's

St Gerard's - day private school, which is located in the resort town of Bray, south of Dublin, just a few miles from the district. School is one of the most elite in Ireland, however, there is no boarding - only accommodation in host families. But the price of school in the area of Dublin around 20.000 euros per year – very attractive to the clients. So I included this school in the list of visits during my recent stay in Ireland this fall.

First of all, I would like to note the location of the school. Bray is a very elite city. Along the long stretch of wide beaches, there are lines of expensive villas that run into the mountains from the south and the coastal golf club from the north. Bray is connected to Dublin by rail, and the center of the capital can be reached in just 15 minutes.

The school is located on a high hill less than a kilometer from the coast and many rooms have stunning ocean views.

The school occupies a huge area of 38 acres where are located Junior and Secondary schools, numerous sports facilities and playgrounds.

Also across the road from the school is another Golf club, which is partly used by the school. The school accepts students aged 12 to 18 years and organizes their stay at local host family. In my impression, living in Bree would be even more comfortable in the host family, as the child can leave close to the school grounds in a very safe town, practice English, integrate into the local community and do what he did if he lived not in school but at home.

really liked the atmosphere of the school. The school is large, more than 600 students study here, among them there are quite a few foreigners, mainly from the EU countries. The teachers of the school are very pleasant, you can feel their openness and support. Happy students, motivated to study and do extracurricular activities. Much attention is paid to sports and art; in addition to the buildings of the senior and junior schools, there is a multifunctional gym, tennis courts, rugby and football fields, and jogging tracks.

The historic high school building, opened in 1918, was rebuilt several times with the expansion of the school. Now even high school, preserving the historic facade, very modern inside, with good scientific laboratories, studios of needlework and sculpture, drawing and computer graphics.

Many resources are invested in school infrastructure. Modern elementary school building includes a large auditorium with acoustics and light, which is used for school productions. Also there was a new school theatre built and a new building of research laboratories.

Admission to St Gerard's school

Since the school has support in English and academic subjects, it is not difficult to enroll here, despite the high academic results of graduates. They willingly accept foreign students in grades 1-2 of secondary school (age 12-14 years old) and in grade 4, Transition Year (transition year between middle and high school - age 15-16 years). Another thing is that for transfer or admission to the last two years of high school - the Leaving Certificate preparation program for the final exams - you will need high academic results and proficiency in English at the B2-C1 level.

The majority of foreign students at St Gerard's school are 15-16 years old, who come to study at the school for one year of the Transition Year, since this is the only year when you do not need to take any exam. Many foreigners come to Ireland precisely to improve their English, at the same time not skipping the main subjects, while completing interesting projects, doing sports and art. During the Transition Year, the teachers of St Gerard's school pay a lot of attention to the development of the student's talents and the opportunity to try themselves in something new: all 4th-grade students must take part in the production of the musical, they are engaged in several sports - every other day, team and individual, compulsory lesson art or music and some kind of handicraft. At the same time, studying compulsory subjects throughout the year: English, mathematics, Irish (for foreign students, Irish is replaced by the culture of Ireland), optional eight subjects are studied in 3 and change every trimester. Thus, by the beginning of the 5th grade in the main cycle of high school, all students know exactly where they will go, what they want to do in life and what subjects they want to choose to prepare for exams.

Summing up, I want to say that the school I really liked, I recommend for admission to the most selective families. Especially if the child enters at the age of 12-15 years, here he is like super comfortable!