St Andrew's college is the only IB school in Ireland

IB school in Ireland, St Andrew's college

The only IB school near Dublin, St Andrew's college located in South Dublin. This is a day private school with a huge campus with beautiful infrastructure, accommodation of foreign students with local families. The school was opened in the late 18th century in the center of Dublin and quickly gained popularity. With the increasing number of students, the school had to change location several times . Now the school has 1300 students, with more than 700 of them in high school.

I visited St Andrew's college last month to gain personal impressions about the school, staff, infrastructure, and to feel the atmosphere.

The modern school campus is located on the southern outskirts of the capital and right on the coast. From the rocky coast, a campus of the school is only a few hundred meters. The nearest sandy beaches are within short walking distance. On the other hand, directly opposite the entrance to the school is one of the campuses of University College Dublin.

The school is very modern and progressive. The high school building is divided into zones by age and department. Area of Six Form (high school here IB and the Leaving Certificate) – is set over 2 floors with a large atrium in the center. This combined light of the floor space adds energy to the room and enlivens the atmosphere of the educational process. Students of Six Form dressed in a uniform of a different color, and only they are allowed to enter the territory of the zone high school.

Before visiting the school, I did not leave the idea that this school is very different from all the Irish schools of ideology. Probably, this was due to the very nature of the IB program, which is designed to prepare each student, as a future leader. In addition, it was evident that school staff are much younger than usual in the Irish schools and very positive. All teachers believe that their school is the best in the country and charge all the students with their energy.

The school has two programs: the Irish certificate of secondary education (Leaving Certificate) and the international program of the International Baccalaureate (IB). If the students show good results, the school encourages them to take an IB, as a more advanced program which is harder to achieve high results.

The school mainly has students from Ireland, foreign students represented 40 countries. Most of them are from other European countries who want to improve their English and, as a rule, for one year (Transition Year – the transition year between high school and IB program).
Of course, the school prefers to take students who want to stay until graduation and receive a diploma. Like other Irish schools, St Andrew's college easier accepts students in the transition year, even if they do not have enough English, for students to have time to prepare for the main stage IB or Leaving Certificate. But, students of the corresponding age, with very good results and advanced English you can immediately enroll in the IB program.

Great attention is paid to the transition year program: all students necessarily study 3 main subjects: English, mathematics, Irish language (for the local students), or foreign students who study Irish culture.
In addition to studying additional subjects for 6 weeks each. This can be any subject of the Sciences, Social Sciences, Exact Sciences, art, programming, design, and more. It has been studied for 6 weeks and it helps students to choose subjects for the last two years of the program to achieve the highest result.

In addition, all transition year students are involved in different projects: the mandatory staging of the annual musical - in this case, if the student cannot sing or dance, he is involved as support staff - light, make-up, advertising, and so on. Mandatory creation of a business project - the creation of the product and its sale. All transition year students do a lot of sports 3 times a week, team sports and 3 times a week individual. Much attention is paid to the club's training and social projects - all work must be approved by school.

Finally, I want to say that I liked the school and I'm sure you will be very comfortable here to study. A homestay should not confuse you, as the school is located in a very affluent suburb of Dublin, convenient to the city center, this seaside residential area,and the Irish are very hospitable. And the opportunity to study in the IB program in Ireland - opens the big prospects of further admission. Good option for quality secondary education in an English speaking country with a low budget.