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Types of Schools in Ireland

Schools in Ireland fall into three distinct categories :

(1) Standard Day Schools

(a) The most common type of secondary school is called a voluntary secondary school. The teachers are paid by the state and the schools get a grant for each student. Usually parents are also asked for a “voluntary” contribution. Most of these schools were originally run by religious orders and had nuns, brothers or priests teaching there. Today most have lay teachers but the ethos is still that of the religious order.

(b) Community and comprehensive schools are wholly state run. They tend to offer a wider variety of practical subject choices. They are usually also coeducational.

(c) There are also Vocational schools. They are very similar to the community schools.

All of the above schools are classed as standard day schools. Students attending them live with a local family.

Only EU students may go to standard day schools, all non-EU students must attend private schools.

(2) Private secondary schools are fee-paying. They are under inspection by the Irish department of education and the teachers receive a state salary.

(3) Boarding schools are all privately run. Students may attend full-time, fortnightly or 5 day boarding schools. They do receive grants from the Irish government and are subject to inspections from the Department of Education. They are located throughout various parts of the country.

Accommodation in boarding schools may vary from large dorms where there may be 8 or more students to smaller rooms that have just 2 students. In some schools senior students may have an individual room.

Life in boarding school has to be by its very nature one of routine. This is to enable students to get a good balance between their academic and social / sports life.

Here is a typical day :

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