Rathdown School

the white book

R a t h d o w n

S c h o o l

P R I V AT E G I R L S D AY A N D B O A R D I N G S C H O O L I N I R E L A N D

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A Principal Education Rathdown Boarding and Day School for Girls enjoys a superb location and setting. The 16 acre grounds are set on an elevated site overlooking Dublin Bay in Glenageary. Close to Killiney, Dalkey and Dunlaoghaire, it shares inland views of the Wicklow mountains.

The school buildings are magnificent, consisting of an interesting mix of modern and old. The two main houses, Hillcourt and Tudor, date from the early nineteenth century and provide a gracious setting for boarding, music and junior school facilities. *�Hillcourt, formerly called Innismore, is one of the finest remaining houses in Glenageary and has maintained many of the original, internal features. These include an elaborately decorated hall, compartmentalised by shallow arches ornamented with the Greek key pattern and a monochrome painted frieze. The house was owned originally by the Synnott family and was bought as school premises (Hillcourt) in 1919 by W.P. Toone, who had earlier established Castle Park School. Tudor House was acquired by Hillcourt in 1965.�

Photography by Paul Sherwood

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Rathdown School was founded in 1973, incorporating four original schools, The Hall School, Hillcourt School, Glengara Park School and Park House School. It comprises of both a secondary school of 234 girls, 111 of whom are boarders, and a Junior School 164 girls. It is under protestant management, welcoming girls from all faiths, and is led by Senior school Principal Anne Dowling and Principal of the Junior School, Avril Lamplugh. The school is committed to providing high academic standards and a wide range of subjects and facilities are available for all pupils, in order to offer the widest education possible, developing each pupil’s potential to the full. Because of this their results in the State examinations continue to excel.

The Junior School, accepts girls from the age of three upwards, and offers an education that develops the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional aspects of each girl. The Junior School has the added bonus of offering an Extended Day Care Programme where children can remain until 6p.m. With the completion of the new extension to the Junior School, classrooms now have ensuite facilities. There is also a new computer room, library and reception area.

* Exerpt from “Between the Mountains and the Sea” by Peter Pearson, published by O’Brien Press

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Music has always formed a core component of the students lives and education, and in 2005 the School constructed a state-of-the-art Music School to more adequately cater to this artistic inclination.

The quality of the facilities is unrivalled and includes soundproof practice rooms and an auditorium where classes, private lessons, performances and other events are hosted. It has developed into a thriving centre for musical excellence. All of our teachers are highly experienced and are fully committed to encouraging and nurturing each individual student to fulfil their potential and reach the highest standard possible.

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Sports is also a very important aspect of school life and their 16-acre site on Dublin Bay allows for a raft of sporting activities including hockey, basketball, cross country, tennis, athletics, cricket, fitness, hip hop, badminton, sailing and horseriding. Rathdown has enjoyed extraordinary success in hockey and athletics in recent times and are delighted with the progress the girls have made with the support of our Director of Hockey, ex- international, Graham Shaw.

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Being a boarding school and welcoming International students, Rathdown promotes cultural diversity and of course there’s a knock-on effect for day students. The school never closes down, as a traditional school would at 4pm. There is supervised study for the girls until 10pm each evening and on Saturdays. There are a limited number of boarding schools and we pride ourselves on the ‘home-from-home’ experience that our Boarding House offers.

Innismore House, which opened in 2004, is a

three-storied purpose-built modern structure offering 5th and 6th year boarders their own study/bedroom.

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The school’s Vision 2020 plan has produced a new community area, built and completed this year. The second stage contains plans for a new academic wing with new science labs, and planning permission for a second Astroturf has just been granted. These developments ensure Rathdown School remains the forefront of education, on one of the most beautiful landscaped of school campuses.

Rathdown School Upper Glenageary Road, Glenageary, Co. Dublin. Ireland.

Phone: 00353 1 285 3133 www.rathdownschool.ie

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