PROSPECTUS - Drimnagh Castle School Prospectus - 16 pages
Drimnagh Castle
Meánscoil Iognáid Rís
Drimnagh Castle
Meánscoil Iognáid Rís, Drimnagh Castle was founded by the Christian Brothers in 1954. Located on the site of an historic castle, the school has provided a quality education throughout the years to the pupils of south and west Dublin. Today, excellence and quality continue to be the characteristics of Drimnagh Castle. It is a modern dynamic school that provides a broad range of curricular and extracurricular activities with state of the art facilities.
Our school is under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST). Its aim is to provide Catholic education in the Edmund Rice tradition. It embraces the vision of promoting in its pupils full personal and social development in a caring Christian community of learning and teaching. The school subscribes to a holistic vision of education, which is expressed in the following five key principles:
Nurturing faith, Christian spirituality and gospel - based values.
Promoting partnership.
Excelling in teaching and learning.
Creating a caring school community.
Inspiring transformational leadership.
Principal’s Message
A warm welcome from Drimnagh Castle Secondary School!
Choosing the right secondary school is a significant decision for every family, and we are delighted that you are considering joining our vibrant community here at Drimnagh Castle. Rooted in the rich tradition of Edmund Rice, our school has a proud history of nurturing young men, guiding them to realise their full potential, and preparing them for a fulfilling future.
At Drimnagh Castle, we are committed to providing a holistic education that extends far beyond academic excellence. While we strive for the highest standards in teaching and learning, our mission is equally focused on the personal, social, and spiritual development of each student. We believe in fostering a caring environment where every individual feels valued, supported, and challenged to grow. Our dedicated staff are committed to creating a safe and inclusive space where curiosity is encouraged, talents are discovered, and resilience is built.
We offer a broad and engaging curriculum, complemented by a diverse range of extracurricular activities, from sports to arts and community involvement. These opportunities are designed to help our students develop new skills, build strong friendships, and discover their passions.
As you explore this prospectus, I invite you to imagine your son thriving in a school where strong values, mutual respect, and a genuine love of learning are at the heart of everything we do. We look forward to welcoming you to the Drimnagh Castle family, where together, we can embark on an exciting and rewarding educational journey.
The School Community
Meánscoil Iognáid Rís, Drimnagh Castle is committed to establishing a caring Christian community within the school based on RESPECT
The Board of Management is responsible for the overall management of the school. It consists of eight members (four trustee representatives, two teacher representatives and two parent representatives). The Board delegates the day-to-day management of the school to the Principal.
The Staff of Drimnagh Castle is a committed and dedicated group of people whose aim is to promote the progress and welfare of the pupils, and provide an environment conducive to the holistic development of all pupils. As well as subject teachers, the school also has specialist personnel.
Guidance and counselling - the school has two Guidance Counsellors who offer a comprehensive service to all our pupils. The guidance and counselling service facilitates students to acquire competencies in educational skills, career exploration and planning. The Guidance Counsellors provide guidance and information on a wide range of issues, such as: study techniques, aptitude tests and differential aptitude tests (DATS). Talks with outside speakers and trips to relevant open days are organised. A safe confidential counselling service is also provided to students in need of support.
Special educational needs - the school has a highly qualified team of resource teachers, learning support teachers and special needs assistants who optimise the teaching and learning process for pupils with special needs. The team assists these pupils to maximise their achievements in personal, social, and academic spheres.
Conor Bradley
Principal, Drimnagh
Castle Secondary School
Home School Liaison Officer - the purpose of the Home school Liaison Officer is to provide support to parents/ guardians in order to improve the educational outcomes for the pupils. The scheme aims to promote partnership and co-operation between home, school and relevant community agencies to ensure sure every child receives an equal opportunity for education in our school.
Pastoral care team - our Pastoral care programme promotes student welfare in a positive and caring school atmosphere. The Pastoral care team meet regularly to assess and discuss the non-academic needs of the students and put in place school based supports; where deemed necessary, students are referred to outside agencies. This team works closely with the Principal, Deputy Principal, Guidance Counsellors, Year Heads, class tutors, learning support team and special needs assistants.
The Pupils are provided with a quality education, which helps them to develop both personally and academically. Each pupil is encouraged to reach his potential. The views of the students are represented through an active Students’ Council, which is elected by the pupils themselves.
The Parents are encouraged to participate actively with the staff in fulfilling the school’s aims of providing an education for the pupils based on quality and achievement. Regular parent/teacher meetings are organised and open communication is encouraged and fostered. An active parents’ council helps to channel the views of the parents.
School Facilities
Four science laboratories
Two art rooms
Two technology laboratories
Computer laboratory
Multi-media language laboratory
Demonstration room
Library
Fully equipped gym
General purpose area
Extensive playing pitches
Basketball court
Lockers for all students.
Junior Cycle (First to Third Year)
With the aim of providing a broad and balanced curriculum, pupils study a combination of the following subjects.
Core subjects studied by all:
English
Mathematics
Irish
History
Geography
Science
French / Spanish
Civil Social and Political Education (C.S.P.E.)
Social Personal Health Education (S.P.H.E.)
Physical Education (P.E.)
Religion
Wellbeing.
Optional Subjects - choose two subjects from the following:
Business studies
Technology (woodwork, metalwork, electronics)
Technical graphics
Art
Music.
Senior Cycle (5th to 6th Year)
In preparation for the Leaving Certificate pupils study the following subjects.
Core subjects (studied by all):
English
Mathematics
Irish
Religion
Physical Education
Computer Studies.
A comprehensive range of optional subjects is available to students (four subjects are chosen):
History
Geography
French
Spanish
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Business
Accounting
Economics
Art
Music
Design and Communication Graphics
Applied Mathematics
Politics and Society
Technology.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme
This programme is an opportunity for pupils to gain an enhanced leaving certificate. It prepares them for employment by giving them practical skills, such as designing a CV and work experience. Students study two link modules over two years, Enterprise Education and Preparation for the World of Work. For CAO purposes, students can use the points achieved in the LCVP as one of their six subjects.
Transition Year
The school offers a one year optional Transition Year Programme, which is studied by pupils on completion of the Junior Certificate Examination at the end of third year. This exciting and challenging year helps students to mature and become more responsible for their own learning. As well as academic subjects, this very successful programme also contains some new and exciting activities such as:
Outdoor pursuits (canoeing, abseiling, golf)
Music and Drama
Computer applications
Art and Technology
Social Work
Business and Enterprise studies
Work Experience
Football and swimming
Project Science
Robotics
Nutrition.
Scholarship Scheme
For the past number of years our scholarship scheme for students progressing to third level college has been in place thanks to the generosity of one of our past pupils.
Each year there have been three scholarships in total and we hope the top three points achievers who sit their Leaving Certificate and are going to Third level college will be in line to receive them. The amounts of each of the scholarships range from €1200 to €4150 for each year over a three year period.
These are generous scholarships and it is our hope they will reduce the financial burden of attending Third level College, and make the experience a little easier and more enjoyable.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Gaelic football & hurling
Soccer
Basketball
Swimming
Rugby
Cricket
Athletics
Badminton
Boxing
Chess
Debating
Student Council
Music/Choir.
Other School Activities
Annual school tour to another European country
Annual Awards Ceremony
Annual Sports’ Day
After school supervised study
Breakfast club (8.30am to 8.50am)
Lunchtime study club
School trips.
Past Pupils
Since its foundation in 1954, Drimnagh Castle has encouraged among its pupils a pride in their school. It has many thousands of successful past pupils who have brought great honour and glory to themselves and their school. Our past pupils are today represented in many walks of life including all leading professions, business and finance, the world of sport and entertainment. These past pupils provide an inspiration to our present students who have the added advantage of attending a school with state of the art facilities.
Universities And Colleges Attended By Our Students
The majority of our students proceed to Third Level Education. The following are the main universities and colleges attended by our past pupils:
