You will find below a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in Ireland with fee information. The list includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools for you to find the right school to prepare for the International Baccalaureate and other accreditation in Ireland. Schools may follow the UK curriculum with English speaking program, while others run under the French, German, Japanese, or Spanish curriculum.

Education in Ireland

The education system in Ireland is split into primary (bunscoil), secondary (meánscoil), and higher/third-level (timthriall sinsearach). English is the medium of instruction at all levels (except in Gaelscoileanna - an Irish-medium school). Education is free and compulsory between the ages of five and 16 or until students have completed three years of second level education including one sitting of the Junior Certificate examination. Pre-school is optional and can include a crèches, play-school, Montessori schools or naíonraí (Irish language). Second-level education consists of a three-year junior cycle followed by a two-year or three-year senior cycle depending on whether an optional Transition Year is taken following the Junior Certificate examination. The Leaving Certificate is the main basis upon which places in universities, institutes of technology and colleges of education are allocated.

International Schools

While some expat families simply choose among Ireland's many private schools, an international schools can be the perfect solution for an expat student (multinational corporation executives, children of diplomats, NGO staff). These schools offer a high quality education, as well as an international focus. Schools may follow a curriculum model of Europe, France, or other particular systems. Primary instruction may be any language (and multiple languages are usually taught), but it is usually in English. Schools provide similar standards of schooling around the globe, providing for an easy transition between schools whether they are in France or Vietnam. Schools also provide internationally accepted accreditation such as the international baccalaureate.

Admission and enrollment procedures vary from school to school. Space is often limited and preference may be given to students based on nationality. Tuition tends to be expensive based on local standards, but offers high standards of learning, boast smaller class sizes, first-rate facilities, and extracurricular. Boarding facilities are available at some schools, but most only provide day classes.

Accreditation & Membership

• The Council of International Schools (CoIS) is a non-profit association of international schools and post-secondary institutions which provides educational accreditation, teacher and leadership recruitment services, links to higher education, governance assistance and help with founding new schools.
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) is a regional accrediting association which establishes standards for all levels of education, from pre-K to doctoral.
• European Council of International Schools (ECIS) is a collaborative network promoting the ideals and best practice of international education.

Dublin

St. Andrew's College (Coláiste Naomh Aindriú)
Address: Booterstown Avenue
Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Tel: (01) 288 2785
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

This is a co-educational, inter-denominational, international day school. Founded in 1894, St. Andrew's offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. It is fully accredited by the ECIS and the NEASC.

International School of Dublin (ISD)
Address: Barclay Court, Temple Road
Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland
Tel: 353 (0)873291417
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

The International School of Dublin is an IB World School for students aged 3-12. Instruction is in English, with all students learning Spanish as a second language.

Sutton Park School (SPS)
Address: St Fintan's Road
Sutton, Dublin 13, Ireland
Tel: 353 1 832 2940
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

A Co-educational international day and boarding school for students from 4 to 18. The school was founded in 1057 and offers the Junior Certificate, Transition Year programme and the Leaving Certificate exams. Boarding is available. It is fully accredited by the ECIS and the NEASC.

St. Gerard's School
Address: Thornhill Rd
Bray, County Dublin, Ireland
Tel: 353 (0)1 2393445
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Catholic, non-denominational, co-educational private day school that caters to children from Ireland and overseas. There is a junior and senior campus.

Embassy Montessori Primary School
Address: 5, Clyde Road
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
Tel: 353 (01) 660 3176
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

A private co-educational school with an international focus for children between 2.5 - 9 years of age. The school is registered within the A.M.I. (Association Montessori Internationale) which is recognised worldwide, as well as the I.M.E.B. (Irish Montessori Education Board).

Nord Anglia International School Dublin
Address: Building 2 , South County Business Park,
Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland
Tel: +353 1511 0113
Email: Admissions@naisdublin.com
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

NAIS Dublin is part of the world's leading premium schools organisation, Nord Anglia Education. It is the only school in Ireland to unite an international curriculum with world-class learning opportunities and global experiences to enable students to achieve more than they may have thought possible.

Rathdown School
Address: Upper Glenageary Road
Glenageary, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Tel: 01 285 3133
Tuition Rates: Refer to the website

An all-girls institution founded in 1973. There is a junior school and a senior school with a boarding department. The school has an international program recognized by the OECD. Rathdown operates under Protestant Management, is owned by Rathdown School Trust, a registered charity, and is limited by guarantee.

Blackrock College (Coláiste na Carraige Duibhe)

Address: Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland
Tel: 353 (1) 2888681
E-mail: info@blackrockcollege.com
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

A Catholic secondary school for boys aged 13–18. Founded by French missionaries in 1860, the college has a large boarding school and teaching facilities. The curriculum offered is broad, covering all common subjects in the State Examinations including Latin, German, Art, Materials Technology, Chemistry and Economics. The boarding school is housed in Williamstown Castle (known as "The Castle").

French School in Dublin

Lycée Français D'Irlande (LFI)
Primary Address: Foxrock, Dublin 18
Eurocampus Address: Clonskeagh, Dublin 14
Tel: 353 1 288 4834
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Founded in 1970, there are classes from kindergarten through primary and secondary school. Curriculum is based on the French system with classes taught in French. The school operates under the auspices of the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs and is run in conjunction with the AEFE (Agency for the Teaching of French Abroad). LFI is a partner with St Kilian's German School on the Eurocampus.

German School in Dublin

St. Kilian's Deutsche Schule Dublin
Address: Roebuck Road
Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, Ireland
Tel: 353 1 2883323
Tuition Rates: €4,060 - 4,205 per year

St Kilian's is a fee paying primary and secondary school for children from 4 to 18 years of age. St Kilian's secondary school prepares students for the Junior and Leaving Certificate, as well as a bi-lingual Leaving Certificate in German language, literature and history. The curriculum is recognised by the Irish Department of Education. It is a member of the network of German Schools Abroad under the German Central Agency for Schools Abroad.

Japanese School in Dublin

Japanese School of Ireland
Address: Coille, Belarmine
Stepaside, Dublin 18, Ireland
Tel: 087-1747304
Tuition Rates: €50-85 per month

Japanese language international school which follows Japanese/Irish curriculum. The school consists of kindergarten, elementary section, junior high school, and high school.

Wicklow

SEK International School Dublin
Address: Belvedere Hall. Windgates, Bray. Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: +353 1 287 4175
E-mail: sek-dublin@sek.es
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

SEK-Dublin is the first school in Ireland to be certified by the International Baccalaureate Organisation® to teach its Middle Years Programme. It is located in Windgates, just 30 km from Dublin. The students stay with carefully selected Irish host-families, guaranteeing language immersion in a warm and genuine atmosphere.
SEK-Dublin International School melds the charm of traditional architecture, the most cutting-edge facilities and wide open spaces.

Spanish School in Wicklow

Elian's Spanish School
Address: Jubilee Hall
Balliman Rd, Bray, Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: 353 1 282 1230
E-mail: elians@elians.com
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Part of the Elian group, this Spanish language school caters to Spanish seeking students.