The struggle to secure admission for their children at Ireland’s most in-demand secondary schools is experienced by approximately three out of four parents, as per the recently published data. Do you find yourself in a rush to find secondary school admission for your child? Are the schools in your locality overfilled? Are you anxious?
As discussed by Carl O’Brien in his oped this weekend, numerous hubs in Dublin, Cork, Galway and major towns as well as commuter routes are afflicted by oversubscription of all secondary schools. The families living in these areas often undergo months of anxiety, strain and distress as they work to secure September school places. They anxiously anticipate a call or a letter that will update them on the status of their application. Some schools have waiting lists that run to hundreds. In fact, the success rate for applications to some of the most densely filled schools can be as pitiful as one in five.
Have you found it necessary to apply to a plethora of schools? Have you considered shifting to a feeder primary school in an attempt to increase your child’s chances of securing admission? What do you think is at the root of these issues and what solution would you propose? If you’ve had a similar experience in the past, how did it pan out for you?