A STRIKING feature of the boom was the manner in which fee-paying schools – once the preserve of a small privileged elite – moved into the mainstream.
For many well–off parents, having a son or daughter in private education – notably in one of the big brand schools – was an essential lifestyle choice.
The rise in private education had a devastating impact on enrolment figures in many State-run “free” second levels. At one stage during the boom, the Department of Education reported there were more than 20,000 unfilled places in second-level schools in Dublin as demand for these schools fell.
The past 18 months have seen a dramatic reversal of these trends as parents struggle to pay fees averaging over €5,000 a year. Some State schools on Dublin’s southside report a huge surge in enrolment as struggling parents opt out of the fee-paying sector.
Many fee-paying schools are under increasing financial pressure as incomes drop. For Protestant schools, such as Alexandra College, the abolition of special State supports in the budget is adding to the difficulty.
Many fee-paying schools raised their fees significantly for the 2008/2009 academic year. Alexandra College was among them, hiking its fees from €5,620 to €6,100 for day tuition and from €14,950 to €16,220 for boarding.
That said, many schools provide support for students when parents run into difficulties. It is a sensitive subject with many schools waiving fees or accepting reduced fees without the knowledge of even the students themselves. Most have some form of bursary or fund for these situations while smaller colleges such as St Conleth’s College, for example, manage to operate on a case-by-case basis.
The following is a survey of the situation in some leading fee-paying schools:
- Belvedere College has a support mechanism in place for fee-paying students. This can take the form of a partial or a full fees waiver. “We encourage people to come and tell us as soon as they have a difficulty,” says principal Gerry Foley.
- St Conleth’s College. Director Ann Sheppard says the school takes a flexible approach whenever students encounter hardship. On average students are with us for 12 years and most families will have their ups and downs over that period, she says.
- St Andrew’s College: Many students are in receipt of grants from the Secondary Education Committee which administers financial help to Protestant families. Many of our students are looked after under that system, says headmaster Arthur Godsil.
- St Mary’s College, Rathmines, offers bursaries to students who encounter financial difficulty. Each case is assessed on its own merits and the level of support is decided then.
- Clongowes Wood College, Clane, Co Kildare. Since 2007, Clongowes has offered bursaries to cover full board and tuition to seven qualifying students entering first year each year. The aim is to have about 10 per cent of pupils on bursary support by 2014.