Headfort School

Since August 2025, Lucy Gowdie BA (English lang and lit and digital technology) BA (digital technology) (both from Monash) BEd MEd (from University of Sydney). Previously head of Inter-Community School Zurich in Switzerland. Has over two decades’

By interview and medical check. One form entry in each of the eight year groups (junior/senior infants, thereafter first form to sixth form). The headmaster personally interviews each child before acceptance. Entry to the optional, and very popular,

Most at 12, to Irish boarding schools in and around Dublin or elsewhere in the country, as well as to local Irish secondary schools. The traditional choice for Headfort children is Clongowes Wood, St Columba’s College and the Kings Hospital. In

The curriculum is both broad and specialist. Form teachers stay with year groups, max 20 in each class, which pupils like. These form teachers teach history, geography and ‘values and virtues’. Specialist teachers deliver language, art, science,

School can cope with mild educational needs, but not severe learning difficulties. That said, one parent (with two children with moderate to severe dyslexia) told us that they are coping exceptionally well because of the clear teaching and one-on-one

Teachers are well versed in English language support, though pupils are expected to arrive with enough English to access the curriculum. Extra language classes are offered at weekends for those not quite up to speed. The students we met all spoke

Extras include everything from cooking to coding, with music (piano, singing, drums and guitar), drama and art also lauded as ‘brilliant’ by the pupils. Over a third study piano, many achieving the highest levels in advanced grades. We were frankly

Sport is popular. Rugby and cricket being central to boys, and horse-riding, hockey and tennis for the girls, although there is ample cross-pollination. Fielding teams is difficult, admits the rugby coach, because sport in state primary schools is

Boarding is open to boys and girls aged between 10-13. In addition, some international boarders (approximately 15 per cent, limited to four of each nationality in each year group) join for a year or more before returning to their own education

When asked about discipline, children told us they hadn’t really encountered any problems: ‘It’s rare that someone gets into trouble.’ ‘So much going on, no time for trouble.’ It almost certainly helps that it’s covered at form level via the ‘virtues

The children we met were bright eyed, with charming Irish lilts, and appear to genuinely love the school. Some fifth form day pupils boasted that they’d been Headfortians since the age of 3 (the school previously operated a nursery), while a sixth

Run by a board of trustees of former Headfortians. The fees are well pitched and very reasonable. By comparison to UK prep fees, they are considerably lower and present excellent value for money.

A delightful school that feels a lot like a quintessential English prep school, and all that symbolises. Indeed, many of the accents heard around the school still have a British twinge with a distinctly Irish flavour. Headfort is one of a kind and,