Rathdown School, one of Ireland’s leading fee-paying day and boarding schools, today welcomed boys to its Senior School for the first time.

Almost one third of First Year students commencing the 2023/24 Senior School year will be male, following on from last year’s successful transition to co-education at Junior School level.

Today will be the first time in the school’s 50-year history when the entire school opens its doors to both boys and girls.

“Last year’s move to co-ed in the Junior School was a huge success, and was endorsed as such in a survey conducted this past summer term with our parents. We are all enormously excited to see the co-ed roll-out continue into our Senior School,” said Dermot Dix, Junior School Principal. “There has been unprecedented interest in places in the Senior School resulting in large numbers also joining the Junior School”.

Rathdown came into being in 1973, and Brian Moore, Senior School Principal, said this would be a special year for the school. He said: “It’s a very important year as on the anniversary of our 50th year, we will welcome boys into the senior school for the very first time. This reflects our ethos and vision whereby we aspire to promote progressive and contemporary values that reflect those of modern Ireland. 

“Interest is higher than ever across both genders, with parents telling us that they want a mixture of sexes in classrooms.”

Set within 16 acres in Glenageary, Rathdown welcomes day pupils to its Junior School, while its Senior School offers both a day and boarding option to students from across Ireland and internationally. 

An in-school Open Day will also be held on September 18, with tickets available here.

For further details and to register for both events, visit: www.rathdownschool.ie