Guides

Plain-English answers about Irish secondary schools, checked against official sources.

• How secondary school admissions work in IrelandWhen secondary schools can open applications, what the admission notice must tell you, what schools can't ask, how places are decided when a school is full, and how to appeal.
• How to choose a secondary school: a practical checklistWhat to compare when choosing a secondary school in Ireland: distance, size, ethos, Irish, subjects, Transition Year, supports, costs, inspection reports, and what league tables really measure.
• What to ask at a secondary school open nightThe questions worth asking at a secondary school open night or open day, grouped by topic: admissions, Transition Year, subjects, supports, costs, phones, homework and activities.
• Fee-paying or free secondary school: what you're paying forHow fee-paying secondary schools work in Ireland, what the State still pays for, typical fees, and what you give up, like free schoolbooks.
• Gaelcholáistí: Irish-medium secondary schools explainedHow Irish-medium secondary schools work, whether your child needs to have gone to a gaelscoil, how admissions priority works, exemptions from Irish, and bonus marks for answering through Irish.
• What DEIS means for a secondary schoolDEIS explained for secondary schools: how schools are chosen, the extra supports they get, the new DEIS Plus, and why DEIS says nothing about teaching quality.
• Types of secondary school in Ireland explainedVoluntary secondary schools, ETB community colleges, community schools and comprehensive schools: who runs them, their ethos, and what the differences mean for your family.
• Secondary school costs and the help available (2026/27)Free schoolbooks, voluntary contributions, devices, school transport, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and State exam fees for secondary school families.