Co. Dublin will be welcoming Ireland's most expensive school in September.
The Nord Anglia International School in Sandyford will educate Irish and international students from ages three to 15, the Irish Independent reports. The school will offer the International Baccalaureate (IB), a globally recognised qualification.
Fees will range between €15,900 and €24,000, but Nord Anglia's principal, Paul Crute, says the high price tag is worth it.
"The fees are eye-catching," Paul admitted to Sean O'Rourke on RTÉ Radio One, "But you can't compare the school to any school you've got in Ireland currently. There's only 200 schools on the planet that will offer the curriculum that this school is offering.
"It'll be the first all-through international (school) but it will offer the three stages of the International Baccalaureate. It will have bespoke collaborations with some of the world's best universities who've helped design the curriculum such as Juilliard and MIT. It's going to be a ground-breaking exercise."
Welcome to Finals day the Global Games! There is excitement in the air as students cheer on their classmates. Those not competing today will likely be found in the Olympic Village where fun is everywhere! #NAEGlobalGames #GlobalGamesNA @METSchoolPanama @BISBoston pic.twitter.com/i5XPhj60Ai
— NordAnglia Education (@NAEducation) December 1, 2017
Nord Anglia Education operates schools in 24 countries, educating over 49,000 students between the ages of two and 18. Paul said that Nord Anglia is 'the world's biggest provider of world-class international schools'.
The principal said that it's high time that Dublin has a school like Nord Anglia.
"They tend to move into places and cities where they see a perceived need. Dublin is an exciting place to be. It's one of the only cities in the world that doesn't have a full top-to-toe international school for kids aged between three and 18.
"We're hoping the school will help sell Ireland to international companies wanting to relocate."
Nord Anglia primarily appeals to parents who often have to move for their job. Even if they relocate across the world, their child can attend a Nord Anglia school and have a relatively smooth transition curriculum-wise.
Fun with science for Year 5 and 6 at @LCISchool! Hands-on learning about Planet Mars @NAEducation #beambitious #lcislife #Switzerland #aubonne #internationalschool pic.twitter.com/uaBhJqa6Vy
— LCIS (@LCISchool) December 6, 2017
"Parents are looking for a school that they can stay for three or four years and then pick up the same curriculum in another country. You can pick up where you left off. There are 4,000 international schools across the world," Paul noted.
As far as curriculum goes, the school will make Irish an optional subject. Paul described the teaching programme as very personalised, with the teacher-pupil ratio being one to 20.
He also said that the Department of Education will not be evaluating the school, as Nord Anglia does not rely on public funding.
"We're totally independent. We will be accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organisation. They don't just let anyone deliver it. There are huge quality assurances," he stated.
The development of the school's campus near Leopardstown Park Hospital begins this month.
