The Academic Program is designed for students to learn English amongst his or her peers at school every day, and at home with their host family. Students attend secondary school Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. At school, they also have the opportunity to participate in the huge variety of extra-curricular and sports activities Irish schools provide to students. The weekends are dedicated to spending time with host families, who are carefully selected by us. Students also join local clubs and participate in activities and hobbies at the weekends. Brochures for the Academic Year 2024/24 for (a) our centres throughout Ireland and (b) Dublin, can be viewed below.
WHAT WE DO...
- After completion of an initial student application form and consultation with the agency, family and the student, we recommend the best school for your child.
- We provide an overall price which will include placement service, school fees, host family accommodation, airport transfers for the initial arrival and the final departure.
- Finally, a comprehensive guardianship service will be provided; international students require a guardian approved by the school under Irish law.
- The guardianship service provides the following services: for day students, whether public or private, we place your student in a carefully selected and trusted host family, known to us and close to the location of the chosen school. For Boarding students, during mid- term breaks or other school closures, we can provide host family accommodation for the student.
- During the all important first weeks, we meet with the students to ensure that they settle in well to their new cultural environment.
- Thereafter we conduct regular visits to check progress and issue progress reports to the parents.
- We meet the student on arrival at Dublin airport and transport him/her to their host family or Boarding School.
- We provide academic progress reports throughout the academic year.
- We maintain close liaison with School Principal, Deputy Principal and Senior Leadership Staff of School.
- For Non EU students we liaise with the INIS (Irish National Immigration Services) and assist with visas and IRP (Irish Residence Permit) card. This can be a lengthy and arduous process involving a lot of paper work and includes bringing the student into the immigration office in Dublin for personal registration.
- We provide 24/7 emergency mobile phone contact for the student, the school, the guardian, the host family and the parents.
- We organize private airport transfers for the student at half term and school holidays.
- At the end of the school year, we provide assistance with convalidation with the appropriate educational system.
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(a) Vartry Academic Year Camp Brochure 2024/25 - Our centres throughout Ireland (except Dublin)
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(b) Vartry Academic Year Camp Brochure 2024/25 - Dublin
Itineraries and Activities
Kingscourt, Co. Cavan
Colasite Dun an Rí, Kingscourt, Cavan – Co-Ed
With a population of 3,000 people, Kingscourt is an idyllic location for academic programs. 90 minutes from Dublin, the town established itself around Cabra Castle and the beautiful Dun an Rí forest. Pupils enjoy the ability to walk to town or school from their host family residence. The secondary school is in the heart of the town. It is a brand new, state of the art building. The school is co-educational and currently has 650 pupils enrolled in it. The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities and sports. Pupils join local football and basketball teams outside of school teams, whilst others attend martial arts classes, or take music lessons in guitar and piano. Older pupils can enjoy a weekend trip to Dublin or Belfast city. There is plenty to do. Sports to do include basketball, soccer, GAA sports.
Graignamanagh & Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny
Scoil Aireagail Ballyhale, Kilkenny – Co-Ed
Duiske College Graignamanagh, Kilkenny – Co-Ed
With populations of roughly 1,500, Graignamanagh and Ballyhale are the quintessential Irish town. They are 25 minutes apart from each other by car. Located on the beautiful, lush River Barrow; Graignamanagh developed around the 12th century monastery that still stands as the focal point of the town. Graignamanagh and Ballyhale are a 90 minute journey from Dublin Airport. Duiske College is a co-educational school with 150 pupils currently enrolled. Scoil Aireagail is also co-educational and has a pupil enrolment of 200. Pupils enjoy the ability to walk to town or school from their host family residence or be dropped to school by the host family in the car. The schools have a variety of extra-curricular activities and there are also sports clubs pupils can join outside of school. Kilkenny City is accessible by bus for older pupils too. The bus takes 40 minutes and is a nice activity for students to do at the weekends. Both centres have cafes and restaurants for students to have a treat. Sports to do include soccer, GAA sports.
Dublin City
Our Ladys Grove – All Girls
- Sports include hockey, netball, basketball.
- view website
Marian College – All Boys
- Sports include basketball, soccer, GAA.
- view website
Dublin City with a population of 1.2 million, is the capital city of Ireland. First founded by the Vikings over 1,000 years ago, it still holds onto its medieval influences. Laterly, the architectural
influence of Britain’s finest Georgian architects left an indelible and historically rich city. Vartry School of English operates in 2 centres in Dublin. The first, Our Ladys Grove in Goatstown, is an all-girls
school with 290 pupils enrolled. And secondly, Marian College, an all-boys school located in the Embassy centre of Dublin, Ballsbridge. It has a pupil enrolment of 320.
Ballysadare, Co. Sligo
Saint Marys, Ballysadare – Co-Ed
Ballysadare is located in the west of Ireland in the picturesque natural beauty of Co. Sligo. Known as Yeats’ county, it was the literary giants inspiration for his world renowned poetry. Ballysadare is located on the site of 4 rivers and is well known in Ireland for its fishing and kayaking as a result, with a population of 1,500 and just 7km from Sligo Town which has a population of 20,000 people. The school is co-educational and has a pupil enrolment of 200 pupils. Ballysadare is 2 hours and 30 minutes from Dublin airport and once there you are surrounded by the natural beauty of the west of Ireland and the Atlantic Ocean. Located just outside the town of Sligo, 15 minutes by bus, students are free to travel at the weekends into town for a trip to the cinema or a café. The proximity to Sligo town opens up many opportunities to participate in activities from dance, martial arts, art, music lessons; there are many different sports clubs including the Sligo Rowing Club which uses the spectacular estuary into the Atlantic Ocean and the Sligo Horse Riding Centre.
Co. Wicklow
Wicklow Educate Together – Co-Ed
Wicklow Town is at the heart of the garden of Ireland. With a population of 10,000, its location south of the Glen of the Downs valley and on the coast makes it a truly wonderful location. The town is 60 minutes from Dublin Airport and is well connected to Dublin City by train and bus. Pupils’ homes are located within easy walking distance to school and to the town itself, so they can enjoy all of Wicklow’s amenities easily. With a local tennis club, football club, GAA club, swimming pool and gym, to name but a few of the amenities available to pupils, there is plenty on offer. The secondary school is located in the heart of the town and is an iPad school with a wide-ranging and varied curriculum.
Co. Westmeath
Castlepollard Community School – Co-Ed
With a population of 1,200 people, Castlepollard is a quaint, picturesque town set in the lush, green countryside of the beautiful county of Westmeath. Castlepollard Community School is a co-educational with a pupil enrolment of 320 pupils. The state of the art new-build school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Pupils enjoy the ability to walk to town or school from their host family residence or be dropped to school by the host family in the car. Castlepollard is a 2 hour drive from Dublin Airport, older pupils can avail of the local train station to visit Dublin City. Sports include basketball, soccer and GAA.
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