Co-EducationalBoarding & DaySecondary School

Church of Ireland Governed HMC

It is my pleasure to welcome you to The King’s Hospital as you seek information about secondary education options for your son or daughter, a critical decision facing all parents as you naturally want the best for your children to meet the challenges of the future.

Ireland’s education system is highly regarded worldwide and as one of the country’s longest-established schools, The King’s Hospital has been to the fore in providing a learning environment in which students can achieve academic excellence appropriate to their ability whilst also developing their spiritual, cultural, creative, sporting and intellectual talents.

The fundamental values of a Christian conscience, a sense of duty and loyalty and a love of learning are actively promoted here. Our reputation has been forged by combining these factors to provide a well-rounded education and a way of life that inspires confidence and a mature independence in every pupil.

Our facilities on an expansive campus are second-to-none and we hope that having read the information in this Prospectus, you will be encouraged to visit us and see in person what The King’s Hospital has to offer you and your family.

John D. Rafter, Headmaster

Welcome from the Headmaster

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The King’s Hospital has been to the fore in providing a learning environment in which students can achieve academic excellence appropriate to their ability

The King’s Hospital is a member school of HMC (the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference), a professional Association of Heads of the world’s leading independent schools, which are noted for quality, innovation and excellence in education.

The Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) is the United Kingdom Association serving and representing member boarding schools, training staff and promoting boarding education in both independent and state boarding schools.

HMC

With a history that pre-dates the American Declaration of Independence and the founding of Australia (to name just two), The King’s Hospital was founded in 1669 as The Hospital and Free School of King Charles II, and as such is one of Ireland’s oldest schools.

Originally a boys’ school based in Dublin’s Queen Street, it was later located for almost two centuries in Blackhall Place in a noted Georgian building that is now the Law Society of Ireland headquarters.

By the start of the 1970s, the School had embraced the co-educational concept with conviction and enthusiasm. It has been one of its outstanding features ever since, as the co-educational character encourages mutual respect as part of the maturing process among students. With a need for more space, the School moved in 1971 to its present 80-acre site in Palmerstown on the banks of the River Liffey and overlooking the West Link Bridge carrying the M50 ring road around the capital.

Today, The King’s Hospital has some 700 students, with 40% boarding from all over Ireland, and a small number from overseas. This lovely cosmopolitan atmosphere, while promoting inclusiveness, is mutually beneficial to our entire school community. Our staff are dedicated to instilling the knowledge and interpersonal skills required to succeed in our Global Economy and Digital Age.

Introduction Mission & EthosThe King’s Hospital is a voluntary, Church of Ireland, co-educational secondary school for boarders and day students, offering a broad academic curriculum and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. It is a Christian school in which the traditions and beliefs of the Church of Ireland inform its policies and practices while those of other faiths are always welcomed.

Core ValuesThe King’s Hospital believes that every child should achieve his or her true potential intellectually and socially, through personal endeavour and the encouragement and support of our staff, parents and governors.Through our academic and pastoral programme, we strive to develop core values of:• A Christian conscience and awareness which enables our students to develop a personal faith in God, to lead fulfilling lives which will enrich the communities in which they live, to uphold the truth and show respect for others as well as for themselves, and to accept responsibility for their own actions.• A sense of duty and loyalty which encourages participation in, and commitment to, every aspect of school life. It requires every member of the community to act in a caring, positive and generous manner.• A love of learning which makes all study a discovery and a joy, and which leads to standards of academic excellence appropriate to each child’s ability.

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Pastoral care at The King’s Hospital is provided by staff members with specific responsibility, who seek to foster the social and emotional well-being of all students, taking into account the particular needs of both boys and girls, and of both day and boarding students.

The School has always instilled such traditional values as participation, reliability and commitment, while staff members encourage growth, trust, positive relationships, self-esteem and personal responsibility among all students.

The School is divided into ten houses - Bluecoat, Blackhall, Desmond, Grace, Ivory, Mercer, Morgan, Ormonde, Stuart and Swift - the Housemasters and Housemistresses acting ‘in loco parentis’ in partnership with parents and guardians.

Together with the Chaplain and Guidance Counsellors, they seek to ensure that students, both individually and collectively within the whole school community, gain a sense of safety and belonging and a regard for self and others. In doing so, they are assisted by prefects, chosen from Forms 5 and 6, and mentors, from Form 5.

BoardingThe King’s Hospital is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading boarding schools, and facilities for those living away from home are constantly upgraded to ensure a comfortable, healthy, welcoming and inclusive environment that is reflective of our ’home-from-home’ philosophy on boarding.

Pastoral Care

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Students, both individually and collectively within the whole school community, gain a sense of safety and belonging and a regard for self and others

The King’s Hospital is a member school of HMC (the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference), a professional Association of Heads of the world’s leading independent schools, which are noted for quality, innovation and excellence in education.

HMC

HealthThe diverse aspects of health education are included in the School’s programme and professional medical personnel care for the students’ health needs. A qualified nurse is always on duty and the Medical Officer - available at short notice - holds a surgery twice weekly.

TraditionsAmong the School’s long-standing traditions are daily assembly in the School Chapel, a robed choir, Sunday Service, the House system, and special occasions such as Charter Day - commemorating the granting of the School’s Charter - when academic prizes are awarded.Other significant occasions include Harvest Festival, Confirmation, Carol Service, Sports Awards Evening, Performing Arts Awards Evening, Sports Day and 6th Year Valedictory Evening. As a Parish within the Church of Ireland community, the School’s daily worship is conducted by the resident Chaplain according to the Anglican rites, while students gain an understanding and respect for all religious persuasions during their time at The King’s Hospital.

CateringExperienced professional caterers attend to the nutritional value and balance of school meals, with a dietician advising on all menus. Students are offered a choice at each meal and vegetarians and those with specific allergies or dietary needs are also catered for, while a self-service system is ideally suited to a busy school environment.

Complete SupportThe supportive atmosphere that exists amongst the whole school community stems from the fact that many of the staff live on the campus, some with their families, and interact with students on an ongoing daily basis.

While many Irish and international students enjoy full-time 7-day boarding, a 5-day boarding option is also available to students domiciled in Ireland.

Self-contained units of six, four and two-bedded rooms - with en-suite bathrooms throughout all age groups - provide privacy and flexibility in the comfortable boarding accommodation. Final year students share twin study-bedrooms in a separate senior building called Bluecoat House.

This sharing encourages self-discipline and self-reliance and develops further the academic and social skills required for their move from secondary school to third level education. The personal interaction between those living on campus reflects all the positive virtues associated with traditional village life.

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The King’s Hospital aims to provide a learning environment in which students can achieve the standards of excellence appropriate to their potential and ability. The spiritual, cultural, creative and intellectual development of each student is highly valued and every aspect of school life is designed to advance this process.

Most students pursue a 6-year course on entering the School, leading first to the Junior Certificate Examination, followed by the Transition Year and finishing with the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students typically take 11 subjects for Junior Certificate and 7-8 subjects for Leaving Certificate. The consistently high level of academic achievement is a reflection of the students’ response to the encouragement of staff and parents. Classes teaching the Department of Education & Skills curriculum take place Monday to Friday each week.

The Saturday Programme offers additional opportunities to support and enhance these classes and also to pursue other educational, cultural and artistic activities. It is an integral part of 7-day boarding and is available to all students should they wish to participate.

The School’s programme addresses two primary objectives - education for living and education to make a living - and it is constantly adapted to meet changing needs, offering a comprehensive and progressive range of subjects, extensive specialist facilities and a highly qualified teaching staff to assist and encourage all students to reach their full potential.

Academic

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The school’s programme addresses two primary objectives - education for living and education to make a living - and it is constantly adapted to reflect change

The Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) is the United Kingdom Association serving and representing member boarding schools, training staff and promoting boarding education in both independent and state boarding schools.

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Subject ChoiceThe wide choice of subjects on offer under various departments includes:

Arts & HumanitiesAccounting S Art, Craft & Design J, S Business Studies J, S CSPE J, S Design & Communication Graphics S Economics S Geography J, S History J, S Music J, S Politics & Society S Religious Education J, S SPHE J Technical Graphics J

ScienceAgricultural Science S Applied Mathematics S Biology S Chemistry S Home Economics J, S Information Technology J Mathematics J, S Physical Education J, S Physics S Science J, S Technology J

LanguagesEnglish J, S French J, S German J, S Irish J, S Spanish J, S

FacilitiesSpecialist facilities such as laboratories, workshops and technical equipment are provided for the tuition of all subjects, with a Language Laboratory and an Apple IT Suite among the outstanding features of the Academic Department.

The Harden Library’s media technology provides access to extensive databases and resources for project work and career information, and a highly-trained and well-equipped Special Needs Department is available for both gifted students and those requiring learning support.

In our dedicated Career Guidance Department, a full-time Counsellor and staff work with each student to identify and encourage their potential future careers and the third-level avenues to achieve their goals. Educational trips are undertaken throughout Ireland and abroad on a regular basis as part of the learning experience.

J (Junior Cycle) denotes subjects that are taught in Forms 1-4. S (Senior Cycle) denotes subjects taught in Forms 5 & 6.

In addition to academic pursuits, The King’s Hospital is renowned for its unrivalled choice of sporting, leisure and cultural activities, a variety that gives confidence and a sense of achievement.

As a positive experience in their personal development, students are encouraged to participate in the School’s diverse extra-curricular activities by joining the various clubs and societies available.

SportsBy providing an extensive range of sporting and leisure activities, the school encourages participation as a positive experience in each student’s personal development. The pursuit of excellence, loyalty and a sense of balance and fair play are central to this approach. The School’s aim is to provide the facilities and opportunities to enable the most talented to achieve the highest standards possible while also making it possible and pleasurable for all to engage in their chosen activities for relaxation and enjoyment.

The outstanding on-campus facilities include:

• Ultra-modern Paterson Sports Hall & Gymnasium (with fully-equipped and computerised fitness centre)• 25-metre indoor heated swimming pool• floodlit, artificial grass hockey pitch• rugby pitches• all-weather hockey pitches• tennis courts

Extra Curricular

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By providing an extensive range of sporting and leisure activities, we encourage participation as a positive experience in each student’s development

The King’s Hospital is a member school of HMC (the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference), a professional Association of Heads of the world’s leading independent schools, which are noted for quality, innovation and excellence in education.

HMC

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Sporting ChoiceThe School provides coaching, training and ample opportunities for such sports as:

• Athletics • Rowing• Badminton • Rugby• Basketball • Soccer• Cricket • Swimming• Cross-Country • Tennis• Hockey

Clubs & SocietiesAn array of recreational activities is covered, with clubs and societies for:

• Arts & Crafts • Model UN & EU• Book Clubs • Philosophy Club• Chess/Scrabble • Photography• Cookery Classes • Pottery• Dance Classes • Public Speaking• Debating - French, • Quiz Teams German & Spanish • Saturday Morning• European Studies Programme• Faith Union • Scifest• First Aid • Self Defence• Fundraising • Spelling Bee• Gasice Awards • Student Council• Gifted Programmes • Volunteering• Hillwalking • Yoga • IT • Young Scientist• Life Saving

while other activities include:

• The Student Council • Charity fund-raising• ‘The Blue Coat’ School Magazine• European Studies• Social Work at nearby Stewart’s Hospital

Music & The ArtsThe King’s Hospital is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading schools in the promotion of Music and the Arts, with a School Play and Musical on alternate years being much-anticipated features of the school calendar.

The extra-curricular facilities provided include the Wilson-Wright Centre for Performing Arts - a 300-seat theatre - and state-of-the-art Music and Speech & Drama practice rooms and recording studio.

Students are encouraged to participate in:

• Clarinet • Keyboard • Recorder• Choirs • Musicals • Saxophone• Drums • Orchestra • Singing• Flute • Organ • Speech & Drama • Guitar • Piano • Trumpet • Jazz Band • Plays • Violin

while theatre and concert trips are a regular feature of school life.

Such is the atmosphere in The King’s Hospital - and the friendships made during their time at the School - that Past Pupils like to remain in touch with the School and their contemporaries.

Relationships first started in School are maintained and further strengthened by joining The King’s Hospital Past Pupils’ Union (KHPPU), a very active body whose members continue to play a role in the School long after they have left secondary education.

A Committee, headed by a President, is elected each year and its primary purpose is to maintain contact with the School and PPU members, through the organisation of social and business gatherings, golf outings, reunion dinners and other events.

In addition to encouraging and facilitating events and gatherings to enable our Alumni to network, the Past Pupils’ Union also actively supports the school and current student activities as well as funding the KHPPU Bursary Fund.

Information on upcoming KHPPU activities can be found on:KHPPU website: www.khppu.comEmail: info@khppu.comKHPPU Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/KHPPUKHPPU LinkedIn group: www.linkedin.com/in/khppuTwitter: @KHPPU

The Past Pupils’ Union - Life after KH

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The Past Pupils’ Union actively supports the school and current student activities as well as funding the KHPPU Bursary Fund

The Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) is the United Kingdom Association serving and representing member boarding schools, training staff and promoting boarding education in both independent and state boarding schools.

We welcome you to contact our Admissions Team at:

khadmissions@thekingshospital.ie Tel: +353 1 643 6564

SKYPE: KH Admissions

The King’s Hospital, Palmerstown, Dublin D20 V256, Ireland.

www.kingshospital.ie