LIMERICK schools topped the 2014 Sunday Times guide to Ireland’s 400 best schools with Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ and Glenstal Abbey respectively coming first and second on the list.
Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, a 400-pupil girls’ school on South Circular Road, is the first gaelcholáiste to be named the top secondary school in Ireland since the Sunday Times began publishing the tables in 2003.
It is also the first non fee-paying school at the top of the paper’s league table for ten years, and the first girls’ school to be named the best school in Ireland since 2009.
Laurel Hill Colaiste FCJ has been the top school in Munster (excluding Cork) for four out of the past 11 years.
With an average of 88.7 per cent of its pupils gaining university places over the last three years, it has overtaken boys’ boarding school Glenstal Abbey in Murroe, which was the top school in 2012 and 2013.
Principal Aedín Ní Bhriain told the Limerick Post: “I am delighted; there’s a huge sense of pride in the whole school community. It’s also important for Limerick as it’s our City of Culture year, so it’s another good boost for the city.
“It’s fair to say that we actively encourage ambition, but what’s equally important is our ethos of companionship and strong sense of community.”
Glenstal Abbey sent an average of 88.3 per cent of its students to university between 2011 and 2013.
The 200-pupil boys’ boarding school, which opened its doors to day students in 2012, was the top school in Munster (excluding Cork) for five out of the past 11 years.
Altogether six other Limerick schools were among the top 20 schools in Munster (excluding Cork).
These were: Castletroy College (4th); Crescent College Comprehensive, Dooradoyle (6th); Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh (9th); Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ (11th); Villiers Secondary School (17th) and Ardscoil Rís (18th).
Castletroy College, Crescent College Comprehensive and Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh were also listed among the top 20 mixed schools in Ireland, at 6th, 10th and 16th place respectively.
Glenstal Abbey was named the top boys’ school in the country, with Ardscoil Rís at 18th place, the only other Limerick school making the top 20 boys’ schools.
The Sunday Times Parent Power survey ranks the top 400 secondary schools on the average number of pupils gaining university places over the three years between 2011 and 2013.
