Headfort is a private Preparatory School 40
miles north of Dublin. Children are educated from the ages of 7 till
13. Most children board for at least some of the week but some go
home every day. The school is housed in a
Georgian
Mansion set on a large estate two
miles outside
Kells
. We are in some ways very similar to a National School and in others
very different. So what goes on at Headfort ?
We spend about five hours a day studying... English, Maths,
French, Science, Latin or Irish, History, Geography, Religion, Fine
Arts, Singing and of course Computing. Class take place in the
mornings and again in the late afternoon. There are eight periods (
or classes, as we call them) every day.
In the early part of the afternoon we are on the
games field where we play...in due
season....Rugby Hockey Cricket...and also Tennis, Basketball, Soccer
, Squash and Rounders. As well as games every afternoon, we have our
own stables and pony riding is a very popular afternoon activity. In
the evenings and also at suitable intervals during the day, we have
Free Time.
We relax with snooker, table tennis, gardening, cooking,
computing, building huts in the woods, reading and various
Cultural Activities . There is almost
limitless outdoor space and a good supply of other children to share
interests and hobbies. We also spend time writing for our various net
projects. We have had contacts with schools in Canada and the US as
well as nearer home. If you'd like to know more about us, have a
glance at this site and then
surf to our larger premises
or make contact as below.
The Headmaster ( W.L.W. Goulding B.A.
H.Dip. Ed.) may be reached by post at
Headfort,
Kells, Co. Meath ................
+353-46-40065 FAX
+353-46-41842
If there's anything we can do for you
(or you have questions about Ireland), please get in touch with us.
We are delighted to hear from schools in other countries.
Work
Class sizes are small, on average 12 , with a maximum generally
of 16. There are specialist teachers for each subject . Children make
their way up the school at their own pace, being promoted when they
are ready. They are prepared for admission to the secondary school of
their parents' choice, either here or abroad.
Subjects
Everyone learns all the subjects from the time of their arrival.
Very young ones do rather more English and Maths and rather less
French, Science and Latin. The emphasis initially is on improving
reading, writing and arithmetic. Once the foundations have been laid,
more periods of Science and the languages are introduced.
Science.
We have a fully-equipped Science laboratory and follow the first
two years of the Nuffield Science course. A good deal of practical
work is involved and all necessary equipment is provided. In the
lower part of the school, there is an introductory Science class once
a week.
Maths
We follow the syllabus for the Common Entrance Examination and
also for Scholarships to Public Schools and Secondary Schools, both
here and in the UK.
English
Great stress is laid on presentation and correct spelling, as
well as creative writing. There is remedial help available for anyone
with problems in that direction. The school produces a magazine twice
yearly in which children's creative writing can be displayed. Spoken
English is also promoted, by means of drama and also public speaking
competitions and occasional debates.
French
French is taught by a native speaker. At first oral French is
taught. As children progress up the school, more written work is
introduced. The Common Entrance examination has an oral section in
which children are required to converse in French and act in
role-play situations.
Latin/Irish
Parents are offered a choice between Latin and Irish at the start
of every year. At present, the proportion runs 2:1 in favour of
Latin.
History
The History course tries to embrace not only Irish History but
also the syllabus demanded by Common Entrance.
Geography
As with History, the Geography course covers not only the
syllabus required by Common Entrance but also a good deal of the
geography of Ireland. Field trips are undertaken to places of
interest and project work features heavily in the senior school.
Religion
We cater for children from any system of beliefs or none. There
is separate instruction for Roman Catholics and Church of Ireland
children. The local clergy assist with teaching and also supplying
the Roman Catholics on holy days.
Computing
The school has a computer room and every child learns computing.
Initially the emphasis is on learning how to operate the computer and
later on children learn to program and how to use word-processing
software.
Art
The school has an Art Room and every child learns Art. There is
also an Art group which meets in Free Time. There is a display of
art, carpentry and pottery on St Patrick's Day, when the
school play is performed.
Music
Everyone has the chance to learn a musical instrument. The most
popular is the piano but many other instruments are available. Drums,
guitar, recorder, clarinet, violin, trumpet, trombone and flute are
all being learned at the moment. There is a musical concert every
summer . The school provides choristers for St Columba's Church of
Ireland Church and, in the past , the choir has broadcast on RTE(
Ireland's national TV service). There are good practice facilities
available in the school. We have seven pianos in the school and a
practice roster ensures that each child has a chance to practise on
most days. In the past we have staged musicals . Every year there is
a Christmas Carol Concert, which parents may attend.
Headfort has a considerable dramatic
tradition. In the Christmas term, we hold public-speaking
competitions, senior and junior, for which children read set and
unseen passages aloud to an assembly of parents and other children.
In the Easter term, culminating in performances around St. Patrick's
Day, the school puts on one or more plays for parents and friends of
the school. For these productions, children not only act but also
fulfil many different roles backstage, as ASM or stage hand or
operating lights and sound systems.
Sport
Rugby is the principal game for boys. The rugby team plays matches
against other prep schools, both in the North and South, and also
against local schools. We host a 7-a-side tournament for all other
Irish Prep schools. The rugby team tours to Scotland every second
year and we often entertain visiting Scottish and English sides.
Girls play hockey and tennis. Tennis coaching is available
for them and they play basketball once a week. Hockey matches are
arranged against girls' teams from other Prep. schools
In The Easter term
Hockey takes over as the principal game. Girls and boys play
together and the school team was captained this year, not for the
first time, by a girl. We had quite a good season. Girls also play
basketball in the Easter term .
In the Summer term.
Cricket is the main summer game. We play matches against other
Prep. schools and Dublin schools. There is a good deal of interest in
the game. The cricket team has toured the South of England and we
entertain visiting sides from the UK. Girls, of course, compete on
equal terms with boys and they may also play rounders, tennis and
basketball. There are basketball matches against nearby schools.
Tennis coaching is available for anyone who wishes and also swimming
lessons. Towards the end of term, we hold a Sports Day and also a
Gymkhana.
In General
Not everyone enjoys team games. At
Headfort there is a wide range of other
activities available for those who do not, from tennis and squash to
gardening, cookery and of course riding. We have our own stables and
a cross-country course, constructed with financial help from parents.
During the week, one may play team games as often as five or even six
times. Non games players may expect to play perhaps once. There is a
semi-official soccer league throughout the year .
FREE TIME
Outdoors
There are about three hours a day of Free
Time. In Free Time we are outside on the playing fields as often as
the weather allows. As well as playing games or practising for them,
there are other amenities.
We have a
skating
rink
for roller-blading or
skate-boarding.
There is a
heated swimming pool (50' by 20')
which is used extensively in the summer, though less so in the other
two terms. There are Cups for swimming, competed for in the
summer.
We have
two rugby pitches, two hockey pitches
and a football pitch, roughly ten
acres in all. At the edges of the pitch, there are roughly 50 acres
of woods. Small huts (forts) are built there from whatever materials
the woods provide. At the back of the school there are two new hard
tennis courts and a large lawn - another play area.
All in all, if the weather is fine, the day
isn't long enough for all that one could do.
The school also owns a walled kitchen
garden. Keen gardeners learn propagation and food production under
the eye of a member of Staff. There are also extensive grounds round
the school, which the children help to maintain.
As well as its own stables and loose boxes,
the school has its own cross-country course for riders, recently
constructed with financial help from parents.
Indoors
There is plenty to do when it rains.
Children have access to 133Mhz PCs, though computer games must wait
for the weekend. There are two table tennis tables, two snooker
tables and a library. We have a squash court and a large gym. The
school has satellite TV, though the amount of time for TV is strictly
limited. There are dedicated rooms for Art, Carpentry and Photography
. All these activities are open to all children at the
school.
Thanks to everyone at Internet-Ireland, especially Marc, and
Microsoft - software, help and courteous advice