Wednesday Letter May 27th 2026

Confirmation 

Congratulations to our wonderful 6th Class boys who received the Gift of the Holy Spirit at their Confirmation yesterday. Turned out proudly in their white shirts, the boys looked absolutely fabulous and represented themselves, their families and Hollypark with great maturity, respect and reverence throughout the ceremony. It was a truly special and memorable occasion for all involved. Thank you to Mr. Molyneux, Mr. McEvoy, Mrs. Regan, Ms. Durning, Ms. Morgan & Mrs. Mc Carrick. 

We extend our sincere thanks to Bishop Donal and Fr. Philip for leading such a beautiful and meaningful celebration. Bishop Donal connected so warmly and naturally with the candidates, making the ceremony engaging, personal and very special for the boys and their families.

A special thank you also to the choir, who helped make the day extra special through their beautiful singing and participation. We are very grateful to Ms. Travers, Ms. Power, and Ronan Murray on the organ for creating such a warm and uplifting atmosphere throughout the ceremony. Finally, thank you to the wonderful Hollypark Banna Ceoil of Tomas, Sean and Oscar, whose musical talents added greatly to the occasion and brought an extra sense of pride and celebration to the proceedings.

SECONDARY SCHOOL SURVEY

As part of our ongoing reflection on the transition from primary to secondary school, I recently asked the parents of our 6th Class pupils to complete a short survey on their preferred secondary school choices for next year. Parents were also invited to provide feedback on their experience of the process and to share any key messages or advice they felt would benefit future families in Hollypark Boys' National School. 

The survey results are attached, and we sincerely thank all parents who took the time to contribute to this important discussion.
 

A quick, reassuring summary for parents

Based on 64 parent responses, this survey provides a reassuring snapshot of the secondary school application process, showing that families have a wide range of options and that most children received offers from all of the schools they applied to.

Key messages

• 64 families completed the survey.
• 76% of families received offers from all schools they applied to.
• 82% applied to more than one school.
• Parents applied to 24 different schools across the survey.
• Final school choices covered 14 different destination schools.
• 94% recorded at least one offer from a school where they had no sibling, past-pupil or family connection.

There is no need to panic. The survey suggests that families who apply to a sensible range of schools have real options. Most children received all the offers they applied for, and offers were also recorded from schools with which families had no connection.

In Summary

The 64 survey responses indicate that children will attend a wide range of secondary schools, reflecting the variety of options available to families.

The most common destination schools are:

Oatlands College — 21 students

CBC Monkstown — 15 students

Blackrock College — 8 students

Clonkeen College — 4 students

Coláiste Eoin — 4 students

Smaller numbers of students will also attend:

St Gerard's School

Gonzaga College

St. Michael's College

St. Conleth's College

St Andrew's College

Sandford Park School

Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School

Overall, the results show that families secured places across at least 14 different secondary schools, reinforcing the message that there are many pathways and options available.

Comments from Parents

The majority of parents described the process as ultimately positive and reassuring, even if it felt stressful at the beginning.

Main themes that emerged in the survey

• “Don’t panic” was the strongest recurring message
  Many parents said the anxiety around secondary school places is far greater than the reality. Several specifically commented that there are plenty of school places available and that children generally end up with good options. 
• Most families received multiple offers
  A large number of parents reported receiving offers from all or most of the schools they applied to — even where they had no prior connection to the school. 
• Parents can safely apply to several schools
  Families repeatedly mentioned that applying broadly helped reduce stress and gave them more confidence and flexibility. 
• Waiting lists often moved significantly
  Parents noted that children moved up waiting lists quickly and received offers. 
• There is pressure in the parent community
  Several comments referred to a culture of fear or hype around secondary school admissions, especially around moving children to fee-paying feeder schools during primary school. 
• Many parents felt moving schools early was unnecessary
  A recurring sentiment was that children did not need to leave Hollypark or another primary school early in order to secure a secondary school place. 
• Stress was highest for first-time parents
  Families going through the process for the first time often described it as confusing or nerve-wracking initially, but said the outcome was much better than expected. 
• Communication and timing frustrations
  Some parents criticised: 
  • short deadlines for accepting offers 
  • non-refundable deposits 
  • lack of transparency around waiting lists 
  • differences between school admissions systems  

Families have many secondary school options available, children often receive multiple offers, and the level of panic surrounding the process is generally not reflected in the actual outcomes parents experience.

We hope this survey helps in future decision-making discussions. 

This week is a special week for these great boys: Seamus Keane, Oisin Walsh, Matthew Daly, Oisin Buckley, David Kearns, Oisin O'Rourke, Roman Geyger, Tom Cunneen, Ross Moran & George Morgan

Have a wonderful celebration, boys! 

Beir bua agus beannacht
 

Principal
27.5.2026