Wednesday Letter May 20th 2026
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 results of the survey 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.
NEW MEMBERS WANTED IN GERS'
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Congratulations to our wonderful 2nd Class boys who celebrated their First Holy Communion on Sunday. It was a truly special occasion and we were immensely proud of the boys, who represented themselves, their families and Hollypark Boys' National School with such maturity, respect and reverence throughout the ceremony. Their excellent manners and participation helped create a beautiful and meaningful celebration for everyone in attendance. Well done to the class teachers and SNAs, Ms Fallon, Ms Costello, Mr Lineen, Ms Conroy, & Ms. Byrne.
A sincere thank you to the choir, whose singing added greatly to the atmosphere of the day, and to the teachers Ms Travers, Ms Power and Ms Quealy for all of their preparation, care and dedication in helping the boys prepare for this important milestone. We also extend our thanks to Ms Murray for the beautiful music and accompaniment, which helped create such a warm and prayerful celebration.
Special thanks to Fr. Philip and the parish team for their guidance and support throughout the preparation and ceremony. Finally, we are very grateful to the Parents’ Association and all parent volunteers who kindly organised tea, coffee and delicious treats in the Parish Centre afterwards, allowing families and friends to gather together and celebrate such a memorable day. It was lovely to see both the boys making their First Communion and their classmates coming together in the Parish Centre to celebrate and enjoy the occasion together as a class group.
SERVICE OF LIGHT
Well done also to our 6th Class boys who recently celebrated their beautiful Service of Light ceremony as they continue their preparation for Confirmation next Tuesday. It was a reflective and meaningful ceremony. We wish them every happiness and blessing as they look forward to their Confirmation day.
WSE-MLL Report – One Year On.
This time last year, the Board of Management of St. Patrick’s BNS, Hollypark, was very pleased to share the positive outcomes of our recent Whole-School Evaluation – Management, Leadership and Learning (WSE-MLL). We warmly welcomed the affirmations, commendations, and recommendations outlined in the Department of Education’s report and are encouraged by the many strengths identified across our school community.
The report highlights several key aspects that reflect the daily life and values of our school:
- A positive, welcoming, and collaborative school culture.
- Full compliance with Child Protection and Anti-Bullying procedures.
- Pupils who are confident, enthusiastic, and highly motivated in their learning.
- A wide range of co-curricular activities that enrich the learning experience and promote wellbeing.
- Well-prepared lessons in vibrant, organised classrooms that celebrate pupils’ achievements.
- A nurturing culture of professional expertise and high-quality teaching.
- Strong partnerships between our Special Education Team, pupils, families, and support agencies.
- The principal’s outstanding leadership and the excellent work of our deputy principal & In-School Leadership Team.
- A strong sense of belonging and wellbeing among our pupils.
- Opportunities for pupil voice and leadership throughout the school.
- An embedded and effective approach to school self-evaluation.
- The valuable and continued support of our Parents’ Association and Board of Management.
We were especially proud of the recognition given to the quality of teaching and learning, the exemplary standard of our learning environment, and the commitment of our staff to the highest professional standards. The report commends our pupils as engaged learners who take immense pride in their school, something we value deeply.
The Board thanked all members of the school community—staff, pupils, parents, and volunteers—for their ongoing dedication, support, and partnership. We remain committed to continuing our journey of excellence and growth and ensuring that Hollypark remains a place where every child can thrive.
Click the link below to read the full report.
DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME IN HOLLYPARK
Hollypark is the first school in Ireland to install a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) machine on-site! In partnership with Zeeko Technology at UCD, we are collecting plastic bottles and cans that carry the official return label. Every item recycled through our machine earns credit towards much-needed laptops and Chromebooks for our school. This initiative not only promotes sustainability and environmental awareness among our pupils but also directly supports digital learning. Well done to everyone involved in bringing this innovative project to life! Our pupil voice and green schools committee will lead the initiative. Our student council is particularly interested in the 2nd and 6th classes after the Communion/ Confirmation parties!
STANDARDISED TESTING MAY 2026
Standardised testing will begin in May for classes 2nd- 6th as per the Department of Education’s recent circular to schools. 2nd -6th will have tests in spelling, reading and maths.
1st classes will only have the spelling test, as whole-class standardised testing in 1st is not recommended.
These tests are just one method of assessing a pupil’s performance, and we know that it is just a snapshot on a particular day that can be affected by numerous circumstances.
Standardised tests give us information to guide our teaching and learning for the next academic year. It also helps us to identify pupils who may benefit from additional support.
For further information, please check out this link on the NCCA website.
understanding-standardscores_eng.pdf (ncca.ie)
Annette Lynch (Deputy Principal & SEN Coordinator)
STARS OF THE FUTURE
Congratulations to Cian, 3rd class, who won The Hackett Cup for St. Joseph's last weekend. Cian was their goalkeeper and had an outstanding performance in the final. Well done, Cian!
GRANADA FOOTBALL CLUB
A huge well done to all the Granada players of the year and merit winners from last weekend. I have a selection of the boys attached. I was inundated with photos this week!
And huge congratulations to Oisín who recently received another Distinction in his Grade 3 Saxophone exam.
Sandyford Youth Band
The Sandyford Youth Band has its end-of-year concert this Sunday, 24th May @7pm in the Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School. It’s a good opportunity to see performances from the grassroots recorder group, and how they progress on to the Junior and Youth Bands. Tickets are €5 each, and kids go free.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
This week and last week are very special weeks for these boys: Bodhi Bleyendaal, Jack Keegan, Cole Doolin, James Hart, Matthew Smyth, Luca O' Sullivan, Daire Buckley, Luca Fox, Tomas Carron, William Poletti, Joseph Flood, Oscar Smith, Thomas Kane, Stephen Rourke, Theo Dunne & Max Gawthorpe.
We wish you a wonderful celebration boys.
Beir bua agus beannacht,
20.5.2026
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