Irish schools explained: patronage, exemptions from Irish and the Leaving Cert

Irish schools will feel familiar in some ways and very different in others. The big surprises for British parents are who runs the schools, the Irish language and the Leaving Cert.

The short version

• Children usually start primary ("national") school at 4 or 5 in junior infants, and must be in education from 6 to 16 [1][2].
• Every school has a patron. In 2025 more than 88% of primary schools had a Catholic patron and only 5.5% were multi-denominational [2].
• Irish is compulsory, but children who arrive from abroad aged 12 or over, after three years' schooling outside Ireland, can get an exemption [3].
• Secondary school ends with the two-year Leaving Certificate, usually in seven subjects, which feeds the CAO points system for university [4].
• Primary schools take applications from 1 October for the following September, so start early [2].

Pound conversions use the Bank of England spot rate of 5 November 2026 (£1 = EUR 1.20).

How the system is laid out

Primary school lasts eight years, from junior infants to sixth class [1]. Children move to post-primary (secondary) school at about 12, a year later than in England and Wales. The UK equivalents are only a rough guide, so the principal will help decide which class a child joins [1].

The school year starts in the week of 1 September, and primary schools are open at least 183 days a year, closing for July and August [1]. The summer holiday is longer than back home, which working parents should factor in.

State-funded, voluntary contributions and uniforms

Most schools are State-funded with no fees, though many ask for a "voluntary contribution" [2]. Most children wear a uniform, but some multi-denominational Educate Together schools don't [1]. There's a small private sector at primary level [2], and some secondary schools charge fees too.

Patronage: why most schools are religious

This is the big one. In Ireland every primary school has a patron, who sets its ethos and appoints the board of management [2]. The patron of a Catholic school is usually the bishop, with the parish priest acting for him; Educate Together is patron of its own schools; and the local Education and Training Board runs Community National Schools [2].

Source: Citizens Information, Choosing a primary school [2].

Does religion affect getting a place?

Mostly not any more. Schools can't refuse a child a place because of religion, with one exception: an oversubscribed school with the ethos of a minority religion (under 10% of the population) can prioritise children of that faith [2]. That covers, for example, some Church of Ireland schools, which are popular with Protestant British families.

If your child goes to a Catholic school and you'd rather they didn't take part in religious instruction, you can opt out. The school must make other arrangements, but what your child actually does is up to the school, and it may simply be different work in the same classroom [2]. Ask exactly what happens before you accept a place, especially in the year of First Holy Communion, when preparation can dominate the class.

Multi-denominational places are in heavy demand in Dublin, so if that's what you want, apply as soon as applications open. Use the Department of Education and Youth's Find a School tool to filter schools by ethos, language and gender [2].

Irish and the exemption

Irish (Gaeilge) is taught in every school, and it's one of the Leaving Cert subjects most students must take [4]. Some schools, the Gaelscoileanna, teach the whole curriculum through Irish [2].

If your child arrives from the UK at primary age, they'll usually learn Irish like everyone else. Younger children tend to pick it up surprisingly fast. Older arrivals can apply for an exemption under Department of Education Circular 0054/2022 for primary schools, or Circular 0055/2022 for post-primary schools [3][5].

Who qualifies as "moving from abroad"

At primary level, a pupil coming from abroad can be exempted if they [3]:

• spent at least three consecutive years in education outside Ireland with no chance to study Irish, and
• are 12 or older on the day they enrol, or are enrolling after finishing a full primary education in another country.

Other grounds include significant literacy difficulties, a high level of multiple needs, a background in a special school or class, and parents who are diplomats [3]. Outside these grounds, pupils are normally expected to keep studying Irish until at least fifth or sixth class [3].

How to apply

1. Write to the principal, who makes the decision after talking to you, the teachers and your child [3].
2. Confirm the ground you're relying on, such as moving from abroad. If it isn't confirmed, the application is void [3].
3. Get a decision in writing within 21 school days [3].
4. Keep the Certificate of Exemption. An exemption granted at primary can carry on through secondary, but you must give the certificate to the new school yourself [3].
5. Appeal if refused to the Irish Exemptions Appeals Committee within 30 calendar days, using the form on gov.ie [3].

One thing to think about: some universities have traditionally required Irish for entry, and accept a school exemption instead. If your child might apply to them, keep the certificate safe and check each university's entry rules.

The Leaving Certificate

The Leaving Cert is the exam at the end of the two-year Senior Cycle. Most students take the established Leaving Certificate, usually in seven subjects, each at Higher or Ordinary level, and Irish is one of them unless your child is exempt [4]. Irish and Maths can also be taken at Foundation level [4].

How it differs from A levels:

• Breadth. Seven subjects instead of three or four, usually including English, Irish and Maths.
• Grades. Results run from H1 (90–100%) down to H8 at Higher level, and O1 to O8 at Ordinary level [4].
• University entry. The CAO counts the best six results as points, as our guide to university fees for Brits explains.
• Reform. Subjects are being redeveloped in phases to include Additional Assessment Components such as projects and practical work, worth at least 40% of the marks. By September 2026 the revised subjects included Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Business, and all subjects are expected to follow by 2029–2030 [4].
• Cost. In 2026 there was an exam fee of €116 (about £97) for each school-based candidate [4].

Results for 2026 came out on 21 August 2026 [4]. If your child is mid-way through GCSEs or A levels when you move, think hard about timing. Joining at the start of fifth year (the first year of the Leaving Cert course) gives a child the full two years; joining in sixth year is tough. Some families keep a child in the UK system through an international or online school instead. Our guide to schools in Dublin covers the options.

Your first steps

1. Check the FCDO's Living in Ireland guide, which reminds you that all children aged 6 to 16 must attend school or be home-schooled [6].
2. Shortlist schools using Find a School and read each school's admissions policy and annual admissions notice [2].
3. Bring school reports from the UK, so the principal can place your child in the right class [1].
4. Ask about Irish exemptions and English language support at your first meeting if your child is older.

Swapping school tips with other British parents helps no end; our community group for Brits in Ireland is a good place to start.

Sources

1. Citizens Information: Starting primary school for the first time (edited 17 June 2026)
2. Citizens Information: Choosing a primary school (edited 28 May 2026)
3. Department of Education Circular 0054/2022: Exemptions from the study of Irish (primary), via INTO
4. Citizens Information: Leaving Certificate (edited 24 September 2026)
5. gov.ie: Exemptions from the study of Irish – post-primary (Circular 0055/2022)
6. GOV.UK (FCDO): Living in Ireland

Keep reading

• Schools in Dublin
• University in Ireland or the UK: fees for Brits
• Moving to Dublin as a Brit
• Moving abroad checklist for Brits