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13 Dec 2025

Newbridge mum worried about no secondary school place for daughter

Elizabeth Bartholomew

Reporter:

Senan Hogan

09 Aug 2016 7:39 AM

Newbridge mother Elizabeth Bartholomew can't find a secondary school place for her daughter despite five secondary schools within a 10-minute drive.
Eldest child Katherine (11) is due to start first year in 2018 and has no guarantee of a school place, according to Elizabeth.
She said that almost all of the secondary schools nearby are either oversubscribed or unavailable on the basis of their admissions criteria.
Elizabeth told The Irish Times: “It seems bizarre that there is no guarantee of a school place locally given the size of the population.”
Katherine currently attends Newbridge Educate Together primary school but her preference is to attend the Cross & Passion College in nearby Kilcullen, where many of her school-friends are due to go.
However, Elizabeth says her daughter is likely to languish towards the bottom of the waiting list due its admissions policy.
“We don’t live in Kilcullen, we’re not Catholic and she’s the first of the family. All I know is that we will be well down the list."“It’s very disappointing and very stressful. It’s also tough on my daughter who keeps asking where she’ll be going to school.
“When I was younger, there was no problem getting a school place. We just never thought about it. Now, it’s a big worry for all the family.”

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