Pastoral

Our bespoke Social and Emotional Learning Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum supports children’s personal development and emotional growth. Our goal is to support every child to become self-aware, socially responsible, and resilient.

Our Behaviour Policy is based on our interdenominational Christian ethos. The key guiding principles for our children are: always treat others as you would like them to treat you, and be kind, polite, and respectful towards others.

In addition to their academic teaching responsibilities, each Form Teacher has primary responsibility for the pastoral welfare of the children in their class. It is the Form Teacher with whom parents make initial contact regarding any concerns that may arise from time to time. The Form Teacher is supported in this role by the Deputy Head, who coordinates all aspects of pastoral care. Whole-school issues such as anti-bullying, safety in school and the community are highlighted regularly in Assemblies, House Meetings and in Form Time.

House System

Every pupil in the Prep Department is enroled in one of four Houses: Edwardes, Pringle, Toone or Collings. The House System fosters a strong sense of community, creating links across and between year groups. Each House is led by a dedicated House Teacher, and all pupils in Form VI serve as House Leaders during their final year at the School. This structure encourages vertical integration, with a mentoring system that enables older pupils to guide and support younger members of their House.

Throughout the year, pupils take part in a variety of interhouse competitions, including events in music and sport, and they also compete for their Houses at Sports Day. House points are awarded for academic achievement, effort, good behaviour, and service to the School. The House with the highest number of points at the end of each term is rewarded with a celebration, and at the end of the school year, the overall House winners and Form VI leavers are invited to a special occasion, the Leavers’ Supper.

Senior Schools

Pupils go on to leading independent and state Senior Schools, and we support parents in making the most appropriate choice of senior school for their child. Pupils from Castle Park regularly go on to:

All-boys schools –
Blackrock College, CBC Monkstown, St Michael’s College and Clongowes Wood College.

All-girls schools –
Rathdown School, Loreto Dalkey and Holy Child Killiney.

Co-educational schools –
St Andrew’s College, St Gerard’s, St Columba’s College and Sandford Park