Institute of Education 3.17

The Institute of Education was founded in 1969 by Irish applied mathematics school teacher, Raymond Kearns, and is currently one of the largest private secondary schools in Ireland. Unlike most other Irish secondary schools, the Institute only provides tuition for the final two years of the Leaving Certificate, fifth and sixth year, as well as the optional fourth year. Currently the student population stands at 250 for fifth year and 750 for sixth year.ProgrammesBeing a Senior Cycle-only school, The Institute provides several programmes to Leaving Certificate students. Those who wish to study full-time at the school are known as day students and pay standard yearly fees of €7,150. Students may also attend the school's Friday evening and Saturday morning intense tuition course with fees based on the number of subjects taken. Intensive five-day revision courses are also available during normal school holidays at Christmas, Easter, winter mid-term break, in May and August. Study skills seminars available in September. From 2009, the Institute launched Health Professions Admissions Test (HPAT) preparation courses.Self-financingThe Institute is one of very few secondary schools in Ireland that is not funded at least in part by central government through the Department of Education. As a result, the school is not subject to inspections from the Department, is not obliged to follow a certain curriculum and may pay teachers as it wishes, rather than according to the public service wages paid to most teachers in the country. The school is owned by Ray Kearns and family.