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a journey like no other

a journey like no other

ST. COLUMBA'S COLLEGE

ST. COLUMBA'S COLLEGE

DUBLIN, IRELAND

DUBLIN, IRELAND

ST. COLUMBA'S COLLEGE

ST. COLUMBA'S COLLEGE

e-learning portal

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Welcome

At St. Columba’s College, set in the Dublin Hills and overlooking the city, we are committed to the all-round development of each of our pupils. We strive for them to reach their full academic potential, but we know that a true education is about far more than what goes on in the exam hall. As a 7 day boarding school, we believe strongly in nurturing a strong sense of community and developing the talents and interests of every child, with our imaginative and busy programme. Growing up should be an exciting and enjoyable journey of discovery. You are invited to come along for the adventure!

Please use our ‘Explore’ menu above to find out more information on all aspects of College life or contact us with any enquiries. Read the Warden’s welcome here.

Columban Values

The pupils and staff of the College have adopted the following 5 principles that we think best sum up the ethos and values for which Columbans should strive: kindness, compassion, inclusion, responsibility & determination.

Click here to find out more

Warden’s Welcome

Within the Irish context St. Columba’s College is a unique institution, a Church of Ireland foundation offering full-time, seven days a week boarding, with an increasing number of day students. We pride ourselves on the exceptional quality of pastoral care that we provide and which we believe is up there with the very best boarding schools in the world.

On top of that we aim to produce the best Leaving Certificate results in the whole country, as well as running a full and busy programme of cultural and sporting activities. Many of our dedicated staff reside on the beautiful site, giving round the clock care and ensuring that the children are happy and safe at all times.

A school is far more than its academic or sporting results and all that we do here is within a context that encourages and nurtures the spiritual development of all our children. An outsider might raise an eyebrow at our gowned pupils and our daily chapel services, which may seem archaic in these times, but the truth is that we look to combine our deep sense of tradition with a pursuit of excellence in preparing our young people for success at the top universities and beyond, through a very modern and forward looking education. Personally I think we get the balance just right.

I became Warden of St. Columba’s in September 2016, having taught in and led boarding schools in the UK and South Africa. It is a great challenge to lead this great school into its next phase of development, as we seek to benchmark ourselves not just against other top schools in Ireland, but against the very best schools that can be found anywhere.

If you would like to visit us and see what is so special about the school on the hill overlooking Dublin then I would be delighted to welcome you.

Mark Boobbyer, Warden, St. Columba’s College.

Visit the Warden’s Blog here.

Senior Prefect’s Welcome

I am welcoming you to St Columba’s College in unprecedented times. We return to an altered reality, where rules and social interaction are different. As Coronavirus infiltrates our lives, this is a time for us to stay close together as a school, as colleagues and as friends. As a group, we need to be united and be attentive to each other, and especially to the vulnerable amongst us and to our extended families and the wider community.

The coronavirus will continue to impact on our lives, but we should keep in mind that the problems and issues we grappled with before lockdown have not gone away, in fact, most have been exacerbated. Every day more people slip into poverty, our planet continues to get sicker and our society is becoming more divided.

Here at St Columba’s, I believe we can make a difference, and we should all welcome the recent external review of racism as the first step towards positive change. I hope you will all join me in making a commitment to embrace the changes proposed in this review, but also to go further and to stand up against all forms of discrimination and prejudice. Let us do this with open hearts and a willingness to see what we can do individually, and as a community, to make Columba’s a place we are proud to call our school, and a microcosm of the world we want to live in.

This year, more than any other, it’s imperative at St Columba’s that we are kind to each other, that we are inclusive, that we value and enjoy each other’s company and make the most of the year ahead.

St Columba’s in 2020 can be a school at the forefront of change in Ireland, and I am very proud to be invited to lead you on this exciting journey.

Éile Ní Chíanáin, Senior Prefect 2020 / 2021



News & Events

Latest News

Trinity Term Sports News

The annual Sports Day is for many the highlight of the year.…
June 18, 2021/by sccdublin

Transition Year News

Transition Year is like no other year in the Irish education…
June 18, 2021/by sccdublin

Prefects 2021 / 2022

Congratulations to the fifteen Form V pupils who have been appointed…
June 17, 2021/by sccdublin

Warden’s St Columba’s Day ‘Speech’

From the Warden:

16th June 2021

This is what I would have…
June 16, 2021/by sccdublin

Gaisce Awards 2021

Gaisce (meaning "great achievement"), The President's Award,…
June 16, 2021/by sccdublin

Subject Prizes

Congratulations to the winners of the 2020-21 subject prizes,…
June 15, 2021/by sccdublin

Waiting for Godot

As a small sign that things may slowly be returning to 'normal',…
June 6, 2021/by sccdublin

Leadership Awards 2021

Effective schools value, encourage and listen to the voice of…
June 4, 2021/by sccdublin

Form Prizes 2020-21

FORM PRIZES 2020-21: congratulations to the winners-

• First…
June 1, 2021/by sccdublin
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Media Gallery

Explore our video series and photo galleries to discover more about life in St. Columba’s College.


A Brief Introduction


Academic ExcellenceArtistic ExpressionWonderful CampusSporting EndeavourSkilled TeachersCaring EnvironmentQuality BoardingAdmissions Status

St. Columba’s College provide our pupils with a wide variety of subjects, taught by experienced and dedicated teachers. Class sizes are very small (average of 14) which allows for greater depth of treatment and consolidation of learning. Our pupils have a proud history of academic achievement, both in the Junior & Leaving Certificate (Ireland’s state examinations) but also at third level. The average Leaving Certificate points score in 2019 was 474, with a five year average of 465 – among the very best in the country.

Click here to find out more about the academic structure in St. Columba’s College.

It is our strong belief that allowing our pupils express themselves artistically contributes greatly to their personal development. There is a strong tradition of participation in the arts – through drama, music, painting, photography, crafts, choir, debate and much more. There are, on average, a dozen plays performed each year, over 30 musical performances or concerts and an emphasis on bringing artistic endeavour into all academic subjects. Music, art, drama or public speaking do not detract from academic performance – they enhance it!

To find out more about our co-curricular programme click here.

Our stunning campus, set on 140 acres on the foot of the Dublin mountains and overlooking the city, is a tranquil yet vibrant learning space. Beautiful gardens, architecturally significant buildings, well maintained playing fields, acres of park land and excellent facilities all contribute to an exceptional learning environment.

Explore our campus here using our interactive campus map or view our aerial campus video on the left.

An active body complements an active mind and our extensive sports programme ensures our pupils are balanced in their approach to academic work. At St. Columba’s College there are six days of compulsory sport for all pupils. Rugby, hockey, athletics, cricket, tennis and basketball are the main team sports on offer but pupils also can participate in football, archery, polo-crosse, badminton, volleyball and much more.

Click here for further information on our sports programme at St. Columba’s.

Highly qualified and dedicated teachers ensure the quality of tuition at St. Columba’s College is second to none. Uniquely, the vast majority of our teachers live on campus and make themselves available to their pupils in the evenings and weekends. Most teachers participate in the school’s sporting programme as well as our extensive extra-curricular programme. In addition, our teachers are also involved in the boarding structures of the College, contributing to excellent pupil / teacher relationships.

Explore all the teaching and support staff in the College here.

The pastoral care structures within St. Columba’s College are extensive and provide our pupils with a home away from home. Central to our philosophy is our boarding house structures with each pupil being assigned to a house – even day pupils. Each house has a Housemaster, an Assistant Housemaster and a team of House Tutors, who together provide pupils with the academic and personal support. The house system is complemented by our Matron and her team of nurses, who provide the medical care for pupils, as well as the school counsellor and the Cúram Team (our pastoral care committee).

Click here to find out more about the boarding and pastoral structures in the College.

Over 80% of our pupils board in our traditional yet modern and comfortable boarding houses. There are seven boarding houses (Glen, Gwynn, Stackallan, Tibradden, Hollypark, Iona & Beresford), each with an assigned Housemaster or Housemistress, Assistant Housemaster (or Housemistress) and a team of House Tutors. Every house has a friendly atmosphere but a unique personality and spirit. Day pupils are assigned to a boarding house and are encouraged to take part in inter-house activities.

To find out more about boarding at St. Columba’s click here.

Unfortunately, there are no more Day Pupil spaces available for September 2021, and the waiting list is now closed, but there are some limited boarding spaces available. Contact admissions@stcolumbas.ie to reserve a place or find out more information.

Please note: Following the introduction of the Admissions Act 2018 schools are no longer able to accept applications for day places until October 1st in the year preceding the year of entry.  Applications for boarding places may be made a year earlier.

To find out more about our admissions process click here.