The King's Hospital
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The King's Hospital is a Church of Ireland co-educational fee-paying boarding and day school.
Founded in 1669 it is one of the oldest schools in Ireland and it's located in Palmerstown, Dublin.
Although priority is given to those of the main Protestant tradition, as a Christian school other faiths are welcome.
The school's colours are navy and gold.
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[edit] History
[edit] Founding
One of the oldest boarding schools in Ireland, The King’s Hospital was founded in 1669 as The Hospital and Free School of King Charles II and was based in Dublin’s Queen Street for its first century before moving in 1783 to the noted Georgian building in Blackhall Place which now houses the Incorporated Law Society.
[edit] Morgan's takeover
The take-over of Morgan’s School (1957) contributed to steadily increasing numbers and by 1970, a need for extra space and facilities led to the move from the city centre to a modern purpose-built school set in its own spacious and scenic grounds on the banks of the River Liffey at Palmerstown, County Dublin.
[edit] Palmerstown
Since its opening in 1971, the school has constantly expanded its facilities and the Board of Governors, whose members are all volunteers, oversees a development programme aimed at maintaining the highest standards.
[edit] Traditions
[edit] Charter Day
The annual calendar includes a number of special days and events forming part of the school tradition. The most notable of these is Charter Day when academic prizes are presented on the day commemorating the granting of the School’s Charter in 1671.
[edit] Other traditions
Sports Day, Harvest Festival, Carol Service and Confirmation are other significant occasions to which parents and past pupils are always welcome and there is an open invitation on Sundays to attend worship according to the rites of the Church of Ireland. The robed choir is a particularly important feature.
[edit] Structure
[edit] Co-educational
As a co-educational school catering for some 650 pupils, the majority of whom are boarders, The King’s Hospital attracts students from all over Ireland as well as from overseas, thereby adding to the school’s cosmopolitan appeal.
[edit] Houses
To help nurture a sense of community and homeliness, the School is divided into six houses: Bluecoat, Desmond, Mercer, Morgan, Ormonde and Thomond.
Each has its own resident housemaster or housemistress, responsible for the general welfare of the pupils under his or her care and for monitoring their development.
The dormitory facilities in each house are modern, bright and friendly, while still providing pupils with a sense of privacy. Bluecoat House, with twin-bedded study bedrooms for boarders, is specially designed for final year students, by giving them the opportunity for both self-discipline and self-reliance.
[edit] References
- Falkiner, Frederick Richard (1906). The foundation of the Hospital and Free school of King Charles II., Oxmantown Dublin: commonly called the Blue coat school. Dublin: Sealy, Bryers and Walker.
