Kildare Place National School

Kildare Place National School (KPNS) is a Church of Ireland primary school in Rathmines, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland [http://www.dublin.ie/disp_list.aspx?catId=57&letter=K&noOfPages=19#] . The school is linked to the training college of the Church of Ireland College of Education [http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0453/D.0453.199505300066.html] .The Principal is Hazel Allen.Fact|date=June 2007

The Kildare Place School blog is located at http://www.kildareplace.ie/

School History

The Kildare Place Society was founded in 1811 by a group of philanthropic men in Dublin. Its proper name was The Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in Ireland, but it became popularly known as the Kildare Place Society from the location of its office and schools in the city. The Society was non-denominational and its aim was to provide support for schools, to train teachers, and to publish suitable textbooks.

The Kildare Place Model Schools were opened in 1819 along side the Society's Teacher Training Institution and their purpose was to exhibit the best educational practice and provide the trainee teachers with experience of such. There were three model schools: one for infants, one for girls and a third for boys. The schools grew to become an important institution in the city, offering a high standard of education. They were based on the new pioneer monitorial system of Joseph Lancaster. Each school consisted of one long room, fitted with fixed bench desks where the pupils learnt to write, first on slates and later in copybooks. Reading was conducted in small 'drafts', standing along the walls, and a rigid formal discipline was maintained. Under the monitorial system the teacher taught the monitors who were senior pupils and the monitors taught the younger pupils, so large numbers could be accommodated at the same time.

In 1884, when the Church of Ireland Training College was established, it took over the premises in Kildare Place. The Model Schools were retained and the trainee teachers continued to undertake their teaching practice there. This arrangement lasted until the 1930s when the College students began to go to other national schools in the city for teaching practice as well as to the Model Schools. In 1969, when the Church of Ireland College of Education moved to the Rathmines site, a new Kildare Place school was built and the name retained. The school continues to provide a high standard of education and to play an important role in the life of the College and the community.