Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School
School Details
Location
About
Ranelagh Multi‑Denominational School (RMDS) is an independent primary school situated on Ranelagh Road, Dublin 6, operating under the Educate Together umbrella while retaining its own patron. The school provides co‑educational, democratically run education for children from junior infants to sixth class, guided by four core principles: co‑educational learning, democratic governance, inclusive practice and a collaborative team approach. Its ethos promotes equal respect for all, regardless of age, gender, religion, cultural background or ability, and encourages active community involvement, parental partnership and a willingness to incorporate expertise from outside the teaching staff. The campus comprises a purpose‑built building opened in 1998, an 2007 extension adding two teaching rooms, a multi‑purpose space (An Seomra Spraoi), a meeting room, enhanced office facilities and a staffroom. A dedicated Sensory Room (2020) supports pupils with specific sensory needs, and the school hall is available for community hire. RMDS also offers a range of extra‑curricular activities, including a forest school, and provides on‑site child‑care facilities, reflecting its commitment to holistic learning and living together in the world.
History
The school originated from a parent‑led initiative in May 1988 when St Columba’s Church of Ireland National School faced closure. Parents formed the Ranelagh Multi‑Denominational School Association to become the patron, securing the site and negotiating provisional recognition from the Department of Education in December 1989, back‑dated to September 1988. Initially operating in temporary prefabricated structures, the school moved into a new purpose‑built building in September 1998 after a phased building programme. An extension completed in September 2007 added further teaching spaces and facilities, and a Sensory Room was introduced in 2020 to support diverse learning needs.