The new board of management are delighted to announce Headfort School will reopen on September 7th 2020.

As you may know Headfort School in Kells, Co. Meath closed suddenly last March due to financial challenges which were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and liquidators were appointed in May.

The 70-year old school was Ireland's only preparatory boarding school which, with its associated Montessori, accepted pupils between 3 and 13 years of age.

However, a group of parents, alumni and supporters of the school were not prepared to see the establishment shutter for good. A new board was formed with past pupils Jack Blakiston Houston and

Marcus Williams joining forces with financial expert, Ronnie Culliton and experienced educationalists Lorraine Mancey O’Brien and Jacob Kestner to breathe new life into the unique facility.

Ronnie helped to reopen the Cistercian College in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary three years ago after the Monks had closed it in similar circumstances to the Kells educational institute.

The new board of management, under the chairmanship of Mr. Culliton is now undertaking an enrolment drive at the school.

The school is hoping to secure at least 80 students - at fees of about €7000 per annum for a day student and double for a boarder - to operate on "a financially sound budget," according to Mr. Culliton.

However, Covid-19 has given the new board additional challenges to surmount.

As Ronnie has pointed out, "Unlike Roscrea when we secured huge support immediately, we haven't been able to hold town hall meetings due to Covid-19 so we are still trying to get the word out there.

"We also realize that, for the first few terms at least, enrolment will be home-grown as Covid-19 travel restrictions will probably limit the number of international students at Headfort. It is not beyond the realms of possibility for the summer term but, for the moment, we are appealing to the domestic market.

"We have a number of aims that have come to fruition; To put a management team in place to run the school, to fundraise, to have a viable financial plan and to have enough pupils.

"We also managed to gain unfettered access to the school with total support and agreement from the Headfort Trust.

"This school receives no state support, so all monies have to be from private sources.

"This is a magical school which offers an extra dimension to education for pupils.”

Headfort encourages individuality in children. We aspire to academic excellence whilst providing a place where strong and enduring relationships are able to flourish from an early age.

Our setting allows an unrushed childhood, encouraging a broad approach to learning: an all-round education. And yet it also ensures that each and every child can perform to the best of their academic ability.

The school will open with a clean slate – not forgetting all the good
attributes and character which have come to define Headfort over the last 70 years; but retaining the magical atmosphere and beauty of the natural environment in which so many have thrived.

Headfort School was founded in 1949 by Lord and Lady Headfort.

For further details please email admin@headfortschool.com or newcoheadfort@gmail.com.

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