A Tradition of Excellence and Community
The King’s Hospital School is a Church of Ireland, co-educational, secondary school for boarders and day students, which offers a broad academic curriculum and a wide range of extracurricular activities.
Our Foundation
At The King’s Hospital School, everything we do is shaped by a strong foundation of purpose, principles, and shared values. Our Mission, Ethos, and Values define who we are, how we work together as a community, and what we aspire to offer every student who joins us.
MISSION
Our mission is to provide a holistic and supportive community that inspires and educates each generation, to enrich the world we live in.
ETHOS
We are a close-knit and dedicated community, grounded in Church of Ireland values of respect, courage, and inclusivity, that is committed to learning and self-development. We embrace diversity and welcome young people and adults regardless of difference into our school community.
VALUES
Curiosity: We foster a love of learning and value enquiring minds who are not afraid to share ideas.
Integrity: We respect each other as we develop and grow in different directions.
Compassion: We are proud of our inclusive and diverse community and have the courage to do better.
A BRIEF HISTORY
The King’s Hospital School was founded in 1669 in Dublin city. It was first located in Queen Street, Oxmantown and in 1783 moved to a new building at Blackhall Place, which is now home to the Law Society of Ireland.
Between 1957 and 1966, The King’s Hospital acquired two small schools – Morgan’s and Mercer’s – which contributed to a growth in pupil numbers and a need for additional space. In 1970, the school made a final move – relocating to an 80-acre site on the banks of the River Liffey at Brooklawn in Palmerstown, Co Dublin.
Known for much of its history as The Blue Coat School, it is one of the oldest secondary schools in Ireland. That it survived and thrived down through the centuries is testament to its tremendous resilience and leadership.
Our school crest with its three burning castles is based on the Dublin City crest and features the original name of the school, as it appeared in the founding charter.
The school celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2019 with a wonderful calendar of events for the whole school community beginning and ending in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Past pupil Leo Varadkar TD - Former Taoiseach of Ireland
I have always thought that the best schools are really small communities made up students, staff, parents and past pupils. The King’s Hospital is a great school. It provides an environment where students are encouraged to reach their full potential, both inside and outside of the classroom, and I will always be grateful for the education I received and the role it played in my life.
My own days in KH were very happy. I loved being challenged academically as well as being given the opportunity to try different things. I enjoyed debating – a skill that proved useful in later life – and won the Anderson medal for oratory in my final year.
Senior Leadership Team
The role of the SLT is to realise the school’s mission through the daily management and running of the school. They lead and support staff to implement strategies in teaching and learning, staff development, safeguarding, wellbeing, and school improvements. They strive to ensure the day-to-day running of the school is underpinned by its values and ethos.
Board of Governors
The Board of Governors was established under the school’s Royal Charter. It is our patron body, and the governors act as trustees to maintain our founding ethos. The board appoints our principal, chaplain and head of finance and operations. It is responsible for capital expenditure and has a finance committee to establish the annual budget. The governors elect representatives to our Board of Management, and the chairman of the Board of Governors is also chairman of the Board of Management.
Board of Management
The Board of Management is responsible for the conduct and management of the school as set out in the Articles of Management for the Board of Management of The King’s Hospital School, except for the powers reserved to the Board of Governors (the Patron), in accordance with the obligations on it by Section 14.(1) of the Education Act.
Chairman of the Board of Governors
- Angus Potterton
Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors
- Ken Peare
Board of Governors 2025
- David Jermyn
- Fionnuala Gilmartin
- Inez Cooper
- James Somerville
- Jonathan Moore
- Michael de las Casas
- Neil Squires
- Patricia Orr
- Rebecca Johnson
- Richard Tyrell
- Roger McGreal
- Sue Baird
- Andrew KcKee
- Archbishop of Armagh
- Archbishop of Dublin
- Archbishop of Meath & Kildare
Board of Management 2025
- Angus Potterton – Chairman – Chairman Ex-officio
- Myles O’Donoghue – Day Parent Representative
- Jonathon Saint – Boarding Parent Representative
- Michael de Las Casas – Governor
- Ken Peare – Governor
- Richard Tyrrell – Governor
- Dr Patricial Orr – Governor
- Oliver Malone – Staff Representative
- Annabel Browne – Staff Representative
In Attendance
- Mark Wallace – Headmaster/Principal
- Tony Kearney – Head of Finance and Operations
- Cormac Ua Bruadair – Deputy Head Pastoral/Head of Boarding
- Siobhan Daly – Deputy Head Academic
Student Leadership
At The King’s Hospital School, we believe that every child should achieve his or her potential intellectually and socially, through personal endeavour and with the support of staff, students, parents and governors. Our supports are based on key structures: the Board of Governors, Board of Management, School Leadership Team, staff, prefects, mentors and the Student Council.
Prefects
Student Prefects are appointed each year in the last term of Form 5, through an application process by the student, in consultation with all staff. Four students from the prefect applications will be selected as School Captains and School Vice Captains.
All prefects work closely with the Year Heads and Boarding House Teams, to promote a safe, respectful and supportive atmosphere, in all areas of school life.
Mentors
Student mentors are appointed each year in the final term of Transition Year (Form 4) through a formal application process. Successful candidates will have shown leadership, maturity, and upheld the school values throughout the year.
Mentors are assigned to each year group to support new and existing students and are ambassadors for the school at many events throughout the year.
Student Council
Our Student Council plays an integral role in student leadership in our school. Students from Forms 1-6, are democratically elected by the student body to the council each year.
The Student Council meets weekly to highlight and address issues concerning their constituents and are proactive in organising events such as the Talent Show and Blue Coat Day.
