Welcome to Boarding at Bandon Grammar School
At Bandon Grammar School, we are immensely proud of our school’s strong 5 & 7 day boarding traditions which represents a unique element of our school’s culture. Boarding for boys in Roundhill House and girls in Richmount House provide a strong family atmosphere for the whole school.
Boarders and day pupils join for classes, meals, sports & activities. Our boarders enjoy comfortable conditions in small dormitories of 2 - 6 pupils, state of the art facilities for living & learning, excellent multi-cultural cuisines and fulltime care by our dedicated and caring Houseparents.
Boarding makes the world feel like home
As a boarder, you have a wonderful opportunity to form friendships that will last a lifetime and to learn first hand about different parts of Ireland and other countries, cultures and traditions. We want you to love your time in the boarding school and to feel that you are part of the large BGS family. This is your home during term time. We support you to be happy, comfortable and assured.
If you are new to boarding, we are all happy to help and welcome you: staff and fellow pupils understand your experience and will help you to find your place in, contribute to and enjoy life at Bandon Grammar School. We are above all else, a family.
We also provide a staffed bus for collection from and drop off to Dublin Airport at the various school holidays to and from the school to ensure our students are safe when leaving and returning to our boarding houses.
Activities and Exploration
Our boarding students have access to a wide range of activities, both on and off-campus. From engaging in school sports and clubs to exploring local attractions and participating in cultural excursions, there is always something exciting to do during the week and at weekends.
Please see our Boarding Handbook below. If you’re interested in learning more about boarding at Bandon Grammar School or wish to apply, please contact us. We are excited to welcome you to our community here in Bandon and to help you embark on this memorable journey.
Weekend programme
7-Day Boarding at Bandon Grammar School
Students who take up the 7 day boarding option will be offered an immersive boarding experience, filled with opportunities for study, relaxation, cultural exploration, and personal growth.
Boarding Gallery
- Weekend boarding: More time for study and relaxation after a busy school week, with extended sign-out availability.
- Breakfast: Served in each of the boarding houses, allowing students a lie in after their school week on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Laundry Service: Available to 5 & 7-day boarders throughout the week.
- Sunday Service: Inclusive attendance alternating between Church of Ireland Sunday Service, Roman Catholic service and the Methodist Church service, representing our diverse community. Please discuss this with your Houseparent .
- Leave Out: Extended leave out is available at the discretion of the staff member on duty.
- Weekend Activities: A wide ranging weekend activity schedule is run throughout the year, with trips to other boarding schools, Ballyhass, Inchydoney Surf School, Killarney, Cliffs of Moher, Cork city, Bowling, Go Karting but to name a few. These activities provide many purposes but mainly an opportunity to bond with fellow students while also seeing what west Cork and Munster have to offer.
Boarding Team
Welcome to the Bandon Grammar School's Boarding Team. Here you get to meet our dedicated staff who work tirelessly to provide a secure, supportive, and caring environment for each student. Their commitment ensures peace of mind for parents and a happy, memorable experience for all boarding students.
Our Team
Designated Liaison Person for Boarding: Niamh McShane
Deputy Designated Liaison Person for Boarding: Eileen Collins
Roundhill Houseparent (Boy's House) : Stephen Gray
Roundhill House Duty Staff (Boy's): Denis Collins, Ciaran Rijks Weidner, Jack Buss, James O'Donovan, Alejandro Gonzalez
Richmount Houseparent (Girl's House): Alison Shaw
Richmount House Duty Staff (Girl's): Katie McCormack, Aoife Foran, Kim Carnegie, Kate McLaughlin
Nurses: Laura Gibbs, Sharon Clarke, Sally Rowe, Jean Keating-Piper
Boarding Admissions: Pamela Forde
Our Boarding Team brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to their roles. Their collective goal is to foster a sense of community, inclusiveness, and personal development within the boarding programme. All boarding staff are actively involved in the school as teachers, sports coaches or past pupils which all leads to a more 'homely' experience for all students. They strive to create a home away from home, where students feel comfortable, safe, and encouraged to achieve their fullest potential.
Contact Information
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding boarding at Bandon Grammar School, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Boarding Admissions, Pamela Forde at admissions@bgsmail.ie or alternatively you can contact each Boarding house at;
Roundhill (Boy's House) at roundhill@bgsmail.ie
Richmount (Girl's House) at richmount@bgsmail.ie
Boarder Support
Boarding House staff are accessible at all times to meet the physical, social, emotional and cultural needs of Boarders. A strong school support structure is provided in the form of the student support team. There are staff members available throughout each day to assist where required.
Parental Involvement
Parents and Boarding House Staff share responsibility for the students while they are living in the Boarding House.
It is important that parents and Boarding House staff work together to ensure consistency of expectations in student behaviour and wellbeing.
Guardianship
For students who live outside of Ireland the school requires a local guardian be nominated on enrolment. This guardian is a contact on the ground for both student and parent. They take a special interest in their student and support them in their academic progress, language development and overall wellbeing.