Profits almost double at Ireland's most expensive fee-paying day school

Gordon Deegan

Operating profits at the firm operating the country’s most expensive private fee-paying day school last year almost doubled to €498,740.

The top annual fees for students attending Nord Anglia International School (NAIS) at Leopardstown in south Dublin have risen to €24,464 in the past year.

New accounts for Nord Anglia Education (Ireland) Ltd show that operating profits increased by 86% to €498,740 in the 12 months to the end of August last.

The school increased its operating profits after revenues surged by 22% to €11.38 million.

The school did record a pre-tax loss of €1.28 million through interest payments of €1.78 million that were made up of €301,965 interest payments to group undertakings and €1.48 million in ‘lease liabilities’.

The pre-tax loss of €1.28 million was a 42% decline on the pre-tax loss of €2.19 million for fiscal 2023.

Since opening in 2018 school numbers have increased steadily, with the school having 580 students at the end of June 2024, an increase of 30 on the 550 students one year prior.

The school teaches students from 60 different nationalities with the largest student nationalities coming from Ireland, the United States and China.

The school teaches the International Baccalaureate diploma programme (IBDP) for students aged from three to 18 and the directors state that “the company expects to grow significantly over the coming years”.

A spokesman for the Nord Anglia said: “Demand for places at NAIS Dublin continues to grow every year as more families choose our personalised approach to teaching and learning.

He said: “We are the only international school in the city to offer the IB curriculum and now teach students from 60 nationalities.

He said: “Since 2018, we’ve established a close-knit school community and our focus on helping students develop their confidence, creativity, and resilience alongside academic growth is one of the many reasons we’re seeing student admissions grow across all year groups.”

He said that enrolments for September 2025 are “looking very healthy”.

The loss last year also takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of €1.77 million.

Numbers employed increased from 116 to 129, comprising 106 teachers and 23 in administration.

Staff costs increased by 14% to €6.25 million.

The company’s income comprises €10.67 million in gross tuition fees, €185,334 in enrolment fees and €517,587 in other income.

Annual fees for students attending secondary school classes, Grade Six to Grade 12 classes range from €22,349 to €23,523.

The school offers a 5% sibling discount for families who enrol more than one child at NAIS Dublin.

At the end of August last, the company had a shareholders’ deficit of €22.88m that included accumulated losses of €22.98 million offset by contributed capital of €1.1 million. Cash funds increased from €3.04 million to €3.2 million.

The company had net liabilities of €21.88 million, including €17.02m owed to a fellow group company, Nord Anglia Education Ltd.

Nord Anglia Education Ltd has confirmed that it will not seek repayments of those monies until the Dublin-based company had sufficient funds available to repay those amounts.