Ashton School invites you to an open day event 

Ashton School is a Church of Ireland co-educational school located in Cork City. 

Since its opening in 1972, it has traditionally served the Protestant community but also welcomes students from the wider community, where the availability of places allows. 

Ashton has an extensive campus on the Blackrock Road, which includes a multipurpose synthetic grass pitch, a grass soccer pitch, a sports hall and tennis courts. The present state-of-the-art three-storey teaching block was officially opened in 2015. 

Ashton currently has 540 students and a teaching staff of forty-five. Ninety places are offered each year to First Year students.

Ashton School aims to educate students in a caring and Christian environment. During their time in school, students are encouraged to develop strong spiritual and moral values alongside personal and social skills. 

The philosophy of the school is that Ashton students perform best in an environment where they feel valued. Ashton takes pride in the fact that students are treated as individuals with unique strengths. 

Their achievements are also a great source of pride shared among members of the school community.

Students are supported in the school by a school chaplain, a pastoral team, class teachers, year heads, subject teachers and a school counsellor. 

Through care and attention, Ashton aims to aid the development of students into happy, confident, positive and well-rounded young adults.

The academic achievement of students is a primary focus of the school. The Leaving Certificate results are consistently excellent. 

The results for 2025 speak for themselves, with seven students out of 78 who scored more than 600 points who are now pursuing a range of university courses, including Arts (International), Mathematical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Engineering, Chemical Sciences and Medicine. 

Each year, the school presents the Pfizer Perpetual Trophy to the Leaving Certificate student with the highest achievement. This year the award the award-winning recipient of the trophy is Stefany Ibebugwu. Congratulations to Stefany!

The principal, Adrian Landen, recently invited all graduates who achieved more than 500 points to return to school, where their success was celebrated by the whole school community. 

Mr Landen echoed the feelings of everyone present when he spoke proudly of their achievements. He attributed the high scores to the hard work, dedication and diligence of the students, the hard work of their teachers and the support of their parents.

The foundation for academic achievement is laid with first-year students and continues throughout their time in Ashton. High standards are expected of Ashton students and are attained. 

Ultimately, the school wants students to leave Ashton as confident young adults, well prepared for life and with the best set of academic results that they can achieve.

The importance of extra-curricular activities to each student’s education is well recognised in Ashton. Ashton offers a comprehensive extra-curricular programme for all year groups throughout the school year. Hockey is central to the sports programme, with girls and boys competing enthusiastically in league and cup campaigns. 

Over the years, the school has developed many interprovincial and international hockey players, which is a great source of pride for Ashton. Soccer also has great popularity among Ashton students. 

It has a source of great inspiration that former Ashton soccer players and past-pupils, Franco and Jaden Umeh, have recently pursued professional careers.

In Ashton, there are many other school activities that students enjoy. Ashton School Choir, which currently has around fifty members and boasts success in national and international competitions. 

In 2025, the choir won the Irish Federation of Musicians Trophy at the Cork International Choral Festival and were presented with the Irish Federation of Musicians Trophy. 

The choir also won Coir Iarbhunscoile at Feis Ceoil at the RDS and will participate in the Young Platform Series at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, on 22nd September.

Rehearsals will soon begin for the transition-year musical, which will be staged and performed by Ashton School Players in January 2026. The musical is one of the most popular events in Ashton’s calendar, with students performing over several nights for the wider school community. 

In the past, shows like Moana, The Lion King, The Wizard of Oz and Elf entertained large audiences in the school. Musical Director Mr Ruttle says: “The TY musical allows students to shine. Their artistic and creative skills come to the fore, and new talents are discovered and developed."

Through the hard work and commitment of the students involved, we can expect this year’s show to be outstanding. It will be staged in the school from January 27th to 29th.

Ashton’s transition year programme is hugely successful, with almost all third years opting for the experience. A key feature of the year’s activities is an annual outdoor pursuits week on Achill Island, Co Mayo. Planned for later this month, students will enjoy surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, cycling along the Western Greenway and much more.

International travel is also on the agenda for transition-year students each year. A recent trip took geography students to Iceland, with Reykjavik, the Northern Lights, the Gullfoss Falls waterfall and the Blue Lagoon all part of their itinerary. 

Students had an incredible experience in the Land of Fire and Ice! Other recent transition-year trips have included tours to France and Germany, where they soaked up the atmosphere in Paris and Cologne with opportunities to hone their language skills and visit a range of cultural sites.

Second-year students studying German are preparing for their annual exchange programme with Lessing Gymnasium in Cologne. The German students will visit Cork early this term, and Ashton students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language and culture of Germany when they travel to Cologne in November.

Several extracurricular activities are arranged for first-year students annually. Typically, activities include outdoor pursuits such as the West Cork Secret Adventure Centre near Kilbrittain and a history-geography tour to the Mitchelstown caves and Cahir Castle. The excitement is palpable these days as students enjoy new experiences and have fun with their friends.

A trip to Belfast and the Antrim Coast is a popular experience for fifth and sixth-year history students, a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about the history of Northern Ireland. The trip includes visits to places such as Stormont, Crumlin Road Jail, the Peace Wall and Dunluce Castle. A firm favourite has been the Black Cab Tour of Belfast city. 

Ashton’s fifth and sixth-year art students look forward to their annual Art History trip each year. Last year’s trip took them to the National Gallery, where students could appreciate European masterpieces, including the work of Jack B. Yeats and Walter Osborne. Harry Clarke’s stained glass and Impressionist paintings were highlights of their visit to the Hugh Lane Gallery.

Altogether, these extra-curricular activities in Ashton promote student wellbeing, self-esteem and a positive experience of learning. Together with life in the classroom in Ashton, they help to create an environment where students learn, develop and fulfil their unique and diverse talents. 

Ultimately, Ashton School wants students to leave Ashton as confident young adults, well prepared for life and with the best set of academic results that they can achieve.

If you are considering Ashton School for your son or daughter, the school is holding an Information Evening for Parents at the school on Wednesday, September  24th at 7:30 pm. 

Ashton School’s Open Day will be on Thursday, September 25th, from 1:30 to 4 pm.