Mater Dei Education

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Mater Dei Education

MDE supports homeschoolers in Ireland and prepares them for the IGCSE and Leaving Certificate.

26/08/2026

🎓 A Historic Week for Mater Dei Academy
This week marks a historic moment for Mater Dei Academy as we celebrate the achievements of our first Leaving Certificate students.
Points can never measure a young person’s character, intellectual curiosity or capacity to serve others. But they do reflect something of the hard work, perseverance and dedication of students and teachers over the past six years.
We are immensely proud that almost half of our students achieved more than 500 points in this year’s Leaving Certificate (compared to less than 22% of students nationally) — an extraordinary achievement for our students and our young school.
These results are a testament to the value of small class sizes, high academic expectations and a dedicated faculty, led by Ms O’Brien.
Most of all, we congratulate our students. Their commitment, determination and enthusiasm for learning have brought them to this important milestone.
Comhghairdeas libh go léir!
Bail ó Dhia ar an obair. 🙏

14/08/2026

Last November, St. John Henry Newman was named a Doctor of the Church. Newman was an important voice in the development of the Catholic classical tradition. He established a Catholic university in Ireland and argued against an education narrowly focused on specialised or practical training, proposing instead an education that brings different fields of knowledge together and forms the mind as a whole:

'It is the education which gives a man a clear, conscious view of their own opinions and judgements, a truth in developing them, an eloquence in expressing them, and a force in urging them. It teaches him to see things as they are, to go right to the point, to disentangle a skein of thought to detect what is sophistical and to discard what is irrelevant.' (-John Henry Cardinal Newman, 'The Idea of a University')

St. John Henry Newman, pray for us!

07/08/2026

Introducing our free digital resource: Classical Reading Lists for the Irish Student.

Organised by age and key historical periods, this beautifully structured reading guide supports a classical approach to education through a carefully selected range of enduring texts that have shaped the Irish literary and cultural heritage.

Whether you are homeschooling or simply looking for worthwhile books to add to your family's shelves, this reading guide is an excellent place to begin.

Download your free copy from our website today: materdeieducation.ie/product/classical-reading-lists-for-the-irish-student/

31/07/2026

Did you know?

At second level, students who would like to sit their exams in person can do so at Mater Dei Academy in Cork City. Alternatively, students can sit their exams at home and send them to their teachers at Mater Dei Academy.

Students receive individual feedback and helpful comments from their teachers, giving them a chance to see what they are doing well and where they can improve.

Families can enjoy the flexibility of homeschooling while still giving their students the opportunity to experience formal examinations and receive feedback from teachers!

24/07/2026

One of the greatest strengths of Mater Dei Education is the level of personal support available to every family!

Primary families are assigned a dedicated teacher consultant who provides ongoing guidance throughout the year. Your consultant can help you implement the curriculum, adapt lessons to your child's needs, review work samples, grade tests, and provide two school reports each year. They are also available by email whenever you need support!

Second-level families receive a beginning-of-year meeting, followed by two individual consultations in each subject—one each term—with faculty from Mater Dei Academy in Cork City.

At Mater Dei Education, families benefit from the flexibility of homeschooling together with the guidance, encouragement, and expertise of experienced educators.

17/07/2026

In his Address on the Jubilee of Scientists (2000), St. John Paul II wrote:
“It can be said, in fact, that research, by exploring the greatest and the smallest, contributes to the glory of God which is reflected in every part of the universe.”

At Mater Dei Education, our Science programme encourages students to discover the order, beauty, and wisdom of God's creation through the study of the natural world.

Our Junior Cycle Science curriculum provides a strong foundation in the four fundamental sciences—Earth Science (including geography, geology, astronomy, and oceanography), Biology, Chemistry, and Physics—in a logical, cumulative programme of study. Students also have the opportunity to sit the Cambridge Combined Sciences IGCSE examination at the end of 4th Year.

Explore our Science programme in more depth on our website!

10/07/2026

Did you know? Mater Dei Education offers a variety of optional online classes to complement your family's daily homeschooling.

Whether you're looking for extra support in a particular subject or an opportunity to enrich your child's education, we offer both live and pre-recorded classes for primary and secondary students. Families can choose from subjects such as Irish, French, Latin, and Socratic Seminars, along with many other engaging courses taught by our experienced teachers.

You can explore our full range of additional class options at https://materdeieducation.ie/product-category/programmes/

03/07/2026

Why do we study Latin in a classical education?

The reason we study Latin goes back to a key part of the vision of a classical curriculum, that is, to develop, shape, and transform the student’s mind and character. Through its emphasis on order, logic, precision, and structure, Latin trains students to think clearly, reason carefully, and write with accuracy.

The discipline of learning Latin also cultivates virtues such as perseverance, diligence, attention to detail, and consistency. At the same time, it strengthens students' command of English, since more than half of English vocabulary is derived from Latin, while a solid understanding of Latin grammar provides a deeper appreciation of how language itself works.

Our hope is that every student finds their study of Latin both challenging and rewarding, growing not only in knowledge but also in intellectual discipline and confidence.

26/06/2026

Get to know our secondary curriculum! ~ 3rd Year

In 3rd Year, students explore one of the most formative periods in Irish and world history—the sixteenth to eighteenth century.

In History, students encounter influential figures such as Hugh O’Neill, Queen Elizabeth I, Patrick Sarsfield, and Oliver Cromwell, gaining a deeper understanding of the political, religious, and cultural forces that influenced subsequent centuries of Irish history.

Literature studies complement this historical period. Shakespeare’s 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' introduces students to the ideas and imagination of the Renaissance, while Charles Dickens’s 'Hard Times' invites them to reflect on the true purpose of education and the importance of forming the whole person.

A standout feature of 3rd Year is the study of Logic. Students learn not simply what to think, but how to think well. Through the study of sound reasoning, they develop the ability to analyse arguments, distinguish truth from error, and communicate their ideas with clarity and precision.

In Mathematics, Science, Latin, and English, students have the option to sit the IGCSE examinations, while also working towards the DELF qualification in French and the TEG qualification in Irish.

Students continue to develop their knowledge and skills in Poetry, Art, Theology, and Socratic Seminars, further cultivating their intellectual curiosity and love of learning.

Explore our 3rd Year curriculum in more detail at our website: www.materdeieducation.ie/secondaryschool-curriculum/

19/06/2026

Get to know our secondary curriculum! ~ 2nd Year

In 2nd Year, we place a special emphasis on Ireland’s heritage, providing students with the cultural and historical foundations needed to understand the centuries that shaped our nation.

In History, students explore the Early Christian era and the Middle Ages, building naturally on their studies of the Ancient World. Alongside this, they deepen their appreciation of Ireland’s cultural traditions, national identity, and the enduring value of the Irish language.

Through works such as 'Irish Sagas and Folk Tales' by Eileen O’Faolain and 'Translations' by Brian Friel, students engage with the stories, history, and ideas that have helped define Ireland. They consider the importance of preserving cultural heritage and reflect on the role of language in shaping identity and community.

Students also study 'An Gadaí Dubh' by Siobhán Ní Mhuimhneacháin, strengthening their appreciation of Irish as a living language.

Of course, 2nd Year students continue to develop their knowledge and skills across a broad curriculum, including Art, Theology, Essay Writing, Science, Mathematics, Latin, French, Irish, and Socratic Seminars.

Browse our 2nd year curriculum in more detail at our website: www.materdeieducation.ie/secondaryschool-curriculum/

Address

Eason’s Hill
Cork
T23FK40

Telephone

+353212021229

Website

https://materdeieducation.ie/

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