Mater Dei Academy

Mater Dei Academy, is an Independent Catholic Secondary School in Cork, Ireland.

Background
Founded on 6 January 2020 by lay volunteers, the school accepted students in September 2020 for its first scholastic year. From 2020 it was based and supported by the Dominicans at St. Mary's Dominican Church and Priory on Popes Quay, Cork. In 2022 the school moved onto the Farranferris Education and Training Campus (at the old St Finbarr's College, Farranferris).

The school, being independent, does not receive Irish Government funding, and is funded by donations, it also receives support from the Saints and Scholars Foundation, in Virginia, USA, the Dominicans in Cork, and the Diocese of Cork and Ross.

Curriculum
Mater Dei's students take courses in theology, philosophy, the Irish language, English, Latin, mathematics, science, history and culture, geography, music, and art. The school follows programme and takes the (Cambridge) International General Certificate of Secondary Education (International GCSE) Examinations, as a Junior Cycle. Mater Dei is one of only two recognised Cambridge Schools in Ireland. Examinations for the Irish Language are available through Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (European Certificate in Irish) and for the French language through the Alliance française, the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française(DELF) exam, and plan to complete student preparation for the completion of the schools first, Irish Senior Cycle and Leaving Certificate Examination in 2026.

In April 2023 Geraldine Heffernan was appointed principal of the school.

Alongside the Academy, Mater Dei Education was also established in 2020, to support parents who homeschool their primary-aged children. Mater Dei Education provides advice, lesson plans, learning resources, and also produces textbooks.