Ashfield College to file petition for winding-up

By Brian O’Mahony

Saturday, July 04, 2009

ASHFIELD College, which made national headlines last August for suggesting the transition year in secondary schools was a waste of time, is to be wound up.

The college is to file a petition in the High Court on July 13 for the winding-up of the college in Terenure, Dublin.

The petitioner is Dawn Maye of 17 Belarmine Park, Stepaside who is being represented by solicitors BCM Hanby Wallace.

The college was not answering calls yesterday and its solicitors refused to make any comment when contacted by the Irish Examiner.

Ashfield is a grinds college and school principals complained about a radio ad it had run on a number of Dublin stations suggesting the transition year wasted students’ time.

The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) complained to the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland that the advert was misleading.

The transition year option is taken by around 30,000 students annually and NAPD director Clive Byrne said the programme aims to enhance young people’s educational experience.

At that time Ashfield College was charging €6,950 a year for students to take seven Leaving Certificate subjects and €800 extra for an eighth subject.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, July 04, 2009