Sandford Park School, in Ranelagh, Dublin, is to phase out its preparatory school.

Established in 1922, Sandford Park is a fee-paying non-denominational boys school, with secondary and preparatory departments.

There are three classes in the preparatory department, which students enter at age nine - the equivalent of fourth, fifth and sixth class in national schools. There are 43 pupils in the preparatory school at present and 212 in the secondary school.

Parents recently received a letter from the board of governors which stated that as "part of a five-year development plan" the school would now concentrate on second-level education. "The secondary school is a recognised school under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education and Science. The demands now imposed on schools as a result of current legislation have increased considerably."

Sandford Park is a day school since 1975 but principal Michael Whelan says the school has "never lost the atmosphere of a boarding school". A very strong competitor in hockey, students also play cricket, tennis and rugby.

Famous past pupils include writer William Trevor who attended 13 schools in provincial Ireland before arriving in Sandford Park in 1941. Two years later he moved to St Columba's. Dr Conor Cruise O'Brien, Judge Gerard Buchanan, former international cricketer Noel Hamilton Lambert and Church of Ireland Bishop John Neill also attended Sandford Park.

Bishop Neill, in a 1998 interview with EL, said: "There was almost an air of anti-clericalism - which I suppose in those days was the only way of being liberal. There was a great emphasis on debating and making you think for yourself . . . I can't say that I was particularly happy at school but I did enjoy my four years at Sandford Park."

No students will be taken into "Prep 4" in September 2001. There will be no entry to Prep 4 and Prep 5 in September 2002 and the preparatory department will close in September 2003.

The letter reassures parents that the school will provide a full service to its enrolled pupils. The phasing out will not mean a running-down of services. Whelan says the waiting list for places in the prep school stretched to 2009. The parents of all applicants have been informed of the impending closure and most have asked the school to transfer the application to the first year of second level.