A notice board at the end of the long curved driveway to Aravon School in Co Wicklow announces a uniform sale on September 6th. The private preparatory school in Bray, whose principal last week failed in the first round of a legal fight to keep her job, may find it has extra uniforms on its hands for this sale.
It is understood that about 10 families are trying to place their children with other schools.
Several parents told The Irish Times they were shocked to learn about the dismissal of the principal, Mrs Patricia O'Malley. They said they have already registered their children with other private Dublin primary schools such as Castle Park in Dalkey and Sand ford Park in Ranelagh.
With less than four weeks before the start of the new school term, Aravon is now in the buyer's market itself, for a new principal. It is understood that interviews have taken place and the position will be filled before term starts.
Mrs O'Malley (53) was dismissed by the school's board of governors early last month. Her husband, Terence (55), a former principal of the school, was also dismissed from his post as a part-time science teacher.
Mrs O'Malley failed in her application to the High Court last Wednesday for an injunction ordering the school to reinstate her. A full hearing is due next year.
The court heard that the board alleged that Mr O'Malley bullied certain children and showed extreme favouritism towards others and that he had a disruptive effect on the management of the school.
Counsel for Mrs O'Malley claimed that the board and the singer Chris de Burgh, who attended board meetings although he was not a school governor, had attempted to apply to his client the alleged wrong doings of her husband.
The couple have taught at and lived in the school for 27 years, and some parents and past pupils say they equate its old-fashioned family-orientated ethos with the O'Malleys.
With 180 pupils who are mainly day students, Aravon School is a trust administered by its board of governors chaired by Mr Tom Barry, who works in corporate banking in AIB.
Most of the board members are parents of present pupils. Two have resigned following the dismissal of the O'Malleys.
The parents learned that Mr and Mrs O'Malley had been dismissed in a letter from the board dated July 17th. At a subsequent meeting with the parents, the board said it was unable to discuss its decision as it was sub judice pending the High Court case. The board declined to comment as the case is still sub judice.
Aravon has had its difficulties over the years, and its teaching staff are paid far less than national school teachers. Mr de Burgh, an Old Aravonian who has two children at the school, is its major benefactor; it is believed he has contributed about £1 million.
It is understood that Mr de Burgh has an interest in an Isle of Man-registered company, Hogarth Ltd, which bought the school premises in 1994 to help clear debts. The company now leases the premises back to the board at a nominal rent.
For the first two years Mr de Burgh waived a rental fee of £20,000 on the premises, according to a letter to the board from Mr de Burgh's London accountants last November. This letter said the singer "would now like to exercise the contractual option to charge the fee of £20,000 for the rental of the school".
Several parents have said they are angry they were not told that Hogarth Ltd had bought the school and ask why they were not given the option to do so collectively.
There has also been criticism of the lack of transparency in the board's style of management. "They operate as a closed shop," said one parent. "The only people who have information about anything with regard to the school are the board members."
Other well-known parents of Aravonians include U2 manager Paul McGuinness and film director John Boorman.
Many of the parents, who pay between £1,149 and £3,000 each academic year for day pupils, are self-employed business people.
Aravon School was founded in 1862, which makes it the oldest preparatory school in the State. Originally a boarding school for Protestant boys, its aim was to prepare children for public schools in Britain or Northern Ireland. Until about 20 years ago, its pupils were drawn largely from Anglo-Irish stock.
The school became interdenominational and co-educational in the 1970s.
Situated beside the 18-hole Old Conna golf course, Aravon looks more like an exclusive country club than a school. In 1984 it moved from its original site in Bray to Old Conna House, a secluded Victorian building designed by Sir Charles Lanyon and located in Rathmichael on the outskirts of the town.
The house stands on an elevated site which offers spectacular views of Dublin Bay, Bray Head and the Big and Little Sugar Loaf mountains.
A local valuer estimates the building and its 15 acres of mature wooded grounds would, with vacant possession, fetch between £1.5 and £2 million at auction.
The curriculum at Aravon is very wide for a primary school and it has a good record of achievement in science and music. Its glossy brochure says it "endeavours to create for its children a family atmosphere in which the qualities of independence, self-assurance and responsibility can be fostered".
The school's motto is Fama Vita Nostria: Our Honour Is Our Life.