UK/April 12, 2023/Source: https://businessplus.ie/

The Institute of Education has been acquired by the Dukes Education group of international schools for an undisclosed sum.

The Leeson Street grinds school will continue to operate under its name and retain its current operating model and teaching arrangements after the joining Dukes, which has schools in the UK and Portugal.

Yvonne O’Toole will continue as principal of the Institute, while Peter Kearns will step down as managing director but continue to have a strategic advisory role and retain an interest in the school.

Director Úna Kearns is also set to leave the organisation after 22 years, but otherwise the Institute said it would be “business as usual”.

“Today signals an exciting new chapter for The Institute of Education. It is an equally special day for me personally, my sister and fellow Director Úna, and indeed my wider family including our mother Brid and brothers Edward and Andrew, who both worked in the Institute in the past,” said Peter Kearns.

“For 25 years, I have had the honour to manage The Institute alongside Úna, and to continue the great work started by my late father Ray who founded the school back in 1969.

“It is a matter of great pride to us all that the Institute has endured and made such a huge contribution to education in this country, with countless students having passed through our doors over the past 54 years.”

He added: “The ethos of excellence that has been the hallmark of the Institute of Education will continue to prevail under Dukes Education, and our combined expertise and experience will help build on our great successes to date.”

O’Toole said she was very happy that the Institute had become part of Dukes and that she looked forward to working with the school’s new parent company.

“The Institute has become a by-word for excellence and academic achievement within Irish education,” she continued.

“At our core is an unswerving commitment to our students and our desire to help them reach their potential. That commitment will continue to be our constant and guiding priority going forward.”

Aatif Hassan, chairman and founder of Dukes Education, said: “This is a strategically important step for Dukes and a fitting legacy for the Kearns family who created and built the Institute up over five decades to become one of Ireland’s best known educational facilities.

“The Institute has an enviable track record in education and supporting students in achieving academic success. This aligns so well with the Dukes’ vision and belief in the power of education to transform lives.

“While I know the Institute will benefit from becoming part of Dukes, we too will grow in stature from this new alliance. Working together we hope to set many more young people on the exciting path to happy, successful and fulfilled lives.”

Hassan founded Dukes in 2015, and the group now owns a number of independent schools, colleges and nurseries, as well as summer schools and camps, university and medical school consultancies.

The Institute of Education was founded by the Kearns’ father Ray Kearns in 1969, and it provides senior cycle tuition and exam preparation courses in 28 Leaving Cert subjects to over 7,000 students annually, and has a total staff of 200.

Shareholders in the Institute were advised on the deal by Clearwater International, KPMG, Arthur Cox and MHC solicitors.

Photo: Yvonne O’Toole and Peter Kearns. (Pic: Naoise Culhane)

Source: https://businessplus.ie/ma/institute-of-education-dukes/