Ballintemple National School
Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 250 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 132 girls, 118 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15781P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Iósaf Naofa, Ballintemple is a co‑educational, Catholic primary school that welcomes children of all faiths and backgrounds. The school provides a well‑ordered, caring and secure environment where the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of pupils are identified and nurtured. A balanced programme of creative, sporting and academic activities enables each child to develop holistically, with particular emphasis on respect, tolerance and the celebration of individual talents. The school operates on a split site: the infant classes are housed on Crab Lane while the senior classes occupy premises on Boreenmanna Road. With a current enrolment of 254 children, the staff team includes ten mainstream teachers, four additional education teachers and four Special Needs Assistants, supported by a dedicated Board of Management, an active Parents’ Association and a supportive patron. State funding and Catholic patronage underpin the ethos, while the school’s inclusive approach ensures that every child is valued and encouraged to achieve their full potential in a safe, nurturing setting.
History
Although Scoil Iósaf Naofa first opened its doors in 1904, school records date back to 1885 when children were taught in a two‑roomed school‑house at the entrance to Maryville Estate in Ballintemple Village. Early roll books reveal the occupations of parents, porters, sailors, gardeners, labourers, and later coachmen, car‑owners and telegraph operators, reflecting the community’s evolving economy. The First World War brought an increase in soldiers’ children, and the 1920s saw enrolments from families linked to the newly established Ford plant at Beaumont. Irish language entries appeared from 1928, with all names recorded in Irish by 1931. Post‑World War II records show children of workers from Dunlop, ESB, Shell and other industries, illustrating the school’s long‑standing connection to the local workforce and its adaptability through changing times.
Applying to Ballintemple National School
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Ballintemple National School. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about Ballintemple National School
How many pupils attend Ballintemple National School?
Ballintemple National School has 250 pupils enrolled, 132 girls and 118 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballintemple National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballintemple National School is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of Ballintemple National School?
Ballintemple National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.