Bray School Project National School
BALLYWALTRIM, Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 223 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 108 girls, 115 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19754J the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Founded by parents, educators and local people who wanted a school where every child would be respected regardless of background, belief, culture, identity or ability, Bray School Project National School is a multi-denominational primary school on Killarney Road in Bray, Co. Wicklow. Enrolment stands at 223 pupils. The school is organised into eight mainstream classes together with two autism classes and a nurture classroom, and it provides special education teaching rooms, sensory spaces and a life skills room. Infant classes finish at 1.30pm and first to sixth class at 2.30pm. Teaching places emphasis on inclusion, wellbeing, student voice and inquiry-based learning. Relationships and sexuality education is taught within SPHE from Senior Infants to Sixth Class through the Living and Growing programme, which covers life cycles, growth and change, puberty and reproduction at levels matched to each class. A school garden gives each class its own plot for growing vegetables and flowers, and wild orchids grow in the meadow at the rear. A student council operates, alongside extra-curricular activities and a parents and guardians association.
History
The school opened in September 1981, set up by a group of parents, educators and community members, and was one of the founding schools of the movement that became Educate Together. Equality-based education was a new idea in Ireland at the time, and the school helped establish an approach built on inclusion, respect for diversity, democratic participation and child-centred learning. Its original premises were on Crutchley Lane in Bray, on the ground now occupied by the Mermaid Arts Centre and the civic offices. In 1989 it moved to the Killarney Road site. Patronage was held by the Bray School Project Association, governed by an elected executive committee. In 2018 the members voted to apply to transfer patronage to Educate Together, following a consultation process begun the previous year.
Applying to Bray School Project 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 Bray School Project 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 Bray School Project National School
How many pupils attend Bray School Project National School?
Bray School Project National School has 223 pupils enrolled, 108 girls and 115 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Bray School Project National School a DEIS school?
No. Bray School Project 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 Bray School Project National School?
Bray School Project National School has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed primary school.