Coláiste Chiaráin
Leixlip, Kildare
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 676 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 340 girls, 336 boys
- Ethos
- Inter Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 91371B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Coláiste Chiaráin is a co-educational, inter-denominational community school in Leixlip, County Kildare. Enrolment stands at 676 students. The school provides a broad curriculum and operates under the trusteeship of the Presentation Sisters, the Archbishop of Dublin and County Kildare VEC. Programmes on offer include the Junior Certificate, the Leaving Certificate, Transition Year and LCVP. Transition Year is optional and is designed as a bridge between the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate programmes. The school designs its own Transition Year programme within set guidelines, and assessment is ongoing rather than through a state examination. Activities within Transition Year include canoeing, debating, film making, Gaisce, photography and self defence. The school also provides adult education.
Applying to Coláiste Chiaráin
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 post-primary school dates apply broadly to Coláiste Chiaráin. 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: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (primary schools: Thu 18 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 Coláiste Chiaráin
How many pupils attend Coláiste Chiaráin?
Coláiste Chiaráin has 676 pupils enrolled, 340 girls and 336 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Coláiste Chiaráin a DEIS school?
No. Coláiste Chiaráin 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 Coláiste Chiaráin?
Coláiste Chiaráin has an Inter Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.