Coláiste Íosagáin
Laois
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 1,182 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 560 girls, 622 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 68068R the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Coláiste Íosagáin is a voluntary Catholic secondary school in Portarlington, County Laois, under the trusteeship of CEIST (Catholic Education, An Irish Schools Trust). It is a co-educational school with an enrolment of approximately 1,100 students. The school marked its Silver Jubilee in 2025. The curriculum includes the Junior Cycle, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied (LCVP). A Junior Cycle SPHE programme covers relationships and sexuality as part of the Wellbeing programme for first, second and third year students. The school provides a range of extracurricular activities including sport, music, clubs, Green Schools and an Amber Committee. Student leadership is encouraged, and pastoral care is provided through a dedicated system. The school operates a schoolbooks scheme and has a parents' council. The school states its aim as encouraging co-operation between all partners in education and developing close links with the local community, with an emphasis on academic excellence and student-centred teaching methodologies.
Applying to Coláiste Íosagáin
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 Íosagáin. 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 Íosagáin
How many pupils attend Coláiste Íosagáin?
Coláiste Íosagáin has 1,182 pupils enrolled, 560 girls and 622 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Coláiste Íosagáin a DEIS school?
No. Coláiste Íosagáin 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 Íosagáin?
Coláiste Íosagáin has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.