Coola Post-Primary School
Sligo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 514 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 234 girls, 280 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 72310U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Coola Post Primary School, situated in the rural setting of Riverstown, Co. Sligo, provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for approximately 500 students drawn from a wide catchment area. The school prides itself on fostering maximum individual potential within a culture of fairness and mutual respect. Academic provision spans the full secondary curriculum, including Junior Cycle, Transition Year (introduced in 2008), Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, alongside a robust Transition Year programme that enriches personal development and civic engagement. The campus has benefitted from substantial investment in recent years. Facilities now include two state‑of‑the‑art science laboratories, a modern IT suite, a dedicated music room, a student dining hall, and specialist rooms for Design & Communication Graphics, Dress Design, Construction Studies and Guidance. A series of phased extensions (2008, 2010, 2012, 2015) added new classrooms, specialist workshops and improved communal spaces such as spacious corridors with lockers. In 2021 the school secured a grant under the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan to expand Digital Media Literacy in the Junior Cycle and enhance Computer Science provision, further supporting learners at risk of educational disadvantage. Academic outcomes consistently exceed the national average, reflecting the dedication of a thirty‑two‑member teaching team. The school’s strong emphasis on extracurricular participation has produced notable successes in Gaelic football, basketball, athletics, music and public speaking, contributing to a well‑rounded education that prepares students for further study and lifelong achievement.
History
Coola Post Primary School was established in 1954 and has continually adapted to changes in education and society. Over the past sixteen years enrolment has doubled, enabling the development of a comprehensive curriculum that now includes Junior Cycle, Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied, LCVP, LCA and a highly successful Transition Year introduced in 2008. Physical growth has been significant: a second science laboratory and IT suite were added in 2008, a student dining facility in 2010, and a three‑phase building programme commenced in 2012 with further extensions in 2015, providing new classrooms, specialist design and construction rooms, and upgraded staff and student facilities. The school’s values of high academic standards, caring behaviour and inclusive ethos remain central to its identity.
Applying to Coola Post-Primary 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 post-primary school dates apply broadly to Coola Post-Primary 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: 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 Coola Post-Primary School
How many pupils attend Coola Post-Primary School?
Coola Post-Primary School has 514 pupils enrolled, 234 girls and 280 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Coola Post-Primary School a DEIS school?
No. Coola Post-Primary 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 Coola Post-Primary School?
Coola Post-Primary School has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.