Cross And Passion College
Kildare
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 843 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 394 girls, 449 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 61690W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Cross and Passion College is a co‑educational, voluntary secondary school in Kilcullen, County Kildare, founded in 1887 by the Sisters of the Cross and Passion and now operating under the trusteeship of the Le Chéile Schools Trust. The college’s mission places caring relationships at the centre of a safe learning environment, encouraging every student to develop dignity, respect and a love of learning. The curriculum follows the Irish Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Senior Cycle, offering the Leaving Certificate Established, Applied and Vocational programmes, with additional link modules for LCVP students. Emphasis is placed on key skills, wellbeing and inclusive community values, reflecting the school’s commitment to gospel‑inspired education. The campus combines historic and modern facilities. A purpose‑built concert/assembly hall (1937) serves cultural and sporting events, while extensive playing fields support a broad range of athletics. Dedicated spaces for home economics, sewing, and a refectory cater to practical subjects, and recent developments have expanded classroom capacity to accommodate the growing enrolment. The school also provides a digital app for parents and students, reinforcing communication and community engagement.
History
The Sisters of the Cross and Passion arrived in Kilcullen in September 1878, initially teaching in the local national school and establishing a convent that also functioned as a novitiate. Cross and Passion College opened in 1887 with three boarders, offering a curriculum that included languages, mathematics, and practical subjects such as cooking and elocution. By 1922 the roll had reached 68 pupils, and in 1924 the school was officially recognised as a secondary institution, becoming one of the first in Ireland to use Irish as the medium of instruction (later switching to English in 1942/43). Over the decades the college expanded its facilities, including a concert hall, playing fields, and specialised rooms for home economics and sewing, while adapting to national reforms such as the Free Education Scheme (1967) and the introduction of co‑education in 1986. The first lay principal was appointed in 1996, and in 2009 the school joined the Le Chéile Schools Trust, reinforcing its Catholic educational ethos.
Applying to Cross And Passion College
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 Cross And Passion College. 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 Cross And Passion College
How many pupils attend Cross And Passion College?
Cross And Passion College has 843 pupils enrolled, 394 girls and 449 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Cross And Passion College a DEIS school?
No. Cross And Passion College 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 Cross And Passion College?
Cross And Passion College has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.