Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School
Lucan, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 466 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 231 girls, 235 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20166W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School (GVETNS) is a child‑centred, co‑educational, multi‑denominational primary school operating under the Educate Together patronage. The school follows the national curriculum while delivering the Learn Together Curriculum, which is built around four strands – Moral and Spiritual, Ethics and the Environment, Belief Systems and Equality and Justice – and is guided by the motto “Learn Together to Live Together”. A democratic ethos ensures that pupils have a voice in decision‑making and that parents are actively involved in the life of the school, fostering a collaborative community of lifelong learners. The school occupies a purpose‑built campus on Griffeen Glen Boulevard, developed after an intensive community campaign and a rapid construction phase in 2004. Facilities support a broad range of activities, from mainstream classrooms to a dedicated Special/ASD class and provision for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme. Emphasis is placed on creating a happy, safe, inclusive and nurturing environment where each child can reach their highest potential, with a strong focus on respect, responsibility, imagination and open‑mindedness.
History
In December 2001 a group of parents convened to address the lack of places in the local Educate Together school. Griffeen Valley Educate Together opened in September 2002 in the Scout Den in Lucan Village with 24 pupils and two teachers. After outgrowing the initial premises, the school used prefabricated classrooms at the neighbouring LETS site for the 2003‑04 academic year, expanding to five classes and eleven staff members. A ground‑breaking ceremony was held in March 2004 on the current Griffeen Glen Boulevard site, and the permanent building was completed in time for the September 2004 intake, welcoming 214 pupils and 20 staff. Since then the school has grown into a vibrant, inclusive community.
Applying to Griffeen Valley Educate Together 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 Griffeen Valley Educate Together 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 Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School
How many pupils attend Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School?
Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School has 466 pupils enrolled, 231 girls and 235 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School a DEIS school?
No. Griffeen Valley Educate Together 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 Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School?
Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed primary school.