Holy Faith Secondary School
Clontarf, Dublin
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 647 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60750J the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf is a voluntary Catholic girls’ secondary school and a member of Le Chéile, a Catholic Schools Trust. The school’s ethos is rooted in the values of Margaret Aylward, the foundress of the Holy Faith Order, emphasising a living faith, compassion and the holistic development of each pupil. Academic provision spans the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Senior Cycle, with a strong focus on achieving high standards in state examinations while also nurturing talent in sport, drama, music and leadership. The learning environment is supported by modern facilities and a commitment to inclusive education. Recent investment through a NextGeneration EU grant has upgraded digital equipment, introduced Digital Media Literacy programmes, and enabled the use of digital portfolios in Transition Year, ensuring all students have access to the technology required for contemporary assessment. Additional educational needs are catered for through specialised support, guidance and counselling services, reinforcing the school’s dedication to providing a supportive, well‑rounded education for every girl.
History
Holy Faith Secondary School is a Voluntary Catholic Girls’ Secondary School formerly under the trusteeship of the Holy Faith Sisters. In 2008 the Holy Faith Sisters joined twelve other congregations to form the Le Chéile Trust, a collaborative body that promotes Catholic education within the Irish system while drawing on the heritage of its founding congregations.
Applying to Holy Faith Secondary 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 Holy Faith Secondary 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 Holy Faith Secondary School
How many pupils attend Holy Faith Secondary School?
Holy Faith Secondary School has 647 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Holy Faith Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. Holy Faith Secondary 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 Holy Faith Secondary School?
Holy Faith Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.