Holy Family National School Rathcoole
Rathcoole, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 671 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 324 girls, 347 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13217W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Holy Family National School, Rathcoole, is a vibrant primary school that serves pupils from junior infants to sixth class. The school places a strong emphasis on a balanced curriculum that integrates traditional literacy and numeracy with a robust STEM programme. Pupils regularly engage in coding, robotics, and technology projects, including Scratch programming and the use of a robotic arm, and the school has been recognised with the Research Ireland Curious Minds Gold Award and consecutive Science Foundation Ireland Excellence in STEM plaques (2017 & 2018). An Accelerated Reader scheme supports reading development, while a self‑evaluation process focuses on continual improvement, currently prioritising reading outcomes. The school benefits from high‑speed broadband supplied through the Department of Education’s School Broadband Programme, enabling seamless access to a wide range of digital resources such as Khan Academy, Scoilnet, and numerous educational apps. Google Classroom is used for classes in 3rd‑6th, providing a secure online learning environment. A rich selection of external websites covering science, maths, language, and creative arts further enhances classroom learning and independent exploration. Facilities are modern and well‑equipped, with dedicated spaces for science experiments, technology workshops, and creative arts. The school community is active, with a Parents Association, student council, and participation in programmes such as Erasmus+, reflecting a collaborative ethos that supports both academic achievement and personal development.
Applying to Holy Family National School Rathcoole
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 Holy Family National School Rathcoole. 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 Holy Family National School Rathcoole
How many pupils attend Holy Family National School Rathcoole?
Holy Family National School Rathcoole has 671 pupils enrolled, 324 girls and 347 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Holy Family National School Rathcoole a DEIS school?
No. Holy Family National School Rathcoole 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 Family National School Rathcoole?
Holy Family National School Rathcoole has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.