John Scottus National School
Rathmines, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 136 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 51 girls, 85 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20103V the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
John Scottus National School is a small, multi‑denominational, co‑educational primary school situated on Rathmines Road Lower, Dublin 6. Established in 1986 by a group of parents inspired by both Eastern and Western philosophical traditions, the school embraces a holistic ethos that blends the Irish national curriculum with a distinctive focus on mindfulness, philosophy, speech and classics. Approximately 200 pupils benefit from a learning environment that prioritises enquiry, attention, unity, resilience and the practice of regular meditation, fostering both academic rigour and personal well‑being. The school’s facilities support contemporary learning, including an upgraded internal network and classroom tablets introduced through a grant from the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan. A vibrant community life is evident through initiatives such as the Active School Flag committee, after‑school programmes, and a dedicated Learning Support Team that works collaboratively with children, parents and teachers to meet special educational needs. The school’s five core rules, caring for everyone, giving full attention, following directions promptly, speaking truthfully and beautifully, and caring for everything, are woven into daily practice, creating a nurturing centre of learning where children are encouraged to discover and develop their unique gifts.
History
John Scottus National School was founded in 1986 by a group of parents motivated by Eastern and Western philosophy. The school is named after the Irish Platonist philosopher John Scottus Eriugena and was created as a small, multi‑denominational co‑educational national school that welcomes children of all faiths or none.
Applying to John Scottus 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
View John Scottus National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to John Scottus National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 John Scottus National School
How many pupils attend John Scottus National School?
John Scottus National School has 136 pupils enrolled, 51 girls and 85 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is John Scottus National School a DEIS school?
No. John Scottus 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 John Scottus National School?
John Scottus National School has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed primary school.