Loreto Secondary School
Kilkenny
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 947 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 61580P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Loreto Secondary School is a Catholic girls' secondary school in Kilkenny, operating in the Loreto tradition. Enrolment is 947 students. The school states its mission as creating a caring community based on respect and fairness, and working with parents towards the spiritual, moral, social and academic development of each student. The Junior Cycle programme gives first years the full range of subjects for the year before subject choices are made. Core subjects include English, Irish, Mathematics and History, with students choosing five additional subjects from Art, Business Studies, French, Geography, German, Graphics, Home Economics, Music, Science and Spanish. Classes are formed on a mixed ability basis, with higher and ordinary level classes in Irish from second year and Mathematics from October of first year. Transition Year is optional and includes work experience, taster modules of Leaving Certificate subjects, and modules such as Junk Kouture, Mini-company, Computer Science and Drama. The Leaving Certificate programme offers a broad subject range across the arts, sciences, business, languages and social studies. The school also provides the Leaving Certificate Applied programme and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme. An induction programme for incoming first years includes an open night, an induction day, peer mentors from fifth year, and a bonding afternoon.
Applying to Loreto 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 Loreto 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 Loreto Secondary School
How many pupils attend Loreto Secondary School?
Loreto Secondary School has 947 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Loreto Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. Loreto 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 Loreto Secondary School?
Loreto Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.