Loreto Secondary School
Bray, Wicklow
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 747 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 61820J the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Loreto Secondary School in Bray, Co. Wicklow, is a girls' Catholic secondary school with an enrolment of 747 students. The school operates under the Loreto tradition, which traces its origins to Mary Ward, and states its mission as combining academic work with student wellbeing. The curriculum includes the Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle and Transition Year programmes. The school describes its ethos as rooted in values of truth, justice, freedom, sincerity and joy, and reports that its staff share Mary Ward's vision of women's capability. Students are encouraged to be "seekers of truth and doers of justice". The school presents its education as contemporary while drawing on the Loreto heritage. It also mentions a strong extracurricular dimension, including sports and a Tidy Towns involvement. The school's stated aim is to support students in their post-primary education and development.
History
Loreto Secondary School Bray traces its origins to 1850, when Mother Teresa Ball purchased the Sans Souci estate, a Georgian manor on the outskirts of Bray, for around £8,000. The property, with 72 acres extending to the sea, had been empty for some time. After repairs, the convent was occupied in November 1850 and dedicated to St. Columba. A fee-paying day and boarding school opened in January 1850 with 64 students by July. A free school followed in 1851 and gained National School status in 1854. The secondary school grew to 80 boarders by 1879, and first sat public examinations in 1895. During the World Wars, boarders came from England, France and Spain. In 1967 the school joined the free education scheme, leading to new buildings including the St. Joseph's wing in 1971. The boarding school closed in 1979. Later additions included the Mary Ward Building in 1999, an astro turf pitch in 2000, and a sports hall in 2009.
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 747 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.