New Court School
Bray, Wicklow
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 100 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 27 girls, 73 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18408I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
New Court School is a co‑educational day school situated in Bray, County Wicklow, dedicated to providing a comprehensive educational, social, recreational and vocational training programme for children with a mild learning disability. The school adopts a holistic approach that recognises each pupil’s individual needs, fostering a safe, caring and familiar environment where academic progress is balanced with personal development and life‑skills training. The campus shares a site with St Andrew’s National School and benefits from a modern building completed in 2009 and opened in 2010. Recent investment includes a purpose‑built STEM Shed, a hands‑on space that encourages experimentation, creativity and practical problem‑solving across science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Integration activities with the neighbouring mainstream school further promote social inclusion and community links. Guided by a clear set of aims, the school prioritises the development of mental, physical, moral and aesthetic abilities, encouraging respect for the environment, mutual respect among staff and pupils, and the cultivation of confidence, communication and self‑worth. A structured Human Values programme embeds universal values such as truth, love, peace and right action into the curriculum, supporting pupils to grow into mature, confident young people.
History
The origins of New Court School date back to 1874 when a residential home for children opened in Bray. In 1958 the institution received Department of Education recognition as Sunbeam House Special National School. Sunbeam House Services was established in 1977 to provide training and employment for school leavers. The school was renamed New Court School in 1991 and relocated to its present site on Newcourt Road, sharing the grounds with St Andrew’s National School. A new joint building for both schools was completed in September 2009 and officially opened in May 2010.
Applying to New Court 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 primary school dates apply broadly to New Court 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: 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 New Court School
How many pupils attend New Court School?
New Court School has 100 pupils enrolled, 27 girls and 73 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is New Court School a DEIS school?
No. New Court 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 New Court School?
New Court School has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed primary school.