Our Lady of Fatima Special School
WEXFORD
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 115 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 45 girls, 70 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19266T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Our Lady of Fatima Special School provides a nurturing, inclusive environment for approximately 117 pupils with mild learning difficulties, offering educational programmes from junior primary through to the senior cycle. The curriculum is designed to develop the whole child, integrating literacy, numeracy, wellbeing and personalised support while celebrating each student’s individuality. A strong Christian ethos underpins the school’s values of care, compassion, hospitality, trust, dignity, respect and diversity, ensuring that every learner feels safe and valued. The campus, despite its modest size, boasts a range of specialised facilities that promote sensory and physical development, including a sensory garden, an expanded playground, a junior playground, a resurfaced basketball court and an outdoor gym. Extracurricular opportunities extend beyond the grounds, with partnerships for horse‑riding and equine therapy at The Railway Yard Gallops, gymnastics with the Wexford Gymnastics Club, and tennis through WHBTC. The school also participates in the BLAST, Creative Schools and Digital School of Distinction programmes, and engages in e‑twinning and Erasmus projects, enriching students’ learning through digital technology and international collaboration. Continuous professional development for staff ensures up‑to‑date expertise in supporting the diverse needs of the school community.
History
Our Lady of Fatima School was founded in 1968 with the mission of providing specialised education for children with mild learning difficulties. The school relocated to its present site in Wexford in 1972 and now serves 117 students from the greater Wexford area, maintaining a commitment to accessibility and community integration.
Applying to Our Lady of Fatima Special 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 Our Lady of Fatima Special School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Our Lady of Fatima Special 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 Our Lady of Fatima Special School
How many pupils attend Our Lady of Fatima Special School?
Our Lady of Fatima Special School has 115 pupils enrolled, 45 girls and 70 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Our Lady of Fatima Special School a DEIS school?
No. Our Lady of Fatima Special 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 Our Lady of Fatima Special School?
Our Lady of Fatima Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.