Raphoe Central National School
LIFFORD, Donegal
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 185 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 91 girls, 94 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16138S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Raphoe Central National School is a mainstream mixed primary school operating under the joint patronage of the Presbytery of Derry and Donegal and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe. The school describes itself as a caring and sharing community where every child is nurtured and valued in his or her own right. Its ethos centres on developing responsible citizens who contribute to the local community, the nation and the wider world, with a strong emphasis on honesty, truthfulness, tolerance and consideration for others. Learning is a partnership between staff and parents, aimed at inspiring a love of learning and helping each pupil reach their full potential. The school provides a full primary curriculum from Junior Infants through to Sixth Class, organised into distinct class groups (e.g., Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st‑2nd, 2nd‑3rd, 3rd‑4th, 4th‑5th and 5th‑6th). A vibrant extra‑curricular programme supports physical activity and sport, including the Sport 4 Peace initiative, badminton, hockey and cricket, as well as a structured PE curriculum covering athletics, dance, gymnastics and more. The school also promotes active‑learning themes such as the Amber, Green and Active School projects, and maintains a regularly updated calendar and blog to keep families informed of events and partnerships.
Applying to Raphoe Central 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Raphoe Central National 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 Raphoe Central National School
How many pupils attend Raphoe Central National School?
Raphoe Central National School has 185 pupils enrolled, 91 girls and 94 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Raphoe Central National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Raphoe Central National School is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Raphoe Central National School?
Raphoe Central National School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.