Ratoath College
Ratoath, Meath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 1,132 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 559 girls, 573 boys
- Ethos
- Inter Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 76088T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ratoath College is a co‑educational, multi‑denominational community college that serves the parishes of Ratoath and Curragha. Established in 2005, the college provides a broad, inclusive curriculum that nurtures personal development across aesthetic, creative, cultural, emotional, intellectual, moral, physical, political, religious, social and spiritual dimensions. Its mission is to foster a partnership of students, staff, parents and the wider community, encouraging hard work, creativity and commitment while living the motto “Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh Sí” – praise the young and they will prosper. The college occupies a state‑of‑the‑art campus in Jamestown, expanded in 2021 with a second building to accommodate a growing enrolment of approximately 1,200 pupils and a staff of over 100. Facilities include modern classrooms, specialised spaces for the Ionad Arkle autism unit, a well‑resourced library, and extensive extra‑curricular provisions. Sustainable practices and digital learning tools such as the Compass portal are integrated into everyday school life, supporting both academic achievement and community engagement.
History
Ratoath College was founded in 2005 as a designated Community College to meet the second‑level educational needs of the local parishes. Initially operating from a temporary site at Fairyhouse Racecourse, the school relocated to its permanent, purpose‑built campus in Jamestown in August 2007. To support continued growth, the Department of Education and Skills approved a second building on the campus, which opened in August 2021. The college now includes Ionad Arkle, a dedicated special class for students with autism.
Applying to Ratoath College
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 Ratoath College's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Ratoath College. 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: 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 Ratoath College
How many pupils attend Ratoath College?
Ratoath College has 1,132 pupils enrolled, 559 girls and 573 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Ratoath College a DEIS school?
No. Ratoath College 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 Ratoath College?
Ratoath College has an Inter Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.