Sandy Lane National School
Portarlington, Laois
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 84 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 40 girls, 44 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18203N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Sandy Lane National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in Portarlington, County Laois, operating under the patronage of the Church of Ireland. The school provides four mainstream classes that cater for children from Junior Infants through to Sixth class, fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment where each pupil’s dignity and individuality are respected. Emphasising a Christian ethos, the school works in partnership with parents, guardians and the wider community to support the holistic development of the whole child, balancing academic learning with personal and social growth. The school day runs from 9:00 am, with Junior and Senior Infants finishing at 1:40 pm and the older classes at 2:40 pm. Uniform days are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with tracksuit days on Wednesday and Friday, allowing flexibility for activities such as swimming. A broad programme of extracurricular activities enriches the curriculum, including a student council, Green Schools committee, Active Flag initiatives, sports leagues, themed weeks (e.g., Maths Week, Science Week), and cultural events such as the Harvest Service and Christmas Nativity. These opportunities encourage active participation, teamwork and community spirit throughout the school year.
Applying to Sandy Lane 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Sandy Lane 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 Sandy Lane National School
How many pupils attend Sandy Lane National School?
Sandy Lane National School has 84 pupils enrolled, 40 girls and 44 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Sandy Lane National School a DEIS school?
No. Sandy Lane National 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 Sandy Lane National School?
Sandy Lane National School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.