School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa)
Ballintemple, Cork
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 46 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 23 girls, 23 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18483W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
The School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa) is a co‑educational specialist centre located in Ballintemple, Cork. It provides both primary and second‑level education for children and young people with physical, multiple and complex medical disabilities. The curriculum is fully differentiated, employing approaches such as Aistear and Numicon at primary level and offering Junior Certificate, Junior Certificate Schools Programme and Junior Cycle (JCT) courses at levels 1 and 2 for second‑level learners. Emphasis is placed on developing self‑esteem, wellbeing and lifelong‑learning skills so that pupils can participate actively in their local community. Technology and the arts are integral to the school’s ethos. From early involvement in a 1984 computer pilot project, the school now works with Safe Care Technologies and Enable Ireland to provide assistive communication tools, including SoundBeam, Magic Flute and GarageBand. Practical subjects such as horticulture, home economics, music, LEGO and construction are woven into the timetable, fostering hands‑on learning and creativity. Strong links with mainstream schools, local projects in Ballintemple, Ardfoyle and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and partnerships with University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology and European programmes further enrich the educational experience.
History
The School of the Divine Child opened on Grattan Street in 1959 to meet the educational needs of children with cerebral palsy. In 1966 a site at Lavanagh House, Ballintemple, was purchased and, with a Department of Education grant, the newly built school commenced operations in 1971. Since then the school has been a pioneer in educational technology, participating in early computer use projects (1984) and later collaborations such as the Eagle Eyes Camera Mouse project with Boston College. Recent partnerships with Safe Care Technologies support the use of assistive communication devices, while the school continues to engage in community projects, lifelong‑learning festivals and European cooperation schemes.
Applying to School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa)
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 School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa). 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 School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa)
How many pupils attend School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa)?
School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa) has 46 pupils enrolled, 23 girls and 23 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa) a DEIS school?
No. School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa) 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 School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa)?
School of the Divine Child (Scoil an Linbh Íosa) has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.