Scoil Bhride
Leixlip, Kildare
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 295 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 134 girls, 161 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19407L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Bhríde is a co‑educational vertical primary school situated on Green Lane in Leixlip, County Kildare. Operating under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, the school provides a holistic education that nurtures intellectual, moral, spiritual, cultural and physical development. Its curriculum recognises multiple intelligences and embraces a diverse community of pupils from a wide range of nationalities, fostering an environment of empathy, tolerance and self‑confidence. The school accommodates children from Junior Infants to 6th class within a purpose‑built complex dating from 1975. While the external façade remains largely unchanged, the interior has been modernised to include twelve main classrooms, a dedicated Autism class (Room 17, opened 2022) and specialised learning‑support spaces. A team of special‑needs assistants supports inclusive learning, and the school operates a shared grey‑and‑wine uniform with its neighbouring schools. Daily routines are structured with a 9:20 am start, ending at 2 pm for Infants and 3 pm for older classes, providing a consistent framework for academic and personal growth.
History
Scoil Bhríde originated in a building near the Church of Our Lady’s Nativity on the Old Hill, a site now occupied by Scoil Uí Dhálaigh. In 1975 the school relocated to its present Green Lane premises, funded primarily by the government (90 %) with a 10 % contribution from the Leixlip community. The exterior of the building has remained largely unchanged, while interior classrooms have been reconfigured to meet evolving educational needs, now comprising twelve main classrooms, an Autism class and learning‑support rooms. Historically an all‑boys school, it became co‑educational in 1981 alongside neighbouring Scoil Mhuire. Since 1975 the school has had seven principals, the latest appointed in August 2025. At its peak enrolment the school accommodated 501 pupils, with the largest single class numbering 47 students.
Applying to Scoil Bhride
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 Scoil Bhride. 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 Scoil Bhride
How many pupils attend Scoil Bhride?
Scoil Bhride has 295 pupils enrolled, 134 girls and 161 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Bhride a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Bhride 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 Scoil Bhride?
Scoil Bhride has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.