Scoil Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan
Bandon, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 170 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 89 girls, 81 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18431D the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Bandonbridge National School is a Church of Ireland co‑educational primary school serving the Bandon Union of Parishes. The school’s ethos promotes tolerance, ecumenism and respect for religious diversity, encouraging pupils to develop spiritually, morally and academically while fostering freedom of thought. A strong emphasis is placed on Religious Education, delivered through the “Follow Me” programme, and on the early years curriculum, with Aistear programmes forming a core part of the infant experience. The campus has been progressively modernised, most recently in 2014 when two spacious infant classrooms, a new foyer, and dedicated offices for the principal and secretary were added. Ongoing plans include two specialised classrooms with quiet and communal spaces, reflecting a commitment to contemporary learning environments. The school benefits from a supportive parent‑teacher association, active community links with the local parish, and a range of extracurricular opportunities such as art, gardening and sport, all aimed at nurturing responsible, active citizens.
History
The school traces its origins to the Ballymodan Industrial School for girls founded in 1814 on Oliver Plunkett Street, Bandon. In 1922 boys from a former Methodist church on St Patrick’s Quay joined, creating “Ballymodan Mixed”. A new building opened on the present site in 1960, initially staffed by two teachers. Expansion continued with a prefabricated block in 1967 following amalgamation with Innishannon N.S., five new classrooms in 1976, and further growth after the Brinny N.S. amalgamation, prompting a new classroom and staffroom in 2006. The latest development in 2014 added modern infant classrooms and administrative facilities, and a future project aims to provide specialised learning spaces.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan
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 Scoil Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Scoil Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan. 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: 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 Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan?
Scoil Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan has 170 pupils enrolled, 89 girls and 81 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan 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 Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan?
Scoil Náisiúnta Droichead Na Bandan has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.