St Andrews National School
Bray, Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 204 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 91 girls, 113 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13597M the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Andrew’s National School is a small, co‑educational primary school in Bray, County Wicklow, catering for pupils from Junior Infants through to 6th class. The school operates under a shared patronage of the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Church, and its ethos is rooted in Christian values while remaining inclusive of all children. A warm, supportive community is central to the school’s approach, with a focus on nurturing each pupil’s individuality, confidence and academic potential. Learning is enhanced by the use of the Aladdin Connect platform for end‑of‑year reports, parent‑teacher meeting bookings, fee collection and absence notifications, ensuring clear communication with families. The school shares a modern campus with New Court School, providing access to a large hall, a recently refurbished library, and other specialist facilities that support a broad curriculum and extracurricular activities. Opening hours run from 8:30 am to 2:10 pm for most classes, with a slightly earlier finish for Infants, reflecting a structured yet child‑centred timetable.
History
St. Andrew’s National School was founded in January 1888 under the patronage of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, following the laying of the foundation stone by the Earl of Meath on 20 August 1887. The original trowel from that ceremony is displayed in the school foyer. By 1889 the school had 97 pupils. A fire in the 1940s destroyed the main building, which was rebuilt with the help of the local Presbyterian community. In the late 1960s and early 1970s St. Paul’s Church of Ireland School merged with St. Andrew’s, prompting expansion and the naming of the Large Hall and the library after key supporters. In the early 1980s, recognising the need for improved facilities, the school secured a new site and, together with Sunbeam House (now New Court School), built a shared campus. This made St. Andrew’s the first Irish primary school jointly overseen by three churches, a partnership that continues today.
Applying to St Andrews 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.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Andrews 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 St Andrews National School
How many pupils attend St Andrews National School?
St Andrews National School has 204 pupils enrolled, 91 girls and 113 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Andrews National School a DEIS school?
No. St Andrews 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 St Andrews National School?
St Andrews National School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.